Essen! Jewish Food in the New World kicks off Sunday

Western Massachusetts has its share of attractions, both natural and cultural. A fair bit of the cultural attractions are facilitated by an organization called Museums10, a consortium of galleries and museums ranging from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art to the Smith College Museum of Art to the Emily Dickinson Museum.

Museums10 is on the radar of foodie folks these days for two reasons. The first is called Table for 10: The Art, History, and Science of Food, a months-long festival of cooking classes, demonstrations, lectures, and literary dinners. Most of the events take place this summer and fall — hitting just about all of the institutions involved in Museums10 — and it kicks off this Sunday.

Which brings us to the second reason foodie folks are paying attention. Essen! Jewish Food in the New World opens this Sunday, May 16, at the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst. The exhibit explores the idea that kitchen pots and grocery shelves chronicle the tale of the American Jewish experience from the early 20th century to today.

The full schedule of events also includes a series of paintings of jam-filled doughnuts and a public art project that transforms a traditional mobile food cart into a visual and culinary moveable feast.

Cathy Huyghe writes for the WGBH Daily Dish blog. Read new WGBH Daily Dish posts every weekday, where you can explore myriad ways and places to experience good food and wine.