Susie Fishbein facts for kids

Susan Beth Fishbein (born in 1968) is an American author who writes cookbooks about kosher food. She is also a cooking teacher and leads special food-themed trips. Her Kosher By Design cookbook series became very popular, selling over 500,000 copies. In 2008, she was named one of the 50 most influential Jewish people by a newspaper called The Forward.

About Susie Fishbein

Susie Fishbein was born in 1968 in Oceanside, New York. She grew up in a home where all the food followed strict kosher rules. This means the food was prepared according to Jewish laws. Before becoming a cookbook author, she earned a master's degree in science education. She taught science to fourth-grade students for four years.

How Susie Started Cooking Books

In 2000, Susie helped create a cookbook called The Kosher Palette. This book was made to raise money for the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy in Livingston, New Jersey. Her first child was a student there. The book was very successful, selling 36,000 copies in just over a year.

After this project, Susie wanted to learn even more about cooking. She took lessons from professional chefs and collected many new recipes. She wanted to create kosher cookbooks that were "easy to prepare, and elegant and healthful." She aimed to make food that looked and tasted great.

To make her books special, Susie worked with a team of experts. Renee Errich helped with table settings. Larry Sexton, a florist, gave tips on arranging flowers. John Uher, a professional photographer, took beautiful pictures of the food. This team helped her create her first book, Kosher By Design.

The Kosher By Design Series

Between 2003 and 2016, Susie Fishbein wrote nine cookbooks in her Kosher By Design series. These books became very popular. They offered recipes that were both fancy and simple to make. All the recipes followed kosher laws and were checked by rabbis. The books also featured colorful, shiny photos of the dishes.

What Makes the Books Special?

Susie's books were a hit because they offered a new way to cook kosher food. She took classic Jewish holiday dishes and gave them a creative twist. For example, she created "Tri-Colored Matzah Balls" and "Challah Napkin Rings." Even though some recipes had fancy names like "Pecan Crusted Grouper," Susie focused on using simple ingredients. These ingredients could be found in any regular supermarket. She saw herself as an "everyday cook."

Besides recipes, her books also included ideas for setting tables and arranging flowers. They suggested party themes and even wine lists. Susie also added explanations of Jewish traditions and kosher laws. This helped people who were not familiar with these customs learn more.

Reaching a Wider Audience

Susie Fishbein often explains that her recipes are not just "Jewish" but are all kosher. She found that many Jewish women, even those who don't keep a fully kosher kitchen, were interested in her gourmet recipes. Her publisher, ArtScroll, started selling her books beyond traditional Jewish bookstores. You could find her books on Amazon.com, at Barnes & Noble, in Christian bookstores, and even in Williams Sonoma stores and supermarkets.

In 2016, Susie announced that the ninth book in the series, Kosher By Design Brings It Home, would be her last.

Susie as a Media Star

As her cookbooks became famous, Susie Fishbein also became a well-known public figure. She often gave cooking demonstrations at Jewish events, food festivals, and even on kosher cruises. She appeared on popular TV shows like The Today Show and Living It Up! With Ali & Jack. She also had her own radio show on Martha Stewart Living Radio. Because of her popularity, people sometimes called her "the Jewish Martha Stewart" or the "kosher diva."

The kosher food industry also used Susie's fame to promote their products. For example, at a big food show called Kosherfest in 2009, Susie signed books at a booth for a new kosher gelatin product. She even created a special dessert recipe book using only that gelatin.

Susie as a Cooking Coach

Beyond her cooking demonstrations, Susie Fishbein has led special "culinary tours." These trips take people to places like Israel and Europe to explore food and cooking. She also plans to teach cooking classes at two girls' camps. A new cooking center is being built just for her, designed to her specific ideas.

Susie's Family Life

Susie Fishbein lives in Livingston, New Jersey, with her husband, Kalman. They have three daughters and one son.