SJCC Arts Ideas CULINARY | Chef Michael Solomonov + Steven Cook, ZAHAV HOME Cookbook Talk
Livestream Recording | SJCC Theatre 9/19/24
Conversation with bestselling authors of the James Beard Award-winning “Zahav” cookbook, Chef Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook. Their new book “Zahav Home: Cooking for Friends & Family” invites you to cook the way they do at home, with 125 new recipes for simple and achievable meals. Since opening Zahav-the beloved, award-winning and critically-acclaimed restaurant in Philadelphia that serves a powerfully flavorful menu inspired by modern Israeli cuisine-sixteen years ago, the co-owners have learned at least two things: cooking at home isn’t anything like cooking at the restaurant, and, how to bring Zahav’s signature ideas to the home kitchen. As busy fathers, Mike and Steven have also learned that thinking ahead is key. Even more than “Zahav,” their trailblazing first book, “Zahav Home” is a truly intimate affair-an invitation right into their home kitchens with flavorful recipes tried and tested by their families, from Sunday one-pot dinners to unforgettable desserts.
ABOUT: Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook are co-owners of the trailblazing Philadelphia-based hospitality group, CookNSolo Restaurants, and beloved stewards of Israel’s extraordinarily diverse culinary landscape. Together, they have been awarded three James Beard Awards, with Solomonov receiving two additional James Beard Awards for his work as chef of Zahav, including Outstanding Chef in 2017. Zahav is their flagship restaurant that is widely recognized for celebrating the multitudes within Israeli cuisine in the U.S., and around the world. In 2019, Zahav became the first Israeli and first Philadelphia-based restaurant to win the James Beard Outstanding Restaurant Award. In addition to Zahav, CookNSolo’s suite of Philadelphia concepts include the recently reimagined Dizengoff, Goldie, K’Far, Laser Wolf, the forthcoming Jaffa Bar, and Lilah-both an event venue and the catering partner for the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. In May 2022, CookNSolo partnered with Chicago’s famed Boka Restaurant Group to expand into Brooklyn, New York. They introduced second locations of both Laser Wolf, the shipudya (grill house) sensation, and K’Far, the beloved Israeli bakery & café, as well as Jaffa Cocktail & Raw Bar to The Hoxton, Williamsburg hotel. In January of this year, Solomonov and Cook released their signature impossibly smooth Zahav Hummus (the actual restaurant recipe) exclusively at Whole Foods Markets across the U.S. Their rapidly -expanding fried chicken and donut concept, Federal Donuts & Chicken, currently boasts ten locations. In November 2024, CookNSolo is expanding to Miami with the opening of their new restaurant concept, Aviv, a homage to the shared vibrancy of Miami and Tel Aviv.
Solomonov is a member of the American Culinary Corps and was appointed by President Biden to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition; Cook is one of the country’s foremost restaurant minds - an alum of Wharton School of Business and French Culinary Institute. The duo have also co-authored three highly acclaimed cookbooks-”Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking” (a two-time James Beard Award winner), “Federal Donuts: The (Partially) True Spectacular Story,” and “Israeli Soul: Easy, Essential, Delicious.”
You can still purchase copies through us or Amazon if you must:
- SJCC Pickup: ci.ovationtix.com/35710/store/products/92471 or with Domestic Shipping: ci.ovationtix.com/35710/store/products/93291
- Amazon: www.amazon.com/Zahav-Home-Cooking-Friends-Family/dp/0358697360&ved=2ahUKEwiIp9fhgd-JAxU9BTQIHehyNwgQFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw17VmfOVU276JDFAy_ldoRN
Part of the Chew on This! Speaker Series featuring authors, thought leaders + chefs to feed the mind, body + spirit.
Buy Copies: www.islandbooks.com/book/9780358697367