The Bottom Line
New Yorkers have known and loved Levana Kirschenbaum, an extremely talented chef and warm personality, via her restaurant, bakery, catering business and cooking classes. Now we can all delight in Levana's work as she has made her recipes and knowledge accessible via a wonderful kosher cookbook, Levana's Table - Kosher Cooking for Everyone.
Pros
- 150 varied, nutritious, and delicious kosher recipes
- Clearly written introductions to and instructions for each dish
- Beautiful photographs that show what the dish should look like
- Clearly written introductions to and instructions for each dish
- 20 holiday and everyday menus, including one for celebrating on a budget
Cons
- Few child-friendly recipes are included
Description
- 150 varied, nutritious, and delicious kosher recipes
- 30 beautiful photographs of the finished dishes
- Clearly written introductions to and instructions for each dish
- Clearly written introductions to and instructions for each dish
- 20 holiday and everyday menus, including one for celebrating on a budget
- Conversion Chart
- Survey of kosher wines
- Comprehensive index
Guide Review - Levana's Table: Kosher Cooking for Everyone, by Levana Kirschenbaum
150 healthy and delicious recipes, 30 beautiful color photos, 20 holiday and ethnic menus, cooking tips, and handy conversion chart are just part of what Levana Kirschenbaum's cookbook, Levana's Table, has to offer. Most importantly, the book's text encourages and enables inexperienced cooks to prepare impressive, delicious kosher food.
Levana, in addition to her great talent as a chef, emits and conveys to others a great warmth and passion for cooking. The fortunates who are able to attend her Manhattan cooking classes get to experience this first-hand. The rest of us are now fortunate to be able to access it through her book.
In the book, Levana also generously shares her entertaining experience which she gained through her restaurant, bakery and catering business.
Levana’s recipes have a tendency to be nutritious. She often uses healthy grains, provides alternatives to white sugar, and includes a variety of vegetables. By using soy, she manages to create lactose-free, pareve and light versions of formerly dairy dishes (such as Tiramisu). And Levana seems to have an innate sense of how to use of herbs and spices just right.
Lastly, Levana’s recipes are greatly varied, probably as a result of her childhood in Morocco, adult life in New York, and open nature. The book includes recipes for Gefilte Fish, Harissa, Cheese Blintzes, Chinese Pickled Cabbage, Minted Tabbouleh Salad, Lamb and Eggplant Curry, and Marzipan-Stuffed Dried Fruits and Nuts.
My favorite recipes from the book are Moroccan Fish Cakes in Lemon Sauce, Chicken Tagine with Prunes and Almonds, and Chocolate Chip Cookies (made with oil instead of margarine). If you want to see Levana’s award winning Carrot Cake, you’ll have to buy the book.
Buy Direct: Stewart, Tabori & Chang
Levana, in addition to her great talent as a chef, emits and conveys to others a great warmth and passion for cooking. The fortunates who are able to attend her Manhattan cooking classes get to experience this first-hand. The rest of us are now fortunate to be able to access it through her book.
In the book, Levana also generously shares her entertaining experience which she gained through her restaurant, bakery and catering business.
Levana’s recipes have a tendency to be nutritious. She often uses healthy grains, provides alternatives to white sugar, and includes a variety of vegetables. By using soy, she manages to create lactose-free, pareve and light versions of formerly dairy dishes (such as Tiramisu). And Levana seems to have an innate sense of how to use of herbs and spices just right.
Lastly, Levana’s recipes are greatly varied, probably as a result of her childhood in Morocco, adult life in New York, and open nature. The book includes recipes for Gefilte Fish, Harissa, Cheese Blintzes, Chinese Pickled Cabbage, Minted Tabbouleh Salad, Lamb and Eggplant Curry, and Marzipan-Stuffed Dried Fruits and Nuts.
My favorite recipes from the book are Moroccan Fish Cakes in Lemon Sauce, Chicken Tagine with Prunes and Almonds, and Chocolate Chip Cookies (made with oil instead of margarine). If you want to see Levana’s award winning Carrot Cake, you’ll have to buy the book.
Buy Direct: Stewart, Tabori & Chang