Jew-Ish Cookbook by Jake Cohen Review: For New Hosts?
Jake Cohen's debut cookbook takes the Ashkenazi food he grew up with and mixes in his husband's Persian-Iraqi family cooking. A holiday cookbook for people who host their own way.
Yes, for a cook who grew up on the classics and wants to make them their own. It offers modern takes on challah, brisket and latkes [1]. Skip it for someone who keeps strictly to family recipes and wants them unchanged.
By Andrew Pataleta, GiftX founder · Updated October 29, 2026 · Sources
Specs at a glance
| Author | Jake Cohen [1] |
| Publisher | Harvest [1] |
| Format | Hardcover [1] |
| Length | 272 pages [1] |
| Published | March 2021 [1] |
| Weight | 2.31 pounds [1] |
| Size | 8 x 9 inches [1] |
Pros and cons
- Modern takes on Ashkenazi classics [1]
- Persian-Iraqi dishes from the author's husband's family [1]
- Recipes for challah, brisket and cholent [1]
- Hardcover that stands up to kitchen use [1]
- Approachable recipes for a home cook [1]
- A New York Times bestseller, per the listing [1]
- Useful for every holiday, not just one
- Twists on classics will not please every grandmother
- Some recipes take a full afternoon
- A hardcover cookbook is heavy to ship
Classics, with a new twist
Every family has the one person who now hosts the holidays and is still working from a stained index card. This book is for them: familiar dishes, rethought for a modern kitchen.
Jake Cohen grew up with Ashkenazi food and married into a Persian-Iraqi family, and both show up on the page [1]. The result reads like a family table that has room for two traditions.
That mix is what makes it a good gift. It respects the dishes people grew up with and gives a new host permission to change them, which is often what a first holiday dinner needs.
Challah, brisket and cholent
The listing names recipes such as Jake's Perfect Challah, Roasted Tomato Brisket and Short Rib Cholent [1]. The publisher describes polished but approachable classics alongside new ideas, like an everything bagel galette and brightly colored latkes [1].
It is a 272 page hardcover from Harvest, published in March 2021 [1]. That is enough room for weeknight food as well as holiday cooking, so the book earns a place on the shelf after the eight nights.
The recipes lean on ingredients found in a regular supermarket, which keeps the book practical for a cook outside a big city.
Not for the strict traditionalist
The fun of this book is the twist. For a cook who believes latkes should taste exactly like Grandma's, a reinvented version may land as a slight.
Some dishes, like a braised brisket or a cholent, also take a long afternoon. That suits a host with a free Sunday, less so a busy weeknight.
Pairing the book with a pan
A cookbook is a promise of a meal. Make it an invitation to cook together by giving it with a pan from the same guide.
The Lodge cast iron skillet suits the latkes, and the Lodge Dutch oven handles the brisket. For a smaller gift, add the OXO box grater, so the potatoes are ready.
FAQ
What kind of recipes are in Jew-Ish by Jake Cohen?
The listing describes modern takes on Jewish classics from the author's Ashkenazi heritage, with influences from his husband's Persian-Iraqi family [1]. Named recipes include challah, a roasted tomato brisket and a short rib cholent [1]. It mixes holiday dishes with everyday cooking, so it gets used all year [1]
Is Jew-Ish a good cookbook for beginners?
The publisher calls the recipes approachable, and many cover dishes people already know [1]. A beginner can start with the simpler recipes and work up to a holiday brisket. Someone who has never baked bread may need a few tries with the challah, as with any yeast dough [1]
Is a cookbook a good Hanukkah gift?
For someone who hosts or is starting to, yes. A Jewish cookbook helps a new host find their own versions of the dishes they grew up with. Pair it with a pan or a grater from this guide so it feels like a full gift rather than homework [1]
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Sources and how we checked
- Amazon.com listing for the Jew-Ish: A Cookbook by Jake Cohen
Source check: Amazon prices and contents above were checked on October 29, 2026. We did not test these products hands-on. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, Amazon listings and the reasons people actually give these gifts.
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