Joan Nathan, a Chilmark-based journalist, author, and self-established authority on the Jewish culinary diaspora, released her new and 12th book: "My Life in Recipes" earlier this April, ahead of Jewish American History Month.
The cosmopolitan writer and cook has explored every nook and cranny of the expansive Jewish culinary experience through a variety of mediums like TV documentaries, print publications, and of course, books.
For the lattermost form, her "Jewish Cooking in America" even bagged the prestigious James Beard Award as a staple. Now, her most recent offering is enjoying rave reviews and has even sold out at the author's events across the East and West coasts.
Of this incredible reception, Nathan told the Vineyard Gazette that she is "very gratified," before divulging the other defining essence of the book: a memoir for the author.
(Photo : Penguin Random house/Joan Nathan)
About Joan Nathan's 'My Life in Recipes'
From Providence, Rhode Island, Nathan forged her own path as a respected journalist, acclaimed food historian, and trusted source of culinary wisdom across several decades.
This is something "My Life in Recipes" goes over not just in recipes but also through 35 chapters of narrative, chronicling the different stages of Nathan's life and career.
While the book instructs would-be home cooks looking for kitchen guidance on how to create the best challah bread, it also acts as a compass for anyone who wants to squeeze out more value in their life, just as Nathan has done with hers.
"The how-to of cooking is important," she told the Massachusetts-headquartered newspaper.
In addition, to its guiding elements, the new memoir also includes plenty of flattering and sobering excerpts taken straight from Nathan's life, including diary entries, letters to friends and family, and even parts from her earlier work.
One particular moment comprised the author's confession of how she burned their dinner as a tween in 1956. This honesty is "important," said the writer, adding: "You learn more by your mistakes."
However, "My Life in Recipes" is foremost a celebration of Nathan's effort in championing Jewish food and culture, taking her from Long Island to France and premiere institutions in the US where she earned her master's in, respectively, French literature and public administration.
Find out more about Nathan's journey in her new book: "My Life in Recipes" by ordering a copy for yourself here.
