Darren Schmidt, 2L

It was 6:45 a.m. on Saturday morning as I lay in my hotel bed. I didn’t sleep a wink. The bustle of Toronto was outside my window. It was only a few hours until Dave Louie and I would be presenting at the Mathews Dinsdale National Labour Arbitration Moot.

The Moot involved a complex fact set. A unionized security guard was terminated from his job for storing a hunting rifle in his locker. Our responsibility was to develop the best arguments for the union to get the employee reinstated and, on the flip side, develop arguments for management to have the employee remain terminated. The concept is fine and well, it’s just the ‘developing arguments’ part that’s tough. What’s even tougher is looking yourself in the mirror and realizing that your arguments are crap with only a few days until you fly to Toronto to deliver them to hotshot Bay Street lawyers and arbitrators.

Before Dave and I flew to Toronto we met with our coach, David Corry. He listened to our arguments, gave some valuable feedback and told us we had a lot of work to do before Saturday’s competition. Dave and I realized that we needed to kick it into high gear if we at least wanted to look like we knew our rear ends from a hole in the ground.

But something happened in those last few days. We began to trust each other more. We took our arguments from crap to believable. We went over them again and again until we couldn’t stand the sound of ourselves. And on the Saturday morning of the competition we actually believed in ourselves.

Sleep-deprived, we set out with our coach to the competition for a first round ‘Battle of Alberta’ against the U of A. After the normal pleasantries, the tripartite panel adjudicating our hearing nodded for us to begin. This was the big moment. As I set out to make my

opening statement, sweat pouring off me from God knows where, I actually sounded competent. Then Dave fielded some great responses to the panel. As we finished the morning arguments, our coach told us this was one of the only times he thought a UofC team had a chance of making the final. We must have done something right.

The day wrapped up after another thrilling argument against Osgoode

Hall in the afternoon. When we got back to our hotel room, Dave and I knew we exceeded (continued on page 9)

The Labour Moot: An insider’s perspective

All the news that’s legal to read. February 2013 Edition

In this issue:

• 6 Upcoming runs• 8 Workout tips• 11 Book reviews

Moot tiMes the University of CalgaryLaw student Newspaper

Provided PhotoFrom left to right, Darren Schmidt, David Corry, Q.C. (coach), David Louie. Taken at the Hockey Hall of Fame after the competition was finished.

Assentio Mentium event a successBryce Tingle and Jeff Bone (LL.M. 2012)

presented “The Legal Consequences of Sustainability Pledges” at the latest Assentio Mentium on January 24, 2013, which is almost as good as hearing the stories Tingle tells during his classes. Photos are on the faculty website.

Kwasniak wins award, remains awesome

Arlene Kwasniak won the 2013 Distinguished Service Award for legal scholarship, sponsored by the Law Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Association. The Kwas’ is also entering her second year of three on the of the Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program’s adjudication committee. These awards offer an opportunity to explore a wide range of scholarly issues.

Saami Convention book publishedEditors Nigel Bankes and Timo

Koivurova’s book, “The Proposed Nordic Saami Convention: National and International Dimensions of Indigenous Property Rights”, has just been published through Hart Publishing. Bankes, Jonnette Watson Hamilton, Sharon Mascher and Jennifer Koshan wrote chapters in the book. Collect them all!

Koshan, Watson Hamilton, cited by the SCC

In Quebec (Attorney General) v. A, 2013 SCC 5, the Supreme Court of Canada cited “Meaningless Mantra: Substantive Equality after Withler” (2011) 16 Rev Const Stud 31. The article was written by our very own Jennifer Koshan and Jonnette Watson Hamilton. Congrats, Profs!

News briefs

Provided PhotoBryce Tingle presenting at the Assentio Mentium event on January 24. Tingle is the one on the left. The one on the right is a microphone.

2 Moot times February 2013

Moot timesThe law student newspaper at the University of Calgary. Gettin’ legal since 2008.

editorsSteve Carey Heather BeykoJuliana TamDana Martin

ContributorsDarren Schmidt, Ainsley Furlonger, Ben Leung, Ben Seward, Steve Carey, Dex Zucchi, Anthony Reitboeck, Alex Darling, Dan McPherson, Jenna Kirk, Dana Martin, Mike Selnes, Lululemon, Last Defence Lounge.

ContactFor news submissions, story ideas, or just to say hi, write to news@moottimes.ca.For ad sales, announcements or anything related to management, write ads@moottimes.ca.

DisclaimerThe opinions and articles expressed within are not those of the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. The Moot Times is an independent publication, run by students for students. Don’t even think about suing us. One miscreant tried, but he missed the filing date under the Defamation Act, the sucker.

Ainsley Furlonger, 2L

Congratulations to Alastair MacK-innon (3L) and Waqas Iqbal (3L) for defending Alberta’s current articling system! The affirmative team, Joshua Sealy-Harrington (3L) and Jessica Robertshaw (2L), debated for the adoption of the two-tiered system recently implemented in Ontario. The finale panel of judges included Richard Billington, Q.C., Alastair Lucas, Q.C., and Professor Shaun Fluker. The top oralist award was awarded to Alastair MacKinnon, his second win in a row.

As always, the Blackstone debate couldn’t have happened without the tireless efforts of the mooting faculty advisors, Alastair Lucas and Bryce Tingle, who keep this debate, and all moots, run year after year. We’re already recruiting volunteers to join the Blackstone Committee for next year so if you’re interested don’t hesitate to get involved! Of course, the real force behind making this debate possible is Chantal Pegg, and I want to personally thank her for helping me maintain my sanity during the Blackstone. If you have time, go up to the 4th floor and say thanks, she does a lot to make this faculty the best it can be.

This year we were lucky to have 18 teams participate, across all 3 years, debating the preliminary resolution: Be it resolved that the depiction of lawyers in Hollywood accurately depicts Canadian legal practice. The debators put forth

their strongest arguments, after many hours of preparation watching shows like Suits, The Good Wife, and movies such as A Few Good Men! That’s right folks, to answer Jessica Babineau’s (1L) facebook page question, yes, watching Suits is indeed the same as studying.

The most important part of the Blackstone debate is having fun learning

how to debate. Learning how to put forth good arguments and making creative and interesting analogies, such as Durgen Hu’s (1L) infamous chicken feathers in the box analogy. Congratulations to all of this years participants for a well argued debate!

Provided PhotoFrom left to right: Jessica Robertshaw, Joshua Sealy-Harrington, Alastair MacKinnon, Waqas Iqbal (a former MT editor). Congratulations to all!

MacKinnon and Iqbal win Blackstone Debate

Ben Seward, 3L

Every four years, the Canadian Tax Foundation holds its Annual Tax Conference in Calgary. This three day event is a forum for senior tax practitioners and government officials to share their experience and discuss their reactions to current tax issues and challenges. This year, ten students representing the UofC Faculty of Law

were in attendance. For attendee Erica Lind (3L), it was a “valuable opportunity to meet with extremely knowledgeable practitioners from across Canada, who were willing to offer advice and insight into this area of practice.”

The conference offered technical programs including workshops, plenary sessions and breakout sessions designed to keep the tax practitioner abreast of recent developments in their field.

Seminars available to attendees covered a variety of corporate, international and specialized taxation areas. The compre-hensiveness of the conference program was a highlight for attendee Chris Pardell (2L) as it “made for a memorable event and learning experience.”

Participation in this event was due in large part to the generosity of the SLS and guidance of the Faculty. Thank you to these groups for their continued support.

U of C students attend 64th Annual Tax Conference

February 2013 Moot times 3

Dex Zucchi, 1L

With each new year comes a new student executive for Student Legal Assistance (SLA). To introduce the new team, each executive member has written a short autobiography for your  interest.Ben Leung (Student Director): In an orderly and peaceful transition of power, Ben has assumed the role of Student Director from his estimable predecessor Wilson Chan. Ben promises continued prosperity for all caseworkers in 2013, a period which will be remembered as “Harmonious Tranquility in the Heavens.”Joe Antifaev (Credit Program/Internal Coordinator): Joseph ‘Stalin’ Antifaev is a peerless sage of mankind, possessed with warm humanity, broad magnanimity, and a noble sense of moral obligation. He has already demonstrated his “iron-fist in a velvet glove” managing style as a group leader and will carry his lauded approach over to the credit program.Robin McIntyre (Trial Coordinator): Robin volunteered with SLA during her first year and worked as a caseworker over the summer. Her time in court largely involves getting yelled at by judges and staring blankly at them until they

stop. While at the office, keeping Ben in line remains her primary responsibility (you’re welcome, SLA’yers).Matthew Marini (Group/Court Coordinator): Matthew Marini, a born and raised Calgarian, completed his undergraduate degree in philosophy at Carleton University in Ottawa. Since returning to Calgary for law school, Matthew has become an active member of SLA and enjoys the opportunity to be in court as often as possible.Lori MacKay (Education Coordinator): Lori has a round head, narrow snout, large eyes, and a variety of distinctive coloration patterns. Lori can be found in an astonishing variety of habitats, ranging from tropical rainforest to Arctic tundra. Lori’s locomotion is a slow and cautious climbing form of quadrupedalism. Lori is an omnivore, eating small animals, fruit, tree gum, and other vegetation. Lori has a toxic bite, a rare trait among mammals.Vignesh Pillai (Resource Manager): Upon his arrival to Canada, Vignesh Pillai’s father is believed to have pointed to the nearing harbour and whispered: “Look at all those jobs. Go ahead and take one.” Vignesh quickly learned the customs and behaviours of the locals. He will soon fulfill his father’s wish.

Lauren Storwick (Legal Needs Coordinator): Lauren has taken over from Ben Leung as Legal Needs Coordinator. She is looking forward to bringing SLA’s superb services to the far-flung corners of this fair city. Lauren hopes to entice the outreach-uninitiated by providing warm, safe and reliable rides to the Dream Centre and Calgary Drop-In Centre every first and third Wednesday of the month. Sierra Yanush (Secretary/Social Coordinator): Given Sierra’s excessive popularity and difficulty juggling too many friends (a.k.a. Molly Ringwald syndrome), she assumed the position of Social Coordinator/ Secretary with the intention of getting all her friends in the same place at the same time. Her most notable qualities include meticulous attention to detail and planning.Dex Zucchi (External Relations Coordinator): As the External Relations Coordinator, Dex plans on establishing SLA’s first Ministry of Truth, which will propagate the legal clinic’s greatness to both on- and off-campus audiences. While not winning the hearts and minds of the people, Dex enjoys cooking, playing the piano, and running.

SLA welcomes new executive

Name: Anthony Reitboeck

Hometown: Chesterville, ON

Undergrad studies: Biology and Chemistry

Pre-law employment / volunteer experience: Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch.

Exam rituals: Regretting coming to law school, gaining ten pounds, and neglecting my family.

What do you do to keep sane?: Play with my kids. I also devote Sundays to church and family instead of school.

If you could be any place right now, where would you be?: Vienna.

What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?: Had a second child in the middle of law school.

Something no one in law school knows about you: I was viciously attacked by a donken when I was a child. It bit me on my back. I had a scar for years and still occasionally have nightmares about being eaten alive by donkeys.

Your biggest fashion faux-pas: Basically everything I wear.

Profile of a 2L: Anthony Reitboeck

Provided PhotoAnthony over-shares about donkeys in this month’s profile.

4 Moot times February 2013

Name: Alex Darling

Hometown: Vancouver, BC

Undergrad studies: History and English

Pre-law employment / volunteer experience: Among other things, landscaping, high-rise window washing, law firm photocopy slave.

Exam rituals: Coffee exactly 30 minutes before the exam starts, then listening to my exam pump-up playlist.

What do you do to keep sane?: Making sure to take enough time to relax each day, and occasionally reading books that have nothing to do with law.

If you could be any place right now, where would you be?: Turkey, due to the combination of beaches and interesting ruins.

Famous person you look up to and why:Neil Young. He’s been making amazing music consistently for 40 years.

Something no one in law school knows about you: I once spent three weeks on a canoe trip in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Your biggest fashion faux-pas: Wearing a ski jacket to court.

What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?: Cliff-diving.

Profile of a 1L: Alex Darling

Provided PhotoWorld traveller Alex “henge-in’ out” in England.

There’s more To being a greaT lawyer Than your gPa.We’re not just looking for exceptional lawyers, we’re looking for exceptional people. Visit blg.com/student, read our latest lawyer profiles, and see if BLG is right for you.

Calgary | Montréal | Ottawa | Toronto | Vancouver | Waterloo RegionLawyers | Patent & Trade-mark Agents | Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is an Ontario Limited Liability Partnership.

blg.com

February 2013 Moot times 5

Dan McPherson, 3L

It’s February. New Year’s resolutions have probably fallen by the wayside. So why not get back in shape by training for some of these upcoming runs in and around Calgary? This city is home to North America’s largest network of paved pathways. Fish Creek, one of Canada’s largest urban parks, is only a short drive or C-Train ride away. Plus, running is basically free, can be done pretty much anywhere, and is a great mental break. So dust off your trainers, map out a route, and get ready to run this town.

What: Scotiabank Calgary MarathonWhere: CalgaryWhen: May 26th, 2013Why: A challenging, competitive and fun event with a race designed for everyone. Races include the Scotiabank Marathon (42.2 km), Centaur Subaru half marathon (21.1 km), The Jugo Juice 10 km, AstraZeneca 5K Walk and Run or Scotiabank Kids Marathon. This is the oldest continually run marathon in Canada.More info: www.calgarymarathon.com/races/scotiabank-marathon.html

What: Mitsubishi City ChaseWhere: CalgaryWhen: June 8th, 2013Why: A unique urban adventure that requires participants to exhibit teamwork, resourcefulness, determination and the ability to make decisions on the fly as they search for ChasePoints scattered in unknown locations throughout the city. To conquer this 4 to 6 hour urban event, 2 person teams will run, walk and use public transit to navigate their way throughout the city, while calling family and friends for help, accessing the Internet, and even employing assistance of total strangers.More info: www.mitsubishicitychase.comWhat: Color Me Rad 5KWhere: CalgaryWhen: June 29th, 2013Why: Sometimes you’re faced with a decision so important that everything hinges upon you choosing correctly.

Well who cares, right? This run has nothing to do with that. Color Me Rad is the best time you’ll have all year. Plain and simple. It’s like a food fight without food. It’s a race with no glory for the

victor and no shame for the loser—only large slops of color plastered all over you and your friends’ smiling faces.More info: www.colormerad.com/races/calgary.html

Run this town: Running in Calgary

Provided PhotoRunning is Dan’s second favourite past time. His first is taking pictures of himself while running. His third is smiling.

6 Moot times February 2013

What: Half Moon In August Adventure RaceWhere: Crowsnest Pass Area / Southern AlbertaWhen: August 17th, 2013Why: The only wilderness, sprint adventure race in Alberta. It’s a great way for novices to get into the sport of Adventure Racing. The course spans from 30 to 55 km, and teams are allowed up to 8 hours to complete the race. Disciplines include mountain biking, trekking and more.More info: www.fmij.com/half_moon.php

What: Reebok Spartan RaceWhere: CalgaryWhen: August 17th, 2013Why: Spartan Race is the world’s leading obstacle race series. There is fire, mud, water, barbed wire, and occasionally Hell on Earth. There WILL be obstacles to catch you off guard. Curve balls, so to speak. Get over it. We’re here to rip you from your comfort zone. If you need a road map for each step of the way, then maybe this race isn’t for you.More info: www.spartanrace.com

Provided PhotoAfter a race, Marco Baldasaro and Dan McPherson share a mighty man hug (then have salted caramel hot chocolates).

Name: Jenna Kirk

Hometown: Brandon, MB

Undergrad studies: Physics Major, Chemistry/ Biology Double Minor

Pre-law employment experience: Global Compliance Co-ordinator at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, University Organic Lab Instructor, University Physics Instructor, Bartender/Cocktail Waitress

Pre-law volunteer experience:Bradon Humane Society, Brandon University Chemistry Institute of Canada Events Coordinator, Elementary School Basketball Coach, University Prof vs Students Basketball League Creator/Co-ordinator

Exam rituals: Make my own CANs and try to attend each class at least once.

What do you do to keep sane?: Hang out with family and friends, and play sports.

If you could be any place right now, where would you be?: Swimming in Hawaii.

What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?: Been a single parent.

Famous person you look up to and why:I tend not to idolize famous people. Instead, I find role models in my own life. And while she’s not famous, I have always looked up to my mom. She is the strongest person I have ever met.

Something no one in law school knows about you: I do oil paintings, and I have had my work displayed in art galleries.

Your biggest fashion faux-pas: Wait... basketball shoes don’t go with anything?

Profile of a 3L: Jenna Kirk

Provided PhotoFor Jen, the Kobayashi Maru was easy.

February 2013 Moot times 7

Dana Martin, 1L

There’s a lot of information out there reinforcing how exercise is beneficial for your mood and mental clarity, but it can be hard to force into a busy schedule.* You probably don’t even have time to read this article, so I’ll keep it short:

Running Intervals:Establish a comfortable base pace—a

fast walk or jog where you could carry on a conversation. Take five minutes to warm up, then increase the speed—a comfortable jog for the walkers or an extra half-mile/hour for the runners. Maintain for thirty seconds and return to base pace for one to two minutes, then back up for thirty seconds. Keep increasing the speed on your short run intervals and return to base pace in between. Aim for six half-minute fast intervals. Cool down with five minutes at your base pace. You should be really sweaty at this point, and if you aren’t, you can probably run faster next time. This principle can be applied to many sports: on the bike, for instance, you could pedal at a nominal speed and push it for thirty seconds every minute or two. Intervals are effective for building both aerobic and anaerobic capacity, so you can move your law-abiding ass farther and faster.

Core:Spending all day hunched over your

computer is not going to give you rock-hard abs, but some core work might. Execute a plank for thirty seconds and shift into side plank for fifteen seconds on each side. Follow up with a high push-up position for thirty seconds. If this seems like a piece of cake, double the time in each position, or lift a leg in the air. Repeat three times. You can fall out of bed in the morning and do this, and it’ll be over before you’re fully awake.

Rowing:Rowing is hard as hell, which means

you won’t have to do it for very long. Try to cover 500 meters in under 2 minutes. Don’t forget to keep your back straight and engage your abs to protect your tender spine. Rowing is a good way to top off a simple circuit of body weight exercises: think push-ups, sit-ups,

Short workouts for people who don’t have time to work out

© lululemon athleticaWe had to use a Lululemon stand-in, because it’s still too cold for shorts.

8 Moot times February 2013

lunges, and squats. Repeat the whole thing three times.

All that time spent making blood circulate in your body helps oxygen make it to your brain. You might find that the extra clarity helps you make better use of your time in the library, so you can spend less time in the library.

*“I hate exercise, no matter the circumstances!” Get a friend and go. What’s a lousy twenty minutes? Don’t download some new music to pump you up, that’s illegal.

© lululemon athleticaThink you’ve got a strong core? Try a adding a side plank to your routine.

(Continued from page 1) our expectations. We actually met the ‘knowing your rear end from a hole in the ground’ threshold we aspired to. That night we were congratulated by some very esteemed labour lawyers.

Although we narrowly missed an appearance in the final, we were satisfied. We impressed ourselves. We conquered our fears.

As I write this article I look over at the rather empty trophy case (or whatever

it is) on the mezzanine level of the law library. It’s too bad trophy cases don’t always represent what we have achieved. Are you a moot team, and want to tell us about your experience? Send us a note at news@moottimes.ca.

Labour Moot, Ctd.

February 2013 Moot times 9

From Law Class to World-ClassAside from being part of a truly international legal firm, you’ll benefit from practical, hands-on experience and exposure to various areas of practice.

thenortonrosedifference.com

Mike Selnes, 2L

Law school drives many students to drink. Thankfully for us, there are two watering holes located conveniently on campus. After six years of extensive research (you can thank me later) I have decided to share my accumulated wisdom on these two establishments with the readers of Moot Times.

If you have not had a chance to drop in for a pint, the two pubs I am referring to are the Den/Black Lounge operated by the Undergraduate Students’ Union and the Last Defence Lounge (LDL) operated by the Graduate Students’ Association. Previously the LDL was only open to graduate students, but thankfully they have decided to share their space, and their taps, with the rest of us.

The Den, which is the basement of MacHall, was founded over 40 years ago and has served up countless pints during that time. It received a facelift about 10 years ago and is still in good shape. At one point the Black Lounge was a cigar bar known as the Black Lung. Years of smoking left the the curtains stiff as a board, and allegedly hazmat suits were required when they pulled out the carpets. “The Den” consists of the Black Lounge, upstairs, which has more open space with a fireplace, and the Den, downstairs, which does double duty as a pub and a club. Its best feature is undoubtedly its massive patio, which will hopefully stay open for a couple of more weeks. Enjoy some of the last rays of warm sunshine on the patio before it’s too late.

If you are cheap like me, the Den’s specials don’t disappoint. Mondays are $4 pints. Wednesdays are 25¢ wings. Thursday is the best of all and is colloquially known as “ThursDen”. The thirsty student will find cheap pints and jugs, plenty of opportunities to dance up a storm and, in my case, the opportunity to feel really old (the average age of ThursDen may be slightly lower than that of the law school). Due to its popularity, the bar fills up quick, so if you want to revel in the glorious chaos of ThursDen,

show up early. If you manage to stay late, you might get to partake in the great ThursDen tradition known as the “no pants dance”. It involves Journey and doesn’t involve pants. Overall the Den is a great spot to grab a pint, and is notable for its loud and boisterous environment.

The Grad Lounge (“Last Defence”) is on the second floor of MacHall. It was renovated about 5 years ago and has a distinct modern flair. It attracts a more mature crowd (you can decide if that includes law students) and generally has an open table. It has a small patio off the east side, a decent pool table and lots of comfy chairs. The best part of the Grad Lounge is that you can actually hear the people you are talking to, and don’t have to listen to first year rez kids complain about somebody puking in the hallway.

The menu is more extensive than the Den’s and it serves up more healthy (Editor’s Note: read ‘more delicious’) options. They also serve up more local options and thus, better beer. They always have Wildrose on tap, which if

you are new to Calgary, is one of our better local brews. The Grad Lounge also has some wicked deals for the thirsty student. Mondays offer $4.50 bottles of Mill Street (a great Toronto Beer), and Tuesdays are $3.75 domestics and $5 cocktails. Not to be outdone by ThursDen, Thursdays provide turbo cheap highballs and LDL pints. They also offer a daily “skipping class” special from 2 to 4 p.m., which includes a burger and a pint for $10, although I am sure no diligent law student would even consider taking advantage of such a deal. Overall, the Grad Lounge is a common haunt for parched law students and it is a great place to burn some time and get the necessary courage to face your next class, whether it be FLS or Tax.

Due to price and proximity I highly recommend you check out these two awesome pubs. They provide endless enjoyment and will give you a chance to get out of Murray Fraser Hall and meet some of your other fellow UofC students.

Campus pubs: gooders and baders

Image Courtesy Last Defence WebsiteLast Defence Lounge (“LDL” to regulars) has mostly Wild Rose beers on tap.

10 Moot times February 2013

Steve Carey, 3L

Whole Larder Love is a contemporary cookbook that contains a few life lessons. I wasn’t sure what to make of it when I unwrapped it over the holidays—the cover is adorned with .22 caliber bullets, a rather large Opinel knife and unspent shotgun shells. This gift from my wife was a little unexpected, more reflective of her northern Canadian upbringing than my own sheltered Vancouver Island existence.

The book itself is a visual feast. It’s a heavily stylized trip through hunting, fishing and gathering with author Rohan Anderson, who writes a blog of the same name (wholelarderlove.com). Anderson made the decision to become self-sufficient while studying natural resource management, and he lays out his path

and system towards opting-out of the industrialized food production system.

The book progresses through a series of personal stories, instructional sections, and recipes, scattered throughout. Overall, it’s an interesting read. The recipes are easy to follow, and can be cooked with sauces and preserves that you make yourself, largely. Even a quick flip-through makes you want to go trout fishing, cook a stew or roll some gnocchi.

If you read this book, and like it, you may want to also check out The Self-Sufficient-ish Bible, by Andy and Dave Hamilton, two twins from Bristol and neo-hippie bloggers (www.selfsufficientish.com), who will walk you through everything from setting up a garden, brewing your own beer, wine and cider, and maintaining your bicycle.

Steve Carey, 3L

Okay, okay. Two cookbook reviews? Crazy, right? Yeah. But I couldn’t help it: Yotam Ottolenghi and his business partner Sami Tamimi’s book Jerusalem is basically the best thing ever, if you love middle eastern food—which you will, if you read this book.

The recipes are largely vegetarian, some vegan, while the remainder are collections of recipes of all sort. Even pork and shellfish make an appearance, with an anecdote by the authors regarding their individual Muslim and Jewish upbringings. The book is a love-letter to a cuisine and a place, not a religious outcry from either author, or

an attempt to detail which race, religion or creed invented whatever classic dish.

Now, the shining star in this book is the shakshuka recipe. It’s a dish made from eggs poached in stewed tomatoes, flavoured with cumin, garlic, harissa, and tomato paste. You eat it spread over some crusty rye bread or yogurt. If you’re like me, you’re questing forever after a better shakshuka, and the recipe in this book comes very, very close to being my favourite.

Overall, I highly recommend it. Not only does the book make you look worldly and smart, which is of course why I bought it, but it’s also a valuable resource in the kitchen.

Publisher’s ImageKnives, bullets and...vegetables.

Provided PhotoAbramson’s novel paints a daunting.

Review: A feast for the senses (and the taste buds)

Review: Jerusalem (a cookbook)

Publisher’s ImageLuscious-looking Shakshuka!

February 2013 Moot times 11

12 Moot times February 2013