Degutiene Nida. A Taste of Israel

Penguin Random House South Africa, 2016. — 288 p.In author Nida Degutienė’s own words: ‘In Israel food holds a special place in Jewish life. From early morning until dawn the next day, Israelis are always nibbling on something and enjoying one another’s company, and on any given holiday festive tables groan under the weight of a multitude of dishes and goodies. This book is an open door into the kitchens of the ordinary Israeli home. It is also an invitation to explore the country’s diverse street food and offers a behind-the-scene glimpse at some of its gourmet restaurants. You’ll find recipes for dishes that do much more than satisfy hunger. They are memories and stories shared with me over the course of five years by Litvaks from Israel and South Africa, by my Israeli friends, by their mothers and their grandmothers. They reflect the traditions, history and customs passed down the generations. They are an attempt at returning a piece of Jewish heritage to the small but vibrant Jewish community in Lithuania.