Adam’s dad Lenny is a great cook. It blew my mind when I first visited Paula and Lenny in Houston because growing up, the kitchen was mom’s domain and at the Holzband’s, it’s most definitely “Lenny’s Kitchen.” As you may have read in Adam’s post, Lenny would prepare holiday meals for dozens, brunches for Adam and his friends, and quick chicken roasts for neighbors going through a rough patch.

Next time I’m sick, I’ll be asking Adam to cook me up some Gogol Mogol after reading about Lenny’s Bubbes’ recipe below. Nice to know that my mom isn’t the only one that added alcohol to hot drinks when the kids weren’t feeling well.

Lenny and his sister Judy - 1949

Lenny H. – Born in 1945 (Paula’s husband, Adam’s father, Bessie’s son)

If you were given a dollar to buy treats when you were a kid, what would you buy?

Baseball cards, the gum sucked.

Was dessert a special treat or a nightly ritual?

Dessert was more of a treat.

What food do you throw out? Do you eat leftovers?

We eat leftovers except for salads which get too soggy.

Lenny as a young boy

What kind of cooking did your father do when you were growing up?

My dad did not cook.

Did you say grace?

Only on Shabbos, and we usually had a good size crowed depending on who my uncle Ben showed up with.

Where did you buy your meat?

From a Kosher butcher. My dad owned a butcher shop that had very fine meats and we supplied some very good restaurants but he never brought any in to our house as we kept strictly Kosher.

What did you feed your kids when they were babies or toddlers?

We fed Adam only the finest Gerber foods money could buy until he got old enough to eat and appreciate my cooking.  His favorite was a morning meal called a Lenny’s Special.

1985

Did you restrict your diet when you were pregnant?

Paula limited her sodium intake so drastically during her pregnancy that after Adam was born she had a seizure and went into a coma for 3 days.

How did you accommodate your wife/husband’s foodpreferences when you first got married?

My wife has few food preferences, but CHOCOLATE is always GOOOOOD!

Did you ever steal a pack a gum at the store?

Never stole a pack of gum, but there is still time.

Lenny and Paula - Nov. 2006

Have you ever made your own beer and wine?

I made beer in college.

Did you share food with your neighbors?

Yes we shared food and could always borrow sugar. It was a much different time.

What did your mom make you when you were sick?

My Bubbe took care of me and she had an old country remedy called a “Gogol Mogol” which consisted of melted butter, melted chocolate, honey and a little whiskey.  We tried to get sick as often as possible but she caught on to us.

Additional posts on “Your Life in Food” can be found here.