Cookbook Reviews

Click here for How to buy the Wimbledon Synagogue Community Cookbook and for photos of people with their books

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“Move over Evelyn Rose, there’s a new book in the house and it is quite simply the most beautiful cookery book I have ever seen. As I start my Passover baking I feel like I have a kitchen full of experts, who just happen to be wonderful friends too, all giving me a helping hand. The warmth and joy that bursts from the pages of this book is unlimited. Memories to share and new traditions to begin, thank you to the Wimshul Cooks for this absolute treasure.” Lisa Woolf

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“Walking past my beautiful new book I  thought I’d have a quick leaf through it.  I’ve just spent an hour drooling, smiling, reminiscing, being inspired and even shedding a little tear remembering my dad – and I’ve only just skimmed the surface.  What other cookbook can do that to you?  Well done all of you involved, it’s amazing.  When is the next one coming out!?” Gila Godsi

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“Clearly so much thought and work to bring this this amazing project to fruition. It made me think of my mother and grandmother with their cookery books and old war time recipes. It is such an interesting balance of recipes, tradition and memory and so creatively presented and photographed.” Lorna Cohen

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“I knew Liz wanted to create a cookbook and to be honest I thought it was going to be a very simple spiral bound book with all the recipes she has collated from members of our Synagogue.  I was completely bowled over when I picked up this beautiful book.  It feels so lovely to just hold it, let alone the joy you get from reading it.  It is far more than a cookery book.  I have never seen another book like it,  it draws you into the world of Synagogue with it’s wonderfully diverse community and is a fascinating read. On reading the different chapters, I feel so inspired not only to try out some of the recipes but to introduce within my family some of the traditions written about in the book.  The Wimshul cooks team should feel incredibly proud of what they have produced.” Camilla McGill

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“A picture is worth a thousand words…Thank you to everyone involved in the Wimshul cookbook. If I ever needed any proof of how lucky we are to belong to such a wonderful community I just need to look at the front cover of this cookbook.  You have captured the true spirit of this community: the warmth, diversity, love and care that we value are reflected in every page.

Every recipe and every picture tells a story: if it’s a cake that was baked for a loved one, or a dish that the grandchildren love eating, each page brings out the flavour and smell of a memory shared by family and friends. For my family this is more than just another cookbook this is what being Jewish in South London is all about.” Orli Kendler-Rhodes

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“As one who has a collection of cookbooks dating from the year I got married 1952, to the present day, fast running out of shelf space, the last thing I needed was another cookbook! However, when I saw the lovely cover on the new Wimbledon Synagogue book, I knew immediately that I had to have this one. I’d heard it was in the pipeline and thought it would be a simple ring -bound collection of nice recipes, but it really does have the wow factor – I found I couldn’t put it down once I started reading. Such delightful photos and illustrations, lovely anecdotes, histories and amusing stories. So big thanks and congratulations to everyone involved in the publication!” Marion Style

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“At the Wimshul Book Launch, they were selling cakes that are in the recipe book to eat. My huband bought a ‘Rugelach’ made by Miriam (with the recipe in the book) and I took a bite. My mind skipped back. My mum who died 35 years ago used to make similar pastries very regularly calling them ‘strudel’ and I knew the pastry must be made with cream cheese. Amazing how tastes and smells span so many years and countries.” Heather Bieber

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“What I love is the thought that this book will be a lasting testament to the Community we are. I assume it can keep on being printed indefinitely so we can all pass it on to our children when they set up their own homes. Every Jewish home should have one!” Sally-Ann Feldman

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“I thought I would write to you to tell you how I felt when I first saw the WimShul Cookbook.  Alison showed me a copy last week and when I saw it I simply had to get my hands on it to touch this amazing piece of work.  Its professionalism, both in content and appearance is astonishing.  Frankly, I was expecting a nice paper manuscript, probably spiral bound with some lovely recipes and photos.  What I saw instead was a beautiful masterpiece which would grace the bookshelves of any house or library.  However, not only is it a cookbook with lovely recipes but it is a living history recording the stories of people behind the recipes, where they have come from, how much they mean and the memories they evoke.  It contains a beautiful story full of love, emotion and inspiration which brought tears to my eyes.  I can only imagine all the effort that went into putting it together.  It is a credit to you and the team and it will become a legacy for this generation and those to come.  Memories fade but the stories and emotions contained in the book will live forever.” David Kelin

“The cookbook is a work of art that really has a warmth and community feel to it.” Anne de Foiard Brown

“I collected my cookbooks order yesterday.  I think it’s an absolute triumph. A great compilation put together in a creative and interesting way. Well done to everyone.  A great gift and addition to my  own cookery book shelf!” Shirley Lee

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“I am loving the cook book! It is a beautiful creation.” Yeva Robinson

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“Wonderful! Perfect in every way!” Victoria Druyan-Newman

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“Absolutely stunning Community Cookbook: it really is such a unique and inspiring collection, filled with personal touches that will make it both a book to read as well as to use. One can feel the great amount of love, care and passion that the contributors have put into it. The photographs are gorgeous and the individual family stories are incredibly moving and touching.” Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner 

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“When I saw the real thing I was blown away.  I have a couple of cook books, basic A5 spiral bound items, so this is what I was expecting. Oh my goodness how wrong could I have been.  I snapped up my own and then bought two more as birthday presents for two people I had been struggling for ideas on what to buy them.  Today I made Lynne’s mum’s cinnamon balls and Liz’s chocolate matzah recipe.  It’s my first adventure into Pesach baking having always relied on my darling mum before now and I feel very grown up to be able to put aside Florence Greenberg and Evelyn Rose for my own community book (although I know some of those hallowed ladies have recipes in our book and rightly so).  You have made so many people happy by putting in their recipes –  we got a real buzz at seeing the Angel family Eingemachts recipe immortalised in print. Thanks for continuing to make me so proud of our community.” Mel Angel

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“How to ensure that dinner is always late, dip into your Wimshul Cookbook and lose yourself in the stories and memories. The food will taste even better, if that’s possible. A brilliant book, beautifully produced with delicious recipes. A real treasure. Kol Hakavod!” Judith Ish-Horowicz

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“It is really wonderful – a great testament to the beautiful spirit of all who contributed to it.” Rabbi Sylvia Rothschild

“I’m totally in love with your synagogue’s cookbook! We’ve made passover rolls, chocolate brownies, almond macaroons and matzah granola – yum. I think we’ll gradually work ourselves through many of the vegetarian and pescarian dishes throughout the year. And it is so beautifully produced as well! Great to see so many people pull together to make this happen.” Hannah Holtschneider

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“The cookbook is quite fantastic. A good read as well as great recipes and so beautifully presented.” Rabbi Sybil Sheridan

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“Hear hear to all those comments on the wow factor of this fabulous cookbook with its lovely stories and great tried and tested recipes. Alice made the Spinach Minna for Pesach and immediately adapted it by using the Matzah as lasagne top and bottom and adding some cheese sauce and it was delicious! Kol Hacavod to the team who brought it together and had the courage to invest in making it a thing of beauty reflecting so brilliantly on our community.” Judy Weleminsky

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“I think the Cookbook  is simply marvellous, a real joy and you are to be congratulated.  Well done, I am really enjoying browsing through, and will get down to cooking soon!” Janey Langford

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“Myles and I sat together on Sunday evening going through it page by page and thoroughly enjoyed it. You have given us all  something truly wonderful,  thank you all so much.” Nicki Zisman

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“It reads from the heart and is a true picture of your lovely foodie community.” Victoria Prever, Jewish Chronicle Food Editor

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“Wow, what a tour de force.  I am seriously impressed, amazed and inspired by what you have accomplished.  Thank you for creating something so beautiful and useful for the community.” Connor Guntrip

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“I have read mine from cover to cover, as I could not put it down. It is marvellous, I love it and can’t wait to try out some of the cakes, breads and dishes.” Susan Zisman

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“A very comprehensive and delightful book!” Silvia Nacamulli

Please send in your comments to wimshulcooks@gmail.com or use the comments section below