Almond memories

Almonds originated in the Middle East and for centuries were a rare and expensive commodity reserved for special occasions. In Sephardi culture mazapán, or marzipan, is the pinnacle of all culinary achievements. Daniela Lerrer, owner of Sephardi bar, Barood, refers to the sweet almond paste as ‘the holiest of holy’. Marzipan was, and still is to this day, prepared only for very special occasions such as births and weddings in her family. She recalls that after giving birth, her mother, in addition to passing her down the frying pan she had been using for decades, also prepared marzipan.