If you noticed some familiar faces in the crowds celebrating Independence Day, it may be because the stars of the popular TV show "House" visited Israel this week. Omar Epps and Jesse Gordon Spencer, a.k.a. Dr. Eric Foreman and Dr. Robert Chase, as well as Epps's wife, Keisha Epps and the show's creator and executive producer David Shore and wife Judy took part in Independence Day celebrations. They visited the Tel Aviv beaches, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and the Galilee. They also met with Israeli actors and visited the Israel Center for Medical Simulation at the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. Hugh Laurie, who plays the show's title character, Dr. House, did not join them.Last week, the Schmooze featured a Jewish food critic that hates Jewish food. This week, Jewish food was redeemed when three out of eight regional James Beard Awards – the Oscars of food - went to Jewish chefs. Michael Solomonov won for his Israeli-influenced Zahav restaurant in Philadelphia, and made sure to mention that it was Israeli Independence Day when he won the award. Other Jewish winners were Tony Maws of Cambridge, Massachusetts and Michael Tusk of San Francisco. In addition, another member of the tribe, Richard Melman, won Outstanding Restaurateur, and this year's Outstanding Restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, is owned by Danny Meyer.The Weekly Schmooze collects the hottest Jewish culture news from around the world. Ranging from celebrities to philanthropy to quirky communities, we're here to schmooze about Jews.
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