The Essential Book of Jewish Festival Cooking

December 15, 2003
Setting this volume apart from other seasonal cookbooks, sibling authors Phyllis (an American-born food writer living in Tel Aviv) and Miriyam (a professor of literature at the University of Judaism in L.A.) not only provide the recipes and dishes suitable for each festival but offer the historical and theological background of each festival as well as their modern day rituals. Jewish observance has always revolved around food, with traditional dishes and ingredients associated with each festival, and the authors include not just traditional dishes but modern interpretations as well. From the Glazer Family Haroset, traditionally served at the Passover seder table, to Mom's Classic Hamantaschen for the Purim celebration, the authors take readers through the Jewish calendar, branching out to include the international inspirations of local cuisine that the Jews picked up and incorporated throughout their wanderings, both East and West. New dishes are also included from the biblically inspired Fragrant Chicken with Figs and the autumnal Cranberry Apple Crumb Pie to the simple but flavorful "Drunken" Salmon in Sherry-Butter Sauce, so suitable for Purim. Inserted throughout are fascinating explanations of traditions, historical developments and ingredients that make the book a good read as well as a good cookbook.

March 15, 2004
Phyllis Glazer, who grew up in New York and now lives in Tel Aviv, is a food writer and author of several other cookbooks; her sister, Miriyam, is a professor at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. Here they offer both traditional and more contemporary versions of holiday dishes, with an emphasis on their historical significance for Jews around the world. Besides the major religious festivals from Passover to Purim, they include some not found in most other books, such as Tu B'Av, "the fifteenth of Av's little-known festival of love." Well-written headnotes set the context for the individual recipes, and boxes provide additional religious and cultural history. A good companion to Joan Nathan's classic Jewish Holiday Kitchen and Gloria Kaufer Greene's The New Jewish Holiday Cookbook, this is recommended for all subject collections.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2004
Jewish holidays summon up memories of grandmothers preparing traditional, prescribed dishes for their broods. Sisters Phyllis Glazer and Miriyam Glazer, inspired by their grandmother, have devotedly produced " The Essential Book of Jewish Festival Cooking" . Filled with succulent recipes, this volume includes so much historical and religious data that it may serve as textbook as well as cookbook. Each successive holiday, beginning with the chief holiday, Passover, has its own series of traditional dishes although the authors are quick to acknowledge the range of traditions among the various branches of the Diaspora. Recipes are easy to follow and rarely require rare or hard-to-find ingredients. Everyone will be attracted to the little-known Tu b'av, a summer love festival. For it, the Glazers suggest a salad of goat cheese, arugula, and fresh figs--bound to be tasty whenever the ingredients are in season. Other recipes, for example, Purim's hamantaschen and Hanukkah's jelly doughnuts, vary the common ingredients with some original ideas. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)