Susie Fishbein facts for kids

Susie Fishbein is a famous American cookbook author. She is known for her popular Kosher By Design series of cookbooks. These books teach people how to cook delicious and elegant kosher meals. She also teaches cooking and leads food tours. Over 500,000 copies of her books have been sold. In 2008, she was named one of the 50 most influential Jewish people.

Biography

Early Life and Education

Susie Fishbein was born in 1968 in Oceanside, New York. She grew up in a home where kosher food rules were strictly followed. Kosher means food that follows Jewish dietary laws. She earned a master's degree in science education. For four years, she taught fourth-grade science in a public school.

Starting Her Cookbook Career

In 2000, Susie helped create a cookbook called The Kosher Palette. This book was a fundraiser for the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy. Her first child was a student there. The book was very popular. It sold 36,000 copies in less than two years.

After this success, Susie wanted to learn even more about cooking. She took lessons from professional chefs. She also collected many new recipes. She wanted to create kosher cookbooks that were easy to use. She also wanted them to be elegant and healthy. She hoped her books would appeal to all the senses.

She put together a team to help her. This team included an event planner and a florist. A professional photographer also joined the team. They worked together on her first Kosher By Design book. This team continued to help her with her later books. They also worked with nutrition experts and caterers.

Kosher By Design Series

About the Books

Between 2003 and 2016, Susie Fishbein wrote nine cookbooks. These books were all part of the Kosher By Design series. The books combine elegant and easy-to-make kosher recipes. They also feature beautiful, full-color photos. Two rabbis approved all the recipes to ensure they were kosher.

Susie gave a new twist to classic kosher and Jewish holiday dishes. For example, she created Tri-Colored Matzah Balls. She also made Challah Napkin Rings and Beer-Braised Brisket. Her recipes often have fancy names. But Susie always uses simple ingredients. These ingredients can be found in any regular supermarket. She likes to call herself an "everyday cook."

More Than Just Recipes

Her books offer more than just recipes. They also show ideas for table settings. You can find tips for flower arrangements and party themes. The books even suggest wine lists. They also explain Jewish traditions and kosher laws. This helps people who are not Orthodox Jewish learn more.

Susie explains that her recipes are not always "Jewish." But they are always kosher. She is very popular with Jewish women. Many of them are interested in cooking gourmet meals. Her books are sold in many places. You can find them on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble. They are also sold in some Christian bookstores and Williams Sonoma stores.

In 2016, Susie Fishbein announced that her ninth book would be the last. This book was called Kosher By Design Brings It Home.

Media Personality

A Celebrity Chef

While writing cookbooks, Susie also became a public figure. She became a kind of "celebrity chef." She often gave cooking demonstrations. She appeared at Jewish events and food festivals. She was almost always appearing before a new audience.

She also appeared on national TV shows. These included The Today Show and Living It Up! With Ali & Jack. She also appeared on Martha Stewart Living Radio. Because of this, people started calling her "the Jewish Martha Stewart." They also called her the "kosher diva." Jewish media outlets often quote her and share her recipes. They praise her friendly and kind personality.

Working with the Kosher Industry

The kosher food industry also used Susie's success. They used her popularity to promote their own products. For example, in 2009, she signed books at a big kosher food show. She also created a dessert recipe book. This book used only a new kosher gelatin product.

Cooking Coach

Besides her cooking demonstrations, Susie leads "culinary tours." These are food-focused trips to places like Israel and Europe. She also teaches cooking at two girls' camps. These camps have a special cooking center. It was built to her exact plans.

Family

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