Fried Matzo (or Matzo Brei) & Barry Mandel Interview

Fried Matzo (or Matzo Brei), is a tasty breakfast dish, and simple to prepare.  In modern Yiddish, brei means “to fry”. Hence the term Matzo Brei. Even though traditionally served at Passover, Matzo Brei is a great breakfast meal any time of the year.  

Our guest on “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is Barry Mandel. Barry is the Chairman, Founder, and CEO of the Mandel Group, one of Wisconsin’s largest multi-family residential real estate development firms. Barry is also instrumental in the success of the ACRE Program (Associates in Commercial Real Estate) at Marquette University.

You can also listen to the podcast version of this interview and cooking episode –

How to make Fried Matzo

Making Fried Matzo is very easy to prepare. First, break matzo sheets into small chunks and soak them in hot water for a minute or two.

In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, a pinch of kosher salt, and the moist matzo.

Heat a frying pan and heat the butter in the pan. 

Fried Matzo

Pour the matzo and egg mixture into the hot butter, and cook for approximately 5 minutes. Season with additional kosher salt and enjoy! 

Amaranth Bakery and Cafe

Barry brought goodies from Amaranth Bakery and Cafe. Amaranth is a local Milwaukee bakery with art-lined walls serving a daytime menu of baked goods & cafe fare.

Passover, (in Hebrew, Pesach – which means skipping or passing over) is an eight-day festival that begins on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, which is described in the Torah. For Passover, Jews commemorate the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The tradition of eating matzo during Passover holds deep symbolism and historical significance.

The Exodus Story:

According to the Bible, the Israelite’s were slaves in Egypt. God commanded them to eat matzo as part of the Passover meal on the night before their liberation.

The original Passover was only one day. After that day, the Jews were allowed to eat leavened bread. They had to leave Egypt quickly. This haste meant their dough did not have time to rise. As a result, they made unleavened bread (matzo).

Symbolism of Matzo:

Matzo of Affliction: During their slavery in Egypt, the Israelites ate matzo. This matzo symbolizes poverty, affliction, and the hardships they endured.

Matzo of Freedom: After their redemption, the Israelites continued to eat matzo. This matzo represents redemption, faith, and the miraculous events that led to their liberation. The text recited during the Passover Seder acknowledges both types of matzo, emphasizing the dual symbolism.

Binding to History and Faith:

Eating fried matzo binds Jews to their historical roots and connects them to the Exodus story. It serves as a reminder of the Israelites’ journey from slavery to freedom, their reliance on God, and their faith in the promise of redemption.

In summary, Jews eat matzo during Passover to honor their ancestors’ experiences, celebrate freedom, and express faith in God’s providence. The same matzo represents both slavery and redemption, making it a very powerful symbol of their history and resilience.

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If you like this recipe for Turkey Burgers, you should try our recipe for Seared Lamb Chops.

Cooking Secrets for Men in the News

Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders was featured in “Milwaukee Magazine” May 2023 edition, called “Civic Gastronomy”. Here is the link – https://www.milwaukeemag.com/this-cooking-show-features-milwaukee-community-leaders/.

Then a few days later, they were discussing me on the radio. It is a local Foodie show – “This Bites”. My series “Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders” is in the first few minutes of the show. https://radiomilwaukee.org/podcast/this-bites/2023-05-26/milwaukee-celebrity-cooking-show.

“Cooking Secrets for Men” is listed as one of the Top 30 Men’s Cooking Websites on the Internet. You can read that article here. See where we rank for Men’s Cooking Websites. Fried Matzo.

Shepherd Express (Milwaukee) article on our Cooking with Milwaukee Community Leaders show – you can read that article here.

Good Counsel HS (My Alma Mater) Magazine article about Cooking Secrets for Men, You can read that article here.

Meet Charlie DeSando – “Voyage Tampa” article, which you can read here. Turkey Burgers.

CanvasRebel Magazine Interview, which you can read here.

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