Because I was part of the faculty meeting this afternoon I got to take one of your cookbooks.  It is wonderful.  My very best friend---for the past 43 years-- has been a woman who is second generation Lebanese/American.  Her parents were my introduction to some of the world’s finest food—much of which is in your cookbook.  I am sitting here with tears in my eyes looking at the recipes for some of the dishes, which I remember from the Nehmes’ table. That is a very generous gift.  Thank you very much.

Very easy-to-follow Syrian cookbook. Brings back memories of my grandmother "Sita" making all of these things.

 

By Anne E. McBride, Hippocrene Books, March 2003

A Taste of Syria is a collection of treasured family recipes that were brought to this country by the authors grandparents, immigrants from Aleppo, Syria. Two generations later, a desire to honor the culinary skills of their own parents, Helen Kassar Jerro and Alice Kassar Kayal, led to this cookbook. The Kassars are known for their culinary skills and commitment to preserving the integrity of Syrian cuisine. All these family recipes are reproductions of meals prepared similarly in Syria today. While some items (like hummus) are universal throughout the Middle East, the tastes of Aleppo are unique in their particular mixture of spices and textures. It is also a particularly healthful cuisine, with many vegetarian recipes reflecting the sophistication of that city. Syrian entrees are lamb-based (very lean cuts), and include rolled grape leaves with meat, and stuffed squash or eggplant cooked in a garlic, tomato, lemon, and mint sauce.

Complete with indices in English and Arabic, A Taste of Syria opens with an introduction to Syria and Syrian Cuisine, a glossary of terms, and a guide to Syrian food preparation. Helpful serving hints and a list of ingredient and utensil suppliers complement this cookbook, which will be an exciting addition to the collection of all Middle Eastern food lovers.

Born and raised in the large Syrian/Lebanese community in Brooklyn, Virginia Jerro Gerbino, a grandmother herself, is the family cook and the keeper of its culinary traditions. She has inherited her love of cooking from her mother Helen, who excelled in the preparation of Syrian pastries. She is a legal secretary and now resides in New Jersey. Her first cousin and co-author, Philip Kayal, is a sociologist at Seton Hall University in New Jersey and the author of several books on the Arab-American experience. Realizing that food is part of ethnic identity and heritage, the authors see this cookbook as a necessary contribution to the culinary melting pot of America.

Amazon.com Book Reviews

A Taste of Syria is a wonderful collection of Middle Eastern recipes and a special treasure for those of us who are third and fourth generation descendants of Middle Eastern families. I grew up in Brooklyn and remember fondly the wonderful Syrian cooking of my paternal grandmother and the many wonderful meals eaten at her home. As a teenager and young adult I tried to cook my favorites among these meals but my grandmother's instructions were basically - "a little bit of this or that; you need to see how it tastes or feels." After several unsuccessful efforts, I gave up trying to cook most of these meals and truly missed these wonderful, healthy foods of my childhood. This book has given me back those wonderful recipes and memories. The recipes are clear and provide step by step instructions with many pictures and lots of useful information. The names in Arabic and English and the information on where to get the ingredients are particularly useful. I have tried several of the recipes and they are terrific and taste just the way my Grandmother made them. I have also shared this book with many of my relatives and non-Middle Eastern friends and family who also enjoy this food and are excited that they now can try these recipes. The authors have done a truly outstanding job and I thank them for keeping alive a very special part of our heritage and capturing the essence and quality of Middle Eastern cooking for all.

A Taste of Syria is must reading for any one who enjoys terrific Middle East cuisine. Not only is it the first truly authentic, homespun Syrian cook book published in decades, this outstanding book impressively captures the texture and the life of the Syrian American community as it pertains to its culinary traditions.The authors present delicious Syrian specialities, capitalizing especially on the internationally acclaimed cuisine of Aleppo.And there are two helpful indexes -- dishes are listed by both their Arabic names and their English names. This yummy cook book has it all--how to conveniently prepare tasty lamb, seasoned vegetables, yogurt, as well as favorite staples like Hummus, Baba Ghanouj and Tabouli.What I especially like about this book, which spans two cultures, are the easy-to-follow cooking instructions. This innovative cook book is such a delight I'm seriously considering changing professions and becoming a chef!

Finally a cook book that reads like a family album. Not only authentically Syrian American foods, but stories of the authors childhood memories and loves. I have tried many of the recipes and the results are spectacular. Easy to follow instruction, I feel sometimes like 'grandma' is in the kitchen teaching me. Thanks for this wonderful slice of your life, and for a book I will use for many years to come. Now I can enjoy my favorite Syrian foods at home without going to Paterson!!