In “The Little-Known Story Behind the Latke” (winter 2013), author Carol Green Ungar claims that the earliest American Jewish cookbook, entitled Aunt Babette’s Cookbook, was published in 1889.
However, I have in my possession a paperback version of The First Jewish-American Cookbook by Mrs. Esther Levy, published in 1871 in Philadelphia. The original title was Jewish Cookery Book: On Principles of Economy. It is filled with wonderful recipes from that era.
Phyllis Scheinberg Jay
Scarsdale, New York
This article was featured in the Spring 2014 issue of Jewish Action.
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