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The Community Table: Recipes & Stories from the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan & Beyond
Across the continent, JCCs are cultural epicenters of modern Jewish life. The buildings are hives of activity; at any given moment, hundreds of people of all ages, backgrounds, interests, and opinions gather to engage in a myriad of activities. And nothing says community more than food.
While sitting down to enjoy a meal together is undeniably bonding, working together to prepare it is even more so. Now, three chefs who are longstanding members of the JCC Manhattan share classic recipes such as Weekly Challah, Latkes Four Ways, and Pumpkin Rugelach, plus an inspiring selection of contemporary dishes with a farm-to-table emphasis and international flavors: Fig and Fennel Bread, Iraqi Lamb Burgers, Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate and Citrus Glaze, and much more. Holiday menu suggestions and a complete chart grouping recipes by dietary restriction (meat, pareve, dairy) are included as well.
With anecdotal contributions from JCCs all around the country, this cookbook highlights the JCC's vibrant, eclectic community-and celebrates all of its many flavors.
While sitting down to enjoy a meal together is undeniably bonding, working together to prepare it is even more so. Now, three chefs who are longstanding members of the JCC Manhattan share classic recipes such as Weekly Challah, Latkes Four Ways, and Pumpkin Rugelach, plus an inspiring selection of contemporary dishes with a farm-to-table emphasis and international flavors: Fig and Fennel Bread, Iraqi Lamb Burgers, Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate and Citrus Glaze, and much more. Holiday menu suggestions and a complete chart grouping recipes by dietary restriction (meat, pareve, dairy) are included as well.
With anecdotal contributions from JCCs all around the country, this cookbook highlights the JCC's vibrant, eclectic community-and celebrates all of its many flavors.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2015
6 people are currently reading
672 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 24, 2015
What a lovely cookbook! The stories are interesting and the recipes look delicious. I can't wait to try them out. There's lots of mouth watering photos, so don't read this book if you are hungry.
*I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. *
*I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. *
April 3, 2015
I won this free book from Goodreads-First reads. A very well thought out cookbook. Three authors have contributed to the book; with instructions, equipment to use, menus and wonderful recipes. I have tried out two carrot recipes, they were excellent. " cooking is an opportunity to create" This cookbook will be a favorite of mine.
September 13, 2018
Love the diversity of recipes!
June 24, 2021
Has some great food in it
November 27, 2015
My first Goodreads Giveaway win! After looking through this beautiful cookbook, I decided to give it to my mom and hope that she makes me some of the recipes! Below is her review of the book.
My daughter won this book on Goodreads in the First Reads giveaways and has shared it with me because of my love of cookbooks and healthy eating. First of all, this is a gorgeous, hard cover book, full of photography and detailed instructions. The authors are members of an active Jewish Community Center and have created a book that makes the reader feel a part of not only the food but the activities, families, faith, and outreach. Black and white photos on the inside cover pages at the beginning and end are like a family album and immediately draw you into the life of the community and the people who spend time together there. You are eager to be a part and sit around the table with them.
The authors are committed to cooking with high quality, fresh, organic ingredients, and the vibrant color photography reveals the difference both quality and love of cooking makes. Most of the dishes have full page photos, and there are many practical how-to's shown too...braiding bread, sectioning citrus, stewing figs, putting lattice on a pie, peeling fava beans, slicing lamb, seeding a pomegranate, etc.
While the recipes include excellent meat, chicken, and fish dishes, I am drawn to the many options available to me as a vegetarian, especially in the salad, pasta, bean, and vegetable sections. Think of Grilled Cauliflower, Moroccan Chickpeas, Lentil Dal, Zucchini Spaghettini, to name a few.
Even the desserts reflect the authors' attention to detail, health, and beauty. Many are classics revised with current health findings and preferences in mind. Many are made with fruit and natural sweeteners/oils. The Chocolate Chip-Hazelnut Meringues are even gluten and dairy free! Charts at the back of the book divide recipes into those including dairy, meat, or pareve (neither dairy nor meat). Of course, these are important to the faith, but they are also helpful to those who have food allergies or have chosen a vegetarian diet.
Faith is integral to this cookbook, and it includes many recipes for the holy days. But this book is also one we can all share because of the focus on family and community life, and the devotion to healthy, homemade, satisfying food. It's a beautiful book, one to use often, treasure, and give.
My daughter won this book on Goodreads in the First Reads giveaways and has shared it with me because of my love of cookbooks and healthy eating. First of all, this is a gorgeous, hard cover book, full of photography and detailed instructions. The authors are members of an active Jewish Community Center and have created a book that makes the reader feel a part of not only the food but the activities, families, faith, and outreach. Black and white photos on the inside cover pages at the beginning and end are like a family album and immediately draw you into the life of the community and the people who spend time together there. You are eager to be a part and sit around the table with them.
The authors are committed to cooking with high quality, fresh, organic ingredients, and the vibrant color photography reveals the difference both quality and love of cooking makes. Most of the dishes have full page photos, and there are many practical how-to's shown too...braiding bread, sectioning citrus, stewing figs, putting lattice on a pie, peeling fava beans, slicing lamb, seeding a pomegranate, etc.
While the recipes include excellent meat, chicken, and fish dishes, I am drawn to the many options available to me as a vegetarian, especially in the salad, pasta, bean, and vegetable sections. Think of Grilled Cauliflower, Moroccan Chickpeas, Lentil Dal, Zucchini Spaghettini, to name a few.
Even the desserts reflect the authors' attention to detail, health, and beauty. Many are classics revised with current health findings and preferences in mind. Many are made with fruit and natural sweeteners/oils. The Chocolate Chip-Hazelnut Meringues are even gluten and dairy free! Charts at the back of the book divide recipes into those including dairy, meat, or pareve (neither dairy nor meat). Of course, these are important to the faith, but they are also helpful to those who have food allergies or have chosen a vegetarian diet.
Faith is integral to this cookbook, and it includes many recipes for the holy days. But this book is also one we can all share because of the focus on family and community life, and the devotion to healthy, homemade, satisfying food. It's a beautiful book, one to use often, treasure, and give.
November 23, 2015
My daughter won this book on Goodreads in the First Reads giveaways and has shared it with me because of my love of cookbooks and healthy eating. First of all, this is a gorgeous, hard cover book, full of photography and detailed instructions. The authors are members of an active Jewish Community Center and have created a book that makes the reader feel a part of not only the food but the activities, families, faith, and outreach. Black and white photos on the inside cover pages at the beginning and end are like a family album and immediately draw you into the life of the community and the people who spend time together there. You are eager to be a part and sit around the table with them.
The authors are committed to cooking with high quality, fresh, organic ingredients, and the vibrant color photography reveals the difference both quality and love of cooking makes. Most of the dishes have full page photos, and there are many practical how-to's shown too...braiding bread, sectioning citrus, stewing figs, putting lattice on a pie, peeling fava beans, slicing lamb, seeding a pomegranate, etc.
While the recipes include excellent meat, chicken, and fish dishes, I am drawn to the many options available to me as a vegetarian, especially in the salad, pasta, bean, and vegetable sections. Think of Grilled Cauliflower, Moroccan Chickpeas, Lentil Dal, Zucchini Spaghettini, to name a few.
Even the desserts reflect the authors' attention to detail, health, and beauty. Many are classics revised with current health findings and preferences in mind. Many are made with fruit and natural sweeteners/oils. The Chocolate Chip-Hazelnut Meringues are even gluten and dairy free! Charts at the back of the book divide recipes into those including dairy, meat, or pareve (neither dairy nor meat). Of course, these are important to the faith, but they are also helpful to those who have food allergies or have chosen a vegetarian diet.
Faith is integral to this cookbook, and it includes many recipes for the holy days. But this book is also one we can all share because of the focus on family and community life, and the devotion to healthy, homemade, satisfying food. It's a beautiful book, one to use often, treasure, and give.
The authors are committed to cooking with high quality, fresh, organic ingredients, and the vibrant color photography reveals the difference both quality and love of cooking makes. Most of the dishes have full page photos, and there are many practical how-to's shown too...braiding bread, sectioning citrus, stewing figs, putting lattice on a pie, peeling fava beans, slicing lamb, seeding a pomegranate, etc.
While the recipes include excellent meat, chicken, and fish dishes, I am drawn to the many options available to me as a vegetarian, especially in the salad, pasta, bean, and vegetable sections. Think of Grilled Cauliflower, Moroccan Chickpeas, Lentil Dal, Zucchini Spaghettini, to name a few.
Even the desserts reflect the authors' attention to detail, health, and beauty. Many are classics revised with current health findings and preferences in mind. Many are made with fruit and natural sweeteners/oils. The Chocolate Chip-Hazelnut Meringues are even gluten and dairy free! Charts at the back of the book divide recipes into those including dairy, meat, or pareve (neither dairy nor meat). Of course, these are important to the faith, but they are also helpful to those who have food allergies or have chosen a vegetarian diet.
Faith is integral to this cookbook, and it includes many recipes for the holy days. But this book is also one we can all share because of the focus on family and community life, and the devotion to healthy, homemade, satisfying food. It's a beautiful book, one to use often, treasure, and give.
August 24, 2015
THE COMMUNITY TABLE proves that kosher meals need not be cholesterol-filled, repetitious, and unimaginative. Many other cookbooks do that as well, but this one is an exciting, guide that will not only help the new cooks but also add to the experienced cooks’ repertoire. And the book provides inspiration to cooks who may not be Jewish and may not keep kosher.
The book begins with advice about what to look for when shopping for ingredients. The authors recommend using organic, local products whenever possible. It explains the differences between various types of oils and what equipment is recommended to have on hand and describes, in detail, various ways to prepare vegetables.
At the end of the book, the recipes are listed by category (Meat, Dairy, Pareve), there are suggested menus for holidays, a list of which recipes are kosher for Passover, and a metric conversion chart.
Now to the recipes. The first one is for Challah with instructions and pictures for several styles, such as a round Challah with a honey bowl in the center, perfect for Rosh Hashanah. Other bread recipes include Fig and Fennel Bread,, Grilled Rosemary Flatbread. Lemon Scones, and Homemade Pretzels. If you like latkess, there are four variations.
The recipes, collected from many sources, include more traditional fare like Chicken Soup and Roasted Chicken but also Black Bean Cakes with Tomato Salsa, Potato and Zucchini Egg Tart (Feinkochen), Sofrita, Salmon-Halibut Gefilte Fish with Apple Beet Horseradish Relish, Vietnamese Rice-Noodle Soup with Beef, Gougeres, Karpas Salad, Gemelli with Mushroom Bolognese, Thai Grilled Beef Salad, Moroccan Mezze, Red Quinoa and Black Rice Pilaf, and Matzah Brei Sri-Lankan Style.
The book covers all categories, is nicely illustrated and has tips and comments throughout. It’s going to be well-used.
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads
The book begins with advice about what to look for when shopping for ingredients. The authors recommend using organic, local products whenever possible. It explains the differences between various types of oils and what equipment is recommended to have on hand and describes, in detail, various ways to prepare vegetables.
At the end of the book, the recipes are listed by category (Meat, Dairy, Pareve), there are suggested menus for holidays, a list of which recipes are kosher for Passover, and a metric conversion chart.
Now to the recipes. The first one is for Challah with instructions and pictures for several styles, such as a round Challah with a honey bowl in the center, perfect for Rosh Hashanah. Other bread recipes include Fig and Fennel Bread,, Grilled Rosemary Flatbread. Lemon Scones, and Homemade Pretzels. If you like latkess, there are four variations.
The recipes, collected from many sources, include more traditional fare like Chicken Soup and Roasted Chicken but also Black Bean Cakes with Tomato Salsa, Potato and Zucchini Egg Tart (Feinkochen), Sofrita, Salmon-Halibut Gefilte Fish with Apple Beet Horseradish Relish, Vietnamese Rice-Noodle Soup with Beef, Gougeres, Karpas Salad, Gemelli with Mushroom Bolognese, Thai Grilled Beef Salad, Moroccan Mezze, Red Quinoa and Black Rice Pilaf, and Matzah Brei Sri-Lankan Style.
The book covers all categories, is nicely illustrated and has tips and comments throughout. It’s going to be well-used.
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads
April 2, 2015
Love, love, love this book. It's a truly outstanding collection of recipes. The photos in the book were so vivid and enticing, my kids begged me to try out the recipes. And boy, it was Challah at first sight. The recipes did not call for any fancy ingredients, nor did they require any tools that you don't already have in your kitchen. Just hearty, down-to-earth food you can cook every day. There are also tons of helpful tips laced between the recipes, such as 'how to seed a pomegranate', 'how to get rid of the fat in your chicken soup', etc. They are real time-savers. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves to cook for their family. Tomato Soup with Gougeres, what's not to love ?
April 24, 2015
I received The Community Table as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
Despite not being Jewish, this is an absolutely beautiful cookbook. The photography and presentation is gorgeous, the recipes are varied--from simple, beginner-level stuff to more advanced dishes, but nothing beyond the skills of a reasonably experienced cook--and the narrative breaks are interesting without being sappy. The starters and desserts in particular caught my eye, as that's what I most often end up making (tarts? plum tomato jam? lemon-olive oil cake? yes to all!). Can't wait to try some of these for upcoming potlucks and get-togethers.
Despite not being Jewish, this is an absolutely beautiful cookbook. The photography and presentation is gorgeous, the recipes are varied--from simple, beginner-level stuff to more advanced dishes, but nothing beyond the skills of a reasonably experienced cook--and the narrative breaks are interesting without being sappy. The starters and desserts in particular caught my eye, as that's what I most often end up making (tarts? plum tomato jam? lemon-olive oil cake? yes to all!). Can't wait to try some of these for upcoming potlucks and get-togethers.
June 30, 2016
Wow ! What a gorgeous and practical cookbook. The book contains clearly written recipes and photos for each recipe.
As a sometimes vegetarian, I focused on the non-meat dishes and I was surprised by the collection. There is such a variety of recipes that even the hesitant cook would find something to try. I made Steamed Salmon on Chard Leaves and it turned out perfectly.
I loved the black and white photos on the inside the cover of the book. They really show the family and community aspect of cooking.
Thank you GoodReads for the book.
As a sometimes vegetarian, I focused on the non-meat dishes and I was surprised by the collection. There is such a variety of recipes that even the hesitant cook would find something to try. I made Steamed Salmon on Chard Leaves and it turned out perfectly.
I loved the black and white photos on the inside the cover of the book. They really show the family and community aspect of cooking.
Thank you GoodReads for the book.
October 6, 2015
Won from Goodreads Giveaways!
The pictures, colour, recipes, and simplicity earn full marks for me here.
I struggle with finding new recipes as well as items to bring to parties or family gatherings. I find the title "Community Table" perfect with something for everyone in this book.
Lemon Layer Cake and Homemade Pretzels caught my attention.
Must read. One of my favourites this year!
The pictures, colour, recipes, and simplicity earn full marks for me here.
I struggle with finding new recipes as well as items to bring to parties or family gatherings. I find the title "Community Table" perfect with something for everyone in this book.
Lemon Layer Cake and Homemade Pretzels caught my attention.
Must read. One of my favourites this year!
August 23, 2015
*First I have to say that I won this in a Goodreads giveaway, but that is in no way affecting my review!*
I really like this cookbook! From the stories, to the recommended tools for any kitchen, to the recipes themselves, to the variety of foods, to the photos... What a great cookbook! I'm excited to try some of the recipes, and to continue to enjoy the book! I would definitely recommend this!
I really like this cookbook! From the stories, to the recommended tools for any kitchen, to the recipes themselves, to the variety of foods, to the photos... What a great cookbook! I'm excited to try some of the recipes, and to continue to enjoy the book! I would definitely recommend this!
September 27, 2015
This is a very nice cookbook. Don't let the title fool you. Although, some of the recipes have Jewish origins, most of the cookbook has modern recipes that would fit into any kitchen. The photographs are beautiful and the recipes sound delicious. In compliance with FTC guidelines, I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
October 31, 2015
*I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway*
I really love this cookbook. Beautiful pictures and stories accompany the recipes. We tried several recipes and my whole family (including two picky kids) enjoyed them. What a terrific compilation!
I really love this cookbook. Beautiful pictures and stories accompany the recipes. We tried several recipes and my whole family (including two picky kids) enjoyed them. What a terrific compilation!
March 25, 2015
Interesting
September 1, 2015
Won this through a Goodreads Giveaway, so thanks Goodreads! Some tasty looking recipes here. Great-looking book. Can't wait to try them all.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews