Anyone looking for new takes on Jewish cooking or fresh ideas for their kosher table will want to explore Adventures in Jewish Cooking. The book pushes the whole concept of Jewish cooking--let alone kosher restrictions--to the limit with inspired, internationally inflected dishes. Jeffrey Nathan, executive chef of Manhattan's acclaimed kosher restaurant Abigael's and host of the popular PBS cooking show New Jewish Cuisine, delivers all the standards of Jewish fare, but his Matzo Ball Soup is intensified with a spicy Latin American Soffrito and studded with saffron-infused matzo balls. His gefilte fish is a sophisticated terrine, adorned with jewel-like carrot and beet salads tossed with a tangy, sharp Horseradish Mustard Vinaigrette. Even his chicken soup is accented with Japanese miso paste. Besides updated versions of typical Jewish dishes, Nathan calls on his widely varied culinary experience to create kosher versions of more unexpected fare. Nori-Wrapped Salmon with Pea Shoot Salad would be impressive on any table--it's merely an added bonus that it also happens to be kosher. Turkey and Sausage Barley Jambalaya proves that pastrami, veal sausage, and turkey thighs can go head-to-head with the nonkosher meats normally found in this spicy Southern dish. Many of the dishes are impressive enough for the holiday table, making this a welcome resource for any cook looking for unusual takes on international cooking and those looking to add new dimensions to their kosher fare. --Robin Donovan


From Publishers Weekly
At last, Nathan has produced a companion volume to his PBS cooking show New Jewish Cuisine. Executive chef of the kosher Abigael's Restaurant in New York, Nathan offers a mix of traditional and modern recipes spiced with occasional personal anecdotes and asides. The book covers appetizers, soups, salads, meat, poultry, fish, breads and brunches and dessert. Many of Nathan's offerings, such as the Fennel-Crusted Snapper with Grapefruit-Cilantro Sauce, the Asian Duck Stir-Fry or the Crispy Creole Chicken Breasts, reflect recent food trends and diverse cultural influences. The time-honored "heritage recipes" are sometimes given a new twist, as with the Sweet Noodle and Fruit Kugel, which brims with the unusual combination of dried cranberries and other dried fruits rather than just the customary golden raisins. Taking into account Jewish dietary laws, each detailed recipe is designated "Meat," "Dairy" or "Pareve" (containing neither meat nor dairy products). Many dairy dishes, such as the refreshing Lemon Mousse with Blueberry Parfaits, include a pareve variation. Explanatory notes appear at the end of recipes and in sidebars sprinkled throughout the book; they cover such diverse subjects as toasting nuts and using raw eggs safely. Nathan rounds out the book with suggested holiday menus and sources for hard-to-find ingredients (such as the kosher version of Japanese rice wine). With surprises on every page, this truly innovative cookbook earns its name. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Nathan is the host of the PBS series New Jewish Cuisine and the chef of Abigael's, an upscale kosher restaurant in New York City. His cooking is a blend of updated old classics, such as Latin Brisket with Chimichurri, and kosher versions of nonkosher dishes, like his French bistro-inspired Chicken and Veal Pƒt‚ (rather than the traditional pork version). He also includes a number of "Heritage Recipes" here, such as Classic Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls, inspired by his great-grandmother's soup. Nathan has a personable style, and fans of his television series, as well as devotees of the restaurant, will ensure demand. For most collections.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
What do Latin American Ceviche and Asian Duck Stir-Fry have in common with Root Vegetable Tzimmes and Classic Chicken Soup with Matzoh Balls? They’re all examples of the inspired cooking that has made Jeffrey Nathan, host of Public Television’s top-rated New Jewish Cuisine, the most exciting kosher chef at work today. His innovative food captures the spirit of Jewish cooking while exploring a whole world of sophisticated flavors.

Jeffrey Nathan revives and reinvents Jewish cuisine for generations of people tired of the same old brisket and noodle kugel. In Adventures in Jewish Cooking, classic Jewish recipes get a delicious twist, like Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Sweet and Sour Cranberry Sauce and Gefilte Fish Terrine with Beet and Carrot Salads. But Nathan also knows when to stick to tradition—in his confident hands, tried-and-true favorites like latkes and cholent have never tasted better. Inspired by Jewish cuisines from around the world, as well as a diverse palette of other ethnic flavors, these recipes are anything but bland or heavy. Israeli Chopped Vegetable Salad, Falafel-Crusted Salmon with Jerusalem Dressing, Syrian Lemon Chicken Stew, and Apple Cobbler with Almond-Streusel Topping are all so flavorful and nuanced that they can be served with pride on any occasion.

With ready-for-company menus perfect for Passover, the Sabbath, and more, plenty of weeknight options, and variations that make it easy to adjust many recipes to a meat or dairy meal, this is the book that adventurous Jewish cooks have been waiting for.


From the Inside Flap
What do Latin American Ceviche and Asian Duck Stir-Fry have in common with Root Vegetable Tzimmes and Classic Chicken Soup with Matzoh Balls? They’re all examples of the inspired cooking that has made Jeffrey Nathan, host of Public Television’s top-rated New Jewish Cuisine, the most exciting kosher chef at work today. His innovative food captures the spirit of Jewish cooking while exploring a whole world of sophisticated flavors.

Jeffrey Nathan revives and reinvents Jewish cuisine for generations of people tired of the same old brisket and noodle kugel. In Adventures in Jewish Cooking, classic Jewish recipes get a delicious twist, like Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Sweet and Sour Cranberry Sauce and Gefilte Fish Terrine with Beet and Carrot Salads. But Nathan also knows when to stick to tradition—in his confident hands, tried-and-true favorites like latkes and cholent have never tasted better. Inspired by Jewish cuisines from around the world, as well as a diverse palette of other ethnic flavors, these recipes are anything but bland or heavy. Israeli Chopped Vegetable Salad, Falafel-Crusted Salmon with Jerusalem Dressing, Syrian Lemon Chicken Stew, and Apple Cobbler with Almond-Streusel Topping are all so flavorful and nuanced that they can be served with pride on any occasion.

With ready-for-company menus perfect for Passover, the Sabbath, and more, plenty of weeknight options, and variations that make it easy to adjust many recipes to a meat or dairy meal, this is the book that adventurous Jewish cooks have been waiting for.


About the Author
JEFFREY NATHAN is the host of New Jewish Cuisine, seen on Public Television stations nationwide and in Israel, and the executive chef and co-owner at Abigael’s, New York City’s premier kosher restaurant. A past nominee for the James Beard Award for best national television cooking show, Nathan garnered acclaim for his wild game cooking at New York’s New Deal Restaurant. This is his first cookbook.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

What do Latin American Ceviche and Asian Duck Stir-Fry have in common with Root Vegetable Tzimmes and Classic Chicken Soup with Matzoh Balls? They're all examples of the inspired cooking that has made Jeffrey Nathan, host of Public Television's top-rated New Jewish Cuisine, the most exciting kosher chef at work today. His innovative food captures the spirit of Jewish cooking while exploring a whole world of sophisticated flavors.

Jeffrey Nathan revives and reinvents Jewish cuisine for generations of people tired of the same old brisket and noodle kugel. In Adventures in Jewish Cooking, classic Jewish recipes get a delicious twist, like Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Sweet and Sour Cranberry Sauce and Gefilte Fish Terrine with Beet and Carrot Salads. But Nathan also knows when to stick to tradition—in his confident hands, tried-and-true favorites like latkes and cholent have never tasted better. Inspired by Jewish cuisines from around the world, as well as a diverse palette of other ethnic flavors, these recipes are anything but bland or heavy. Israeli Chopped Vegetable Salad, Falafel-Crusted Salmon with Jerusalem Dressing, Syrian Lemon Chicken Stew, and Apple Cobbler with Almond-Streusel Topping are all so flavorful and nuanced that they can be served with pride on any occasion.

With ready-for-company menus perfect for Passover, the Sabbath, and more, plenty of weeknight options, and variations that make it easy to adjust many recipes to a meat or dairy meal, this is the book that adventurous Jewish cooks have been waiting for.

Author Biography: JEFFREY NATHAN is the host of New Jewish Cuisine, seen on Public Television stations nationwideand in Israel, and the executive chef and co-owner at Abigael's, New York City's premier kosher restaurant. A past nominee for the James Beard Award for best national television cooking show, Nathan garnered acclaim for his wild game cooking at New York's New Deal Restaurant. This is his first cookbook.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

At last, Nathan has produced a companion volume to his PBS cooking show New Jewish Cuisine. Executive chef of the kosher Abigael's Restaurant in New York, Nathan offers a mix of traditional and modern recipes spiced with occasional personal anecdotes and asides. The book covers appetizers, soups, salads, meat, poultry, fish, breads and brunches and dessert. Many of Nathan's offerings, such as the Fennel-Crusted Snapper with Grapefruit-Cilantro Sauce, the Asian Duck Stir-Fry or the Crispy Creole Chicken Breasts, reflect recent food trends and diverse cultural influences. The time-honored "heritage recipes" are sometimes given a new twist, as with the Sweet Noodle and Fruit Kugel, which brims with the unusual combination of dried cranberries and other dried fruits rather than just the customary golden raisins. Taking into account Jewish dietary laws, each detailed recipe is designated "Meat," "Dairy" or "Pareve" (containing neither meat nor dairy products). Many dairy dishes, such as the refreshing Lemon Mousse with Blueberry Parfaits, include a pareve variation. Explanatory notes appear at the end of recipes and in sidebars sprinkled throughout the book; they cover such diverse subjects as toasting nuts and using raw eggs safely. Nathan rounds out the book with suggested holiday menus and sources for hard-to-find ingredients (such as the kosher version of Japanese rice wine). With surprises on every page, this truly innovative cookbook earns its name. (Sept.)

Library Journal