THE ZISKINS HAVE A KNACK FOR KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT WE’RE CRAVING AND JUST HOW TO SERVE IT UP.
Husband and Wife Team, Josh and Jen Ziskin
Dining Playbook Catches Up With Jen Ziskin at Punch Bowl Brookline
From NESN’s Dining Playbook show.
CHEF JOSH ZISKIN
OWNER
Josh Ziskin has earned a well-deserved reputation in Greater Boston for his authentic Northern Italian cuisine, which he’s served for over seventeen years at Ristorante La Morra in Brookline. Josh, and his wife Jen, spent a year in the Piedmont region of Italy where Josh cooked at the highly regarded Ristorante Belvedere, and together they studied the food and wine of Northern Italy. In 2003, they opened Ristorante La Morra, naming it after the picturesque hilltop town where they had lived in Barolo country. It quickly became a local favorite, and a destination for lovers of authentic Italian cuisine.
Building on his personal connection to Brookline (Josh is a long-time resident of Brookline, where his family owned a frame store for more than 30 years) and his deep appreciation for its history, he sought to re-kindle the spirit of Brookline’s historic Punch Bowl and re-imagine it as a modern city tavern. Josh is thrilled to announce the opening of their newest restaurant!
JEN ZISKIN
OWNER/WINE DIRECTOR
Jen is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, received certification as an Italian Wine Specialist from the North American Sommelier Association, and is a current WSET Diploma candidate. She has worked at many of Boston’s fine restaurants such as Maison Robert, Chez Henri, Eight Holyoke and Aigo Bistro. Jen, along with her husband, Josh, own La Morra of Brookline. The Punch Bowl Tavern is their newest collaboration.
Jen was inspired by the women who ran and managed taverns of the past and is curating a “female focused” wine list by carefully selecting wines made, produced or managed by remarkable women. At the top of Jen’s list is Valentina Abbona of Marchesi de Barolo, a historic estate in Piedmont known for its single vineyard and riserva wines from the Nebbiolo grape. Jen was first introduced to Valentina as her babysitter 24 years ago while living in Italy! Another favorite is one of the most celebrated wine-makers in Portugal, Sandra Tavares de Silva of Wine & Soul. Sandra is known for her character-driven wines representative of the Douro region.