Cookbooks and More.

We recently posted here about Mother's Best, the cookbook by renowned local chef Lisa Schroeder. Well now we're back to tell you about some the many (and we do mean many) other cookbooks we have in stock right now. Whether you want to learn to make traditional Israeli food, Inquisition era Jewish recipes or delicious street cuisine, we've got you covered!

In  Jerusalem: A Cookbook, one of our popular selections, authors Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi share recipes from their native city. Given the Jerusalem's diversity, Ottolenghi and Tamimi include the cuisine of Christian and Muslim, as well as Jewish communities. With 120 recipes this book covers everything from main courses to vegetable dishes to desserts.

A Drizzle of Honey: The Lives and Recipes of Spain's Secret Jews, by David M. Gitlitz and Linda Kay Davidson, explores the cuisine of the Jews living in Inquisition era Spain. Using documents from the time, Gitlitz and Davidson uncovered nearly a hundred of the Sephardic recipes that were used by those trying to hold onto their Jewish identity while maintaining their secrecy in order to survive. Each recipe is accompanied by text telling the story of it's creator, giving the reader some historic insight as well as delicious food. 

Renowned celebrity chef Susan Feniger has always found inspiration in food carts on the streets all around the world, and it's paid off. Over the course of her thirty year career, she has opened two restaurant, starred on the Food Network and appeared on Top Chef Masters. In her book, Street Food, Feniger shares 83 of the recipes she's re-created from her travels to Vietnam, Turkey, Mongolia and many other countries. Included in the book are personal travel stories, vacation snapshots and tips on possible ingredient substitutions. 

Of course these are just a few examples of some of the cookbooks we have available in the shop. Come on by and find the perfect one for you. Also! Lately we've been really upping our supply of jewelry. Check out some of the gorgeous pieces currently in stock below, and stay tuned for more to come!

Mother's Best by Lisa Schroeder

If you attended our annual gala this year, you'll remember our keynote speaker Lisa Schroeder, owner of local culinary destination, Mother's Bistro & Bar. Schroeder is known for her delicious Jewish comfort food as much as her quick wit and homespun wisdom, and her cookbook, Mother's Best: Comfort Food That Takes You Home Again is full of both. This book has a total of 175 recipes that include appetizers, soups, salads, main courses, breakfast foods, desserts and baked goods. Schroeder even got mother's all over the world to contribute their own hearty, delicious recipes. If you love uncomplicated, tasty comfort food, and enjoy making it your self, come by the gift shop for this book or one of the many other titles we carry by Schroeder.

Gift Shop Sale!

It's time to do some Spring cleaning, which means some serious discounts here at the gift shop! Starting today and running through the 17th, we have markdowns of 25-50% on all kinds of select items, like these beautifully crafted challah knives:

Included in the sale is an entire shelf of Mahjong tiles and pouches, with each item available now for just $1!

                        

We also have a wide range of books on sale, including those connected to past exhibits, like Superman: The High-Flying History of America's most Enduring Superhero by Larry Tye, a book we originally stocked to accompany our comic book exhibit.

                        

We also have a good selection of general interest books on sale, like Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk about being Jewish by Abigail Pogrebin, which includes passages by famous Jews ranging from Steven Spielberg and Barney Frank, to Sarah Jessica Parker and Diane Von Furstenberg.

                                             

And of course, if you want to get a head on start finding your haggadot for next year, we've got plenty of those too!

                                           

                                         

Haggadot

Passover is just around the corner now, and if you still need to get your haggadot, we have a few selections for you to choose from here. One of our most popular selections is The New American Haggadah, edited by novelist Jonathan Safran Foer, with and translated by playwright Nathan Englander. This haggadah includes thought provoking commentary by Jewish writers including Jeffrey Goldberg, Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, and Nathaniel Deutsch. It also has beautiful abstract illustrations by Israeli designer and artist Oded Ezer, mostly in the shapes of Hebrew words and phrases. 

Another one of our popular selections is A Family Haggadah, the classic conservative staple by Shoshana Silberman, with illustrations by Katherine Janus Kahn. This Haggadah includes the full Seder text with clear, easy to understand translations that are accessible to children of all ages. A variety of songs are included in both English and Hebrew, and there are so many optional topics and activities to choose from that the author even suggests that you not attempt them all in one night. The illustrations are simple and attractive, and the format is clean and easy to navigate. 

                                    

So no need to panic all you last minute Seder planners! We got you covered from now until Passover starts (though we suggest you come by before the first Seder begins on Monday). 

Passover Merchandise

Welcome to the Oregon Jewish Museum gift shop's new blog! From now on we will be using this   platform to keep you updated on what's going on with the shop. At the moment we're all stocked up on Passover merchandise. From now until the holiday you can come on by to find everything from seder plates, haggadot, and Passover themed children's books, to kosher for Pesach cookbooks. 

Check out some of the goods currently in stock: