“Jewish Food from the Dark Side”: Leslie Harris

Berger's Beat
April 14, 2012

http://bergersbeat.com/

“Oy vey! I’m Schwartz!” The phrase is a Yiddish expression of exasperation of being black and is the title of a cookbook by Leslie Harris, 65, an art collector, accomplished singer and dancer, who lives in Fort Lauderdale. The columnist, who just returned from there after a two-day stint, met Harris – a native of Manchester, England, through former St. Louisan Michael Bollig, a retiree of TWA who now owns a consignment shop there. In his luxurious house, which he shares with Geoffrey Roberts, Harris explained in the book, “It is my job as a cook and performing artiste to create a reaction in the onlooker. If this book achieves this, I will have done my job.” He added, “The Jewish community respected my mother’s skills as a tailor, and the memories I have of those times are fondly remembered.” Harris, whose stage name was Leslie Saxon, once performed in “The Black Mikado” in London through which he met and danced with Princess Margaret (“which broke etiquette”) at a charity ball at the Ritz. He also recounted memories of another time, when celebrated composer Andrew Lloyd Webber knocked on his dressing room door and told him that he was writing a musical, based on former Missourian and poet/playwright T.S. Eliot‘s “Old Possums Book of Practical Cats”, which was to be titled, “Cats.” Harris said that Webber created the role of “Mongo” for him. Harris’ fondest memory is that of working in the musical with Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench, whom he said worked tirelessly at the barre. Alas, Dench broke her Achilles heel and was replaced by Elaine Paige. “Oy, vey, I’m Schwartz!” is available on Amazon.

Geoffrey Roberts, Leslie Harris, Michael Bollig

Leslie Harris

Oy vey! I’m Schwartz