Member Reviews
52 Shabbats by Faith Kramer offers a beautifully holistic approach to the Shabbat tradition, welcoming readers from all backgrounds—Jewish or otherwise—to explore and embrace its richness. This book is a vibrant celebration of Friday night dinners, with recipes inspired by the diverse and flavorful global Jewish kitchen.
Organized seasonally, the book makes it easy to source fresh, in-season ingredients, enhancing each dish's authenticity and vibrancy. The in-depth introduction provides valuable context about Jewish traditions and community, offering an informative backdrop that enriches the recipes and gives readers a deeper appreciation of Shabbat.
Each main recipe is thoughtfully paired with a suggested menu, making it effortless to craft a complete and satisfying Friday night meal from appetizer to dessert. The accompanying photographs are as captivating as the recipes, providing visual inspiration to create stunning dishes. I also appreciated the inclusion of cultural tidbits and stories about Jewish communities worldwide, adding a personal and meaningful touch.
This book has earned a spot on my kitchen library wish list, and I can't wait to incorporate its creative, globally inspired menus into my Friday night dinners.
Thank you to NetGalley and The Collective Book Studio for providing me with an e-book copy in exchange for my honest review
"52 Shabbats" is perfect for anyone, whether you're a longtime Shabbat dinner host or just diving into the tradition. The book has over fifty main recipes, plus plenty of sides and desserts to mix and match. Each recipe is organized seasonally, with substitutions to fit different tastes and lifestyles. It’s a great guide to make your Friday night dinners both easy and meaningful.
We have been wanting to host more Shabbat dinners, so I was excited when I saw this cookbook! '52 Shabbats shares the rich Jewish history, culture, and emotions around these Friday night celebrations. Even if you are just looking to explore Jewish cuisine, I recommend this to you. Faith Kramer's writing is thorough, respectful, and inviting in each aspect of the book.
Special thanks to the Publisher, The Collective Book Studio, and Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this cookbook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I married into a Jewish family and I cannot wait to start incorporating these recipes into my cooking! It’s so helpful and resourceful and informational. Excited!
I absolutely loved reading through this book and can't wait to try the recipes!
There's a nice little history of Jewish cuisine to get rolling, and it's quite short, nothing too heavy, providing some context for readers who aren't so familiar with Jewish food.
It features Shabbat recipes and menu ideas from around the world, but the author uses ingredients that are readily accessible to most modern home cooks. She also does a lot of mashups that become interesting and unique concepts and makes what could be foreign recipes more palatable for the Wester foodie.
It has a beautiful, easy-to-read layout with suggested menus for each recipe and a well-rounded description of the dish.
There are some beautiful pictures, but not all of the recipes have pictures, and the pictures aren't necessarily next to the recipes.
Thank you to NetGalley, The Collective Book Studio, and Faith Kramer for an advanced copy for review.
Thank you to NetGalley and The Collective Book Studio for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a stunningly beautiful cookbook!
The recipes are all very unique, and all the lovely spices and deep flavors make my mouth water just thinking about them.
The ingredients are fairly easy to find, and the instructions are very detailed. I think any cook with a moderate amount of experience could make any recipe from this book, and there few quite a few a newbie cook can easily handle too.
I also appreciate that there are recipes in the back of the book to make some of the harder to find ingredients. Things like Tahini, Hawaij, and Za'atar are incredibly difficult to find in rural areas like mine.
52 Shabbats provides over 50 recipes, while incorporating information on Jewish peoples from around the world and how food plays a role in their varied cultures. Honestly, if you weren't hungry when you started looking at this cookbook, you will be after. I liked how each primary recipe included extra recipes to make a full Shabbat night menu (appetizers, deserts, etc). The recipes seemed easy enough to follow and some are extremely unique and not what I would have immediately guessed would be included for each season.
Thanks to The Collective Book Studio and NetGalley for an eARC of this cookbook for an honest review.