There are many ways someone could share about their life’s journey and history, but for Joan Nathan the best way to do that was through her latest cookbook, My Life in Recipes: Food, Family, and Memories.
My Life in Recipes isn’t structured quite like a typical cookbook – instead it feels more like a memoir of Nathan’s life, with recipes woven in. Each section of her book breaks down a different part of her life and family, and the recipes that connected to those memories. Through the book we learn about her childhood, her family history, her life experiences, and more. The recipes themselves evoke memories, even for those of us who haven’t tasted them yet, we can feel what makes them special.
This book goes through every stage of her family history and the influences they’ve had on her cooking and life. From her relatives in Germany, to their arrival in America, going into her upbringing in New York and Rhode Island in the years after WWII, university years, and summer travels in her youth. Nathan also takes us into her experiences of living in various cities around the world, including Paris, Israel, Washington D.C. and more.
Some recipes are reliable Jewish American classics, like rugelach or whitefish salad. Others reimagine and offer fresh takes on familiar traditional dishes, like her Halibut Gefilte Terrine with Fresh Herbs.
Photo by Gabriela Herman
The Ashkenazi staple, gefilte fish, has become almost controversial in the Jewish food world, with big heated debates raging over its merit and if it’s actually tasty. As Nathan shares, she’s learned many different ways to make gefilte over the years, and indeed knows well how a recipe can make all the difference when it comes to gefilte fish naysayers. But if you’re looking for an easier version of gefilte fish to satisfy both the lovers of the classic, while offering a new take for those still uneasy about the dish, this Gefilte Terrine is a great option to make everyone at your table happy.
Nathan’s wide array of recipes peppered throughout her stories truly do have something for everyone, whether you’re an experienced cook or just starting to dip your toe in the water. You’ll find Jewish classics and American comforts.
My Life in Recipes is very heavy with its narratives and stories throughout the book. In many ways it feels more like a memoir that just happens to include recipes in each section. The stories are beautiful, and draw you into Nathan’s life and family, painting a picture of all the pieces that have come together to make her who she is today.
The drawback of this style is that sometimes you could almost forget that this is a cookbook, and if you’re looking for an easy to access index of recipes, then you might find yourself a bit lost while trying to find a recipe among the many stories.
But it is the stories that give this book that unique and personal touch from Nathan, and it creates a beautiful autobiography through the journey of food memories and cooking. It’s a testament to the life she’s lived, and is a worthwhile read. Nathan is inviting you to her family table, and reminding us that food is one of those things that connect all of us together.
