The fascinating, mouthwatering story (with ten recipes!) of the immigrant family that created a New York gastronomic legend: “The most rambunctious and chaotic of all delicatessens, with one foot in the Old World and the other in the vanguard of every fast-breaking food move in the city" (Nora Ephron, best-selling author and award-winning screenwriter). When Louis and Lilly Zabar rented a counter in a dairy store on 80th Street and Broadway in 1934 to sell smoked fish, they could not have imagined that their store would eventually occupy half a city block and become a beloved mecca for quality food of all kinds. A passion for perfection, a keen business sense, cutthroat competitive instincts, and devotion to their customers led four generations of Zabars to create the Upper West Side shrine to the cheese, fish, meat, produce, baked goods, and prepared products that heralded the twentieth-century revolution in food production and consumption. Lori Zabar—Louis’s granddaughter—begins with her grandfather’s escape from Ukraine in 1921, following a pogrom in which several family members were killed. She describes Zabar’s gradual expansion, Louis’s untimely death in 1950, and the passing of the torch to Saul, Stanley, and partner Murray Klein, who raised competitive pricing to an art form and added top-tier houseware and appliances. She paints a delectable portrait of Zabar’s as it is today—the intoxicating aromas, the crowds, the devoted staff—and shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes of the long-time employees, family members, eccentric customers, and celebrity fans who have created a uniquely American institution that honors its immigrant roots, revels in its New York history, and is relentless in its devotion to the art and science of selling gourmet food.

You will cry then cheer as Rene Feller conquers the scars of multiple traumas and celebrates life. Now in her ninth decade, Rene leads a double-layered life. Born in Czechoslovakia, she is a trauma survivor with a capital T who fights the scars of PTSD, forcing herself to get out of bed every day and get moving. She lost her mother as a young child then her father, brother, and most of her family in the Holocaust. Rene survived Auschwitz by saying she was eighteen when she was really only thirteen; she was sent to America to live with relatives she didnt know. Always searching for happiness and family, she was widowed twice and divorced once (her first marriage was tormented by a bipolar, abusive husband). She raised three daughters, one of whom has Down syndrome, and lives in a group home. The oldest daughter struggled with bipolar disorder and died several years ago. To deal with her ordeals, Rene shares her search for wholeness through Jungian analysis and a variety of alternative therapies, a search which led her to become a Rubenfeld synergist and, at age seventy, an ordained rabbi. Read how, in her later years, she learned to reclaim her feelings, her voice, and her Jewish identity. Now, in her other layer, she rejoices in sanctifying Jewish and interfaith marriages, connecting with people from all over the world in her morning coffee at Zabars Cafe.

Named one of Library Journal’s Best Religion & Spirituality Books of the Year An Unorthodox Guide to Everything Jewish Deeply knowing, highly entertaining, and just a little bit irreverent, this unputdownable encyclopedia of all things Jewish and Jew-ish covers culture, religion, history, habits, language, and more. Readers will refresh their knowledge of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, the artistry of Barbra Streisand, the significance of the Oslo Accords, the meaning of words like balaboosta,balagan, bashert, and bageling. Understand all the major and minor holidays. Learn how the Jews invented Hollywood. Remind themselves why they need to read Hannah Arendt, watch Seinfeld, listen to Leonard Cohen. Even discover the secret of happiness (see “Latkes”). Includes hundreds of photos, charts, infographics, and illustrations. It’s a lot.

The ultimate guide to savory baking using fragrant spices and herbs, fresh produce, rich cheeses and meats, and more Baking is about a lot more than just desserts. This unique collection, one of the few to focus solely on the savory side of baking, explores a multitude of flavor possibilities. Get inspired by creative twists like gochujang-filled puff pastry pinwheels or feta-studded dill-zucchini bread. And sample traditional baked goods from around the world, from Chinese lop cheung bao to Brazilian pão de quejo. Our flexible recipes let you keep things simple by often using store-bought doughs and crusts, or go all out and make them from scratch using our foolproof methods. No matter what kind of baker you are, you’ll be inspired by the irresistible flavors, from everyday biscuits to showstopping breads, including: Quick breads, scones, biscuits, and pastries: Turn scones savory with panch phoran, an Indian spice blend with cumin, fennel, and mustard seeds. Bake the flakiest biscuits ever, packed with fresh sage and oozing with melty Gruyère. Even danish goes savory with goat cheese and Urfa chile. Tarts, galettes, and pies: Jamaican spiced beef patties or a flaky galette with corn, tomatoes, and bacon will be your new favorite lunch (or breakfast, or snack). Or make pizza chiena, the over-the-top Italian double-crusted pie of eggs, cheeses, and cured meats. Batter and stovetop “bakes”: Popovers bursting with blue cheese and chives dress up dinner, while bread pudding with butternut squash and spinach makes the brunch table. And savory pancakes are for anytime, whether you choose Chinese cōngyóubing or Korean kimchi jeon. Flatbreads, pizza, rolls, and loaves: Try alu paratha, the Northern Indian potato-stuffed flatbread. Shape mushroom crescent rolls or a challah enlivened by saffron and rosemary. And for kids of any age, bake a pizza monkey bread. Every recipe has a photo you’ll want to sink your teeth into, and ATK-tested techniques plus step-by-step photos walk you through rolling out pie and galette doughs; shaping breads and rolls; stretching pizza dough; and more.

A collection of cookie recipes from seventy top chefs, pastry chefs, and bakers, including bar cookies, petit fours, macaroons, biscotti, shortbread, and more.

From developing a gardening library and journal in winter, to hardening off and harvesting, this treasury goes beyond the spring/summer focus of most guides. Zabar explores all aspects of gardening with her peerless writing, renowned expertise, and acclaimed art. Colorful hints and anecdotes are interspersed throughout. Includes four special insert booklets. Over 100 illustrations, most in color.