By Alisa Fleming, www.GoDairyFree.org – This book of enticing recipes and gorgeous photos is a perfect gift for your favorite hostess. Levana is a master chef who is passionate about her work, and it shows. Her elegance and attention to detail are illustrated throughout Levana’s Table. In addition to a collection of great recipes, Levana takes you inside her world of presentation and entertaining. She offers thoughtful tips and advice throughout.
The target audience for Levana’s Table is Kosher, yet Levana herself follows a mostly dairy-free diet, as evidenced in this book. Only a handful of the 150+ recipes contain any milk products, while several inviting dairy-free options, including a Tiramisu, are offered.
One thing I truly enjoyed about this cookbook was the adventurousness. Levana’s recipes touch every portion of the globe. Chili Sans Carne highlights a famous Latin dish, Lamb and Eggplant Curry demonstrates an excellent use of Indian spices, and a jazzed up Miso Soup (with Shiitakes and Swiss Chard) offers some new flavors to one of my old favorites.
Several of the recipes call for more extravagant ingredients, so this may not be my daily go-to cookbook. Nonetheless, the instructions are uncomplicated and easy to follow. When guests are coming, or I need some inspiration to trial new foods, Levana’s Table will certainly be the first place I look.
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