A word

Hey lurking friends and relatives, post a comment! Also, if you have a really good recipe, email tinykitchens@gmail.com. -Lu

Matzoh, matzoh man

I was fortunate enough to be on location at a condemned Matzoh factory in Jersey City on Monday. Flour permeated the air, and the odor was reminiscent of pretzels. The men that worked there were predominantly Russian-Jews. They were proud of what they did, and were very eager to explain the machinery, and boast about their 97 foot long twin ovens (the longest in the United States). Signs everywhere warned about the seriousness of violating strict Kosher guidelines for cleanliness. We took portraits of each worker against the same background. Some of the men were skeptical of our motives, most were happy to comply. They all asked what newspaper we worked for. It was difficult to explain that it was the photographer's personal project. They were mostly let down. I guess they want someone to know what they've been up to in that factory. There's no glamour in the job; a dust mask to filter out flour, a beard and hair net for sanitation, and countless hours on your feet. I was moved by their kinship and humor. I'm sure there isn't much to hide after 30 years of working together.