The Artisan Jewish Deli at Home - Nick Zukin and Michael Zusman

Release Date - September 2013

Kenny & Zuke's
Andrews McMeel Publishing

Book Review by Tracy Farnsworth

Burlington, Vermont, lacks a good Jewish deli. We had one, for a short while anyway, but it shut down not too long after it opened. I truly miss the pastrami hash with rye and soup and sandwich deal that came with a steaming bowl of matzo soup and a sandwich with far more pastrami than bread. Having a good cookbook is the next best thing, and that's exactly what The Artisan Jewish Deli at Home accomplishes. It has recipes for me to test out, and first on my list is going to be the homemade pastrami.

In addition to narrative by Nick Zukin, co-owner of Kenny & Zuke's, and Michael Zusman, a state court judge and food writer, the cookbook is packed with recipes. There are recipes for bagels, bialys, latkes, blintzes, breads, meats, and much more.

There were certain recipes that caught my eye and made it to the top of my "must-make" list. The aforementioned pastrami is one, but the sourdough starter, zucchini latkes, and potato salads also topped that list. In fact, grilled chicken with one of the potato salad recipes is on the menu tonight.

If you need a solid Jewish cookbook that has a good mix of all your favorites, The Artisan Jewish Deli at Home is perfect.