New Israeli Cookbooks Blend Recipes with Personal Stories and Art

Four new cookbooks released in Israel for the High Holidays offer more than just recipes, weaving in personal narratives, cultural heritage, and even art.

"Flowers for Shabbat" by Adi Shilon revisits the comforting home kitchen and the small rituals of Shabbat, drawing from her weekly Instagram posts. The book features 30 stories, 50 recipes, and 120 photos, exploring themes of home, motherhood, love, and longing for Israel.

"The Recipes - Nuno & Mimi's Kitchen" celebrates the tenth anniversary of the popular restaurant and patisserie chain. It includes over 100 recipes and tips reflecting the group's culinary style, from French patisserie to accessible Italian and Mediterranean dishes. Proceeds from this limited edition will benefit the "Social Culinary" organization, which supports disadvantaged populations.

Shoshana Cohen-Lebern's "Ya Amna," a revised edition of her 2018 bestseller on Tunisian Jewish cuisine, now includes a poignant chapter dedicated to her grandson, Ido ben Tzvi, who was killed in Gaza in October 2024. The addition features two of Ido's favorite recipes, cherry vareniki and Tunisian tomato soup with dough dumplings.

"Just Don't Eat the Hat" by Maor Tzabar, an artist known for his fashion and costume design, merges culinary arts with fashion. The book showcases striking hats created by Tzabar inspired by dishes from leading Israeli chefs and patissiers, who also contributed recipes. The project, sponsored by Roladin, will donate all proceeds to "Leket Israel," a food rescue organization.