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A new book reveals that Ikea — of lingonberry jam and cheap furniture fame — has a founder with a Nazi past. [Washington Post]

A Whole Foods spokesperson denies rumors that the high-end chain is boycotting Israeli products. She noted that Whole Foods carries thousands of kosher options and hundreds of kosher-for-Passover products. Jewish Journal

Mark your calendars, Texans: Houston will host a Kosher chili cookoff in October. Last year’s cookoff raised $10,000 for various Jewish organizations. [Houston Chronicle] Planning a trip to San Francisco? J., the Jewish news weekly of Northern California, has compiled a list of the best kosher restaurants in the Bay Area: [J. Weekly]

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Chicken parmesan and beef lasagna may not be kosher, but Joan Nathan explains that there is actually a wonderful heritage of Jewish Italian cuisine. [Tablet]

A “modern Jewish-food-inspired bistro” set to open in Tribeca this fall announces its executive chef. Barbecue brisket-stuffed knishes, pastrami Reuben sliders, and shmaltz-rubbed steak frites are expected to make it onto the menu. Village Voice/Fork in the Road

In other unexpected Jewish cuisine news, the New Yorker directs our attention to a mother-daughter team blogging and writing a cookbook on Mexican-Jewish cooking. Check out their recipes (like kosher tamales!) on their blog, Challa-peño. [The New Yorker/Book Bench]

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