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Roger Sherman: In Search of Israeli Cuisine

Roger Sherman
Roger Sherman for WBGO

Roger Sherman has produced a documentary that makes an extraordinary journey through Israeli kitchens, restaurants and vineyards. The movie, In Search of Israeli Cuisine, explores the ancient and modern farming and cooking techniques created by the polyglot of people who migrated to Israel or never left.  The film opened March 24th at the Lincoln Plaza Cinema in New York and in theaters around the country.

Sherman says he found a wealth of tasty treasures in Israel:

“I always wanted to go to France, and never considered going to Israel. I was dragged there on a food press trip. I never considered going to Israel. I got there and experienced something I have never experienced before. I think the hottest food scene in the world.”

Sherman has won two Academy Award nominations, a Peabody Award and a National Emmy:

“A couple of times I was ready to give the whole thing up. It was difficult to raise money. We had a fundraiser with a lot of experience and I broke the very first rule of documentary filmmaking. Do not put your own money into your film. I thought the money was right around the corner but it barely came. There were two major times I said to my wife that we couldn’t do this.”

In Search of Israeli Cuisine
Credit Roger Sherman for WBGO
The film, In Search of Israeli Cuisine, explores the ancient and modern farming and cooking techniques

In Search of Israeli Cuisine is a 90-minute documentary.  Throughout Sherman's fabulous career his subjects include art, history, science, social issues, the environment and food. He recently was honored by being named to the Forward50, Jews who have influenced American culture.

One of Sherman's Academy Award nominations is with documentarian Ken Burns:

“We were college roommates. We did it together. We dove in head first with a third partner named Buddy Squires, who is a filmmaker and one of the top directors of photography. Then a fourth member, Larry Hott, came on a few years later. He was a friend of mine, and we’ve all stayed in it and we’re all still making films. We’re still friends.”

This edition of Conversations with Allan Wolper also includes a preview of Sherman’s next project: a documentary on the impact on the family of a man, now a woman,  who changed genders at 63 years old.

Click above to hear the entire interview with Roger Sherman that aired in March of this year.