Customer Reviews

Levana's Table: Kosher Cooking for Everyone

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What a pleasure to have Levana's recipes bound in such a beautiful book! My husband and I have taken many of Levana's cooking classes in New York City - me for the recipes and techniques, my husband because he knew he would get a good dinner - and my recipe collection was all a hodgepodge. Plus, the book has the added bonus of Levana's practiced advice on entertaining - some of which she gave in class, but not all - I only wish I could have read it before I started entertaining - it would have saved me from a lot of mistakes. Plus, there are charming stories about Levana's mother, her husband Maurice and her children - including her daughter who, Levana says, usually prefers to eat cold cereal! I just de-accessioned most of my large library of cookbooks, but this one is a keeper. Note - You will need a food processor. I never bought one until Levana demonstrated how easy it is to use - now I have 2 (one for Passover). I asked Levana if she keeps her food processor parve like I do. "I have 3 food processors!" she said. This book is a perfect gift for all brides. I just gave mine away to my best friend for her birthday and have to buy two more today - one for a bride. Another hint while I have your attention - those Le Creuset spatulas and spoons in blue, red, and green that can take heat up to 650 degrees (I think that's the number) are perfect for the Kosher kitchen. Levana uses them, and now I do too! I love the big color photos that show how the dish is supposed to look - why don't all cookbooks have them? My only quibble is you have to squint to see Levana - her photo is about 1 inch square square! - it does not show her vivacious warmth as big as it is. I think it is inspiring to see her up to her elbows in bread dough while smiling and talking a mile a minute, so why not show her doing some of the more difficult stuff?

We actually bought this book by chance, as it was the first kosher cookbook we had ever actually seen in a bookshop here in town. And what a pleasant surprise!

The charming layout can perhaps best be compared to Joyce Esersky Goldstein's great books, e.g. Cucina Ebraica: Flavors of the Italian Jewish Kitchen, but while Mrs. Goldstein serves down-to-earth Mediterranean food in a wonderful way, Mrs. Kirschenbaum's recipes seem heavenly inspired.
The recipes are a proof that kosher can be for gourmets as well.

Additionally, so far I have not found any detail not corresponding to Kashrut, while other kosher cookbooks are sometimes a bit careless in this respect.

I bought Levana's book after attending her cooking classes in New York City (http://www.levanakirschenbaum.com). This book is a great companion for her classes -- I recommend them both highly! Her Brisket makes a great seder main course.

Levana's Table has in a very short time become one of the most treasured books in my kosher cookbook library. I value this book because of its clearly presented recipes with easily accessible ingredients; its contemporary slant on traditional kosher cooking; and the exquisite photographs which accompany many of the recipes. Levana's helpful guidelines and tips are clearly set out by the recipes and contain information that even an experienced cook will find valuable. Levana was born in Morocco and spent time in France, and so some of her recipes reflect a Mediterranean point of view. You will be richly rewarded by purchasing this cookbook, either for yourself or as a gift.

During a summer picnic someone advised me to buy Levana's cookbook. Since I bought this cookbook I don't look anymore at others. I also follow her cooking classes at Lincoln Square Synagogue and they are too good to be true. She makes healthy dishes which are very easy to make and simply delicious as well. I was always a bit insecure about cooking since often recipes didn't turn out like they should. Not with levana's recipes; they work. It really makes me happy to see that my dishes turn out so well. Levana uses all kinds of healthy grains, I never heard of before, gives alternatives to white cane sugar, gives easy recipes to make fish and chicken exotic in no time, turns heavy dairy dishes into light soy creations and uses vegetables, spices and herbs in such a magical way that even the greatest carnivore would consider to become a vegetarian.
I am waiting for her new cookbook.

I have to say that this book has to be one of the top kosher cookbooks. So far I only tried one recipe, which happened to be marinated steak for the grill, which was unbelievable. My guests could not stop raving about it. I imagine that most of the other recipes should follow suit. I noticed a trend with her recipes, to include green peppercorns and/or saffron. Green peppercorns, could be found at most gourmet shops, but when she calls for green peppercorns in brine, I have yet to see where that exists. I'm sure it's out there somewhere, but she doesn't elaborate on it. Levana is a fan of tofu, as she explains in the book, book I can't comment if those recipes are good (even though I speculate that they are). I bought all of the ingredients for her non-dairy Tiramisu, but I didn't have time to make it. Her book is fun to read, and you can't help be excited to try her next recipe.

This is my favorite cookbook ever!!! Everything I've cooked from this book tastes great. With the exception of the short chapter on fancy recipes from her restaurant, the ingredients are very down to earth and not complicated. I love all the personal anecdotes Levana includes. You can just tell this is her passion.

This book of enticing recipes and gorgeous photos is a perfect gift for your favorite hostess. Levana is a master chef who is passionate about her work, and it shows. Her elegance and attention to detail are illustrated throughout Levana's Table. In addition to a collection of great recipes, Levana takes you inside her world of presentation and entertaining. She offers thoughtful tips and advice throughout.

The target audience for Levana's Table is Kosher, yet Levana herself follows a mostly dairy-free diet, as evidenced in this book. Only a handful of the 150+ recipes contain any milk products, while several inviting dairy-free options, including a Tiramisu, are offered.

One thing I truly enjoyed about this cookbook was the adventurousness. Levana's recipes touch every portion of the globe. Chili Sans Carne highlights a famous Latin dish, Lamb and Eggplant Curry demonstrates an excellent use of Indian spices, and a jazzed up Miso Soup (with Shiitakes and Swiss Chard) offers some new flavors to one of my old favorites.

Several of the recipes call for more extravagant ingredients, so this may not be my daily go-to cookbook. Nonetheless, the instructions are uncomplicated and easy to follow. When guests are coming, or I need some inspiration to trial new foods, Levana's Table will certainly be the first place I look.