COHEN, Jayne 1949-

PERSONAL:

Born February 5, 1949, in New York, NY; daughter of Max (an attorney) and Joan (an interior designer and entrepenur) Cohen; married; children: one daughter. Ethnicity: "Ashkenazi Jew." Education: City College of New York, B.A. (English literature), 1971; Pratt Institute, M.L.S., 1996; graduate coursework at Hunter College. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Theatre, folktales and folklore, storytelling, everything to do with food, children's literature, languages, history, and travel.

ADDRESSES:

Agent—Goodman Associates, 500 West End Ave., New York, NY 10024. E-mail—jcohen0205@aol.com.

CAREER:

Author and food writer.

MEMBER:

International Association of Culinary Professionals, New York Women's Culinary Association, New York Culinary Historians, Beta Phi Mu, Phi Beta Kappa.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Pratt Circle Award for outstanding academic achievement in library science.

WRITINGS:

The Gefilte Variations: Two Hundred Inspired Recreations of Classics from the Jewish Kitchen with Menus, Stories, and Traditions for the Holidays and Year-Round, Scribner (New York, NY), 2000.

Contributor to periodicals, including Bon Appetit, Los Angeles Times, Food and Wine, Gourmet, Cook's, New York Times, Boston Globe, and Newsday.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

The Ultimate Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration Book: A Guide to Inspiring Ceremonies and Joyous Festivities, for Clarkson Potter.

SIDELIGHTS:

In her cookbook The Gefilte Variations: Two Hundred Inspired Recreations of Classics from the Jewish Kitchen with Menus, Stories, and Traditions for the Holidays and Year-Round, Jayne Cohen "brings a breath of fresh air to favorite Jewish dishes, from matzoh brei to noodle kugel," commented Judith C. Sutton in Library Journal. Florence Fabricant in the New York Times noted that the book "reveals the author's frequently playful approach to Jewish Food," but that "none of her clearly written recipes violate the spirit of Jewish cooking traditions. And they are strictly kosher."

Cohen told Matt Schaffer of the Boston Herald that "potchkehing—playing with—a recipe is what Jewish cuisine is all about." Kathleen Purvis in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette added that "it's worth remembering that traditions are set in hearts, not in stone," and that The Gefilte Variations illustrates "that it's OK to adjust and to renew, as long as you do it with reverence and care."

The Gefilte Variations is the result of what Cohen views as a personal journey, what she described on the book's Web site as "the autobiography of one palate" as cuisine is examined through its associations with family and tradition. "These are the foods that were really made in the home, …not for kings or in the grandest restaurants," Cohen explained to Schaffer, describing the resulting recipes as components of "meals that you're going to share around a table with conversation."

The Gefilte Variations also includes information about Jewish culture and the history behind many Jewish dishes. Ronna Welsh, in a review of the book for the Austin Chronicle, concluded that The Gefilte Variations "is a worthy tribute and contribution to a continually evolving cuisine," while a Publishers Weekly contributor noted: "Few can explaine the essence of Jewish food as charmingly and lyrically as …Cohen does in this outstanding debut."

Cohen told CA: "I've always considered myself a storyteller who often tells her tales through recipes."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Austin Chronicle, May 5, 2000, Ronna Welsh, review of The Gefilte Variations: Two-Hundred Inspired Recreations of Classics from the Jewish Kitchen with Menus, Stories, and Traditions for the Holidays and Year-Round.

Boston Herald, April 19, 2000, Matt Schaffer, review of The Gefilte Variations, p. 53.

Jerusalem Post, December 21, 2000, Linda Morel, review of The Gefilte Variations.

Library Journal, February 15, 2000, Judith C. Sutton, review of The Gefilte Variations, p. 191.

New York Times, April 5, 2000, Florence Fabricant, review of The Gefilte Variations, p. F5.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 13, 2000, Kathleen Purvis, review of The Gefilte Variations, p. E8.

Publishers Weekly, February 7, 2000, review of The Gefilte Variations, p. 81.

San Francisco Chronicle, April 5, 2000, Karola Saekel, review of The Gefilte Variations.

ONLINE

Bookpage,http://www.bookpage.com/ (March, 2000), review of The Gefilte Variations.

Gefilte Variations Web site,http://www.gefiltevariations.com/ (June 10, 2003).