Last June, in a move emblematic of pandemic-related uncertainty, Galya Sarner was laid off from her job working in Toronto’s Israeli community. Drawing on her passion for, and expertise in, Mediterranean food, Sarner teamed up with her daughter, Shani Sarner-Lati, to create Galya Loves Food – a venture that has since taken root and continues to grow. “We were longing for food that reminds us of home and we wanted to give others a taste of the food that we love and miss the most,” says Sarner-Lati. Since the pandemic has accelerated the demand for fresh food, more people are preparing meals at ..read more

Galya Sarner (right) and daughter Shani Sarner-Lati. The mother-daughter duo started Galya Loves Food during the pandemic. Food has had a central place in Galya Sarner’s life for as long as she can remember. “While growing up in Israel, every occasion was an opportunity to share together the tasting and enjoyment of great food, especially in connection with the weekly Shabbat dinner, Jewish holidays and major family events,” says Sarner. “Food is a celebration of life. It’s such a vital part of Israeli culture and Jewish tradition, and it’s so much a part of my family life to this day.” In her ..read more

Highly respected Canadian chef and best-selling cookbook author Bonnie Stern publishes a popular monthly food newsletter in which she provides kitchen tips, news, events and recommendations. In the April 2021 edition, she included a positive spotlight on Galya Loves Food: “I do not usually recommend prepared foods because my whole thing is to encourage you to cook for yourself, but I also know that there are times it is really helpful to pick up things that are prepared. Galya’s Israeli foods are fresh and healthful and on the website you can see how to order directly from Galya or where you ..read more

Galya Sarner and her daughter, Shani Sarner-Lati, the women behind food business Galya Loves Food. Outstanding. Phenomenal. Out of this world. Those are actual consumer descriptions of the products available from Galya Loves Food, a local business run by a mother and daughter team. Galya Loves Food focuses on Israeli delights such as gourmet hummus, labaneh, eggplant, roasted red peppers, date cookies and halvah mousse. The business is a serendipitous result of the pandemic. Galya Sarner was laid off from a job with Toronto’s Israeli community because of COVID shut downs. She decided to work a ..read more

Nov. 20, 2020 By BARBARA SILVERSTEIN Shabbat Shalom and welcome to “Kitchen Talk,” the weekly food blog of the CJR. When life hands you lemons you make lemonade or, in the case of Galya Sarner, you make a tangy labaneh with lemon. Galya Loves Food, labaneh with lemon After COVID struck, Sarner was laid off from her job working with Toronto’s large Israeli community. She pivoted and was able to turn her passion for food into a business. She teamed up with her daughter, Shani Sarner-Lati, and founded Galya Loves Food. “You could say our creations are a by-product of the pa ..read more

Much earlier in my life, I was fortunate to live in Paris, benefiting from its cultural richness and the experience of living in a storied world capital. During my five years there, I gained so much, especially in culinary matters. When I moved to the City of Light from Israel, my husband and I lived in a small 7th floor apartment – no elevator – above a magnificent food market next to Les Halles. Discovering the fabled Marché de Montorgueil and having it part of my daily life was an important part of my Parisian initiation. It was a great introduction to the famous French art de vivre and th ..read more

For the latest in my ongoing series on Great Israeli Food People, I’m pleased to spotlight Gil Hovav, one of Israel’s top culinary journalists who has played a major role in developing a greater appreciation of Israeli cuisine. Through his writing, TV and radio programs, cookbooks and seminars, Gil is a widely respected food authority and a highly influential figure on the country’s culinary scene. He’s contributed considerably to the change Israel has undergone in recent years, from a country of basic traditional foods into a ‘gourmet nation.’ Born in Jerusalem in 1962, Gil grew up in the ..read more

I call it my essential Jerusalem pantry, even if I no longer live in Israel. Many of the country’s quintessential dishes are made with the same core group of spices, herbs, sauces, oils and jarred goods which in many ways represent the essence of the country’s food. These components appear repeatedly in the Middle East culinary cannon. If you don’t already have these items in your kitchen, it’s worth the modest investment to purchase them since they figure in many if not most of my Galya Loves Food dishes. Fortunately, as they’re only used in small to moderate amounts, you won’t have to keep r ..read more