Books

Outside magazine called LOOK BIG “the definitive guide.” The Wall Street Journal called it “a nifty idea carried out with humor and a deft touch.” And Buzzfeed called the book “hilarious but genuinely helpful” — which is exactly what Rachel was going for.

Who Ate What?: A Historical Guessing Game for Food Lovers (Phaidon, Spring 2023)

Packed with homey recipes and relatable humor, EAT SOMETHING is as much a delicious, lighthearted, and nostalgic cookbook as it is a lively celebration of Jewish culture. Co-authored by Wise Sons Deli’s Evan Bloom, and designed and illustrated by George McCalman, with photography by Maren Caruso, EAT SOMETHING “has gone where no Jewish cookbook has gone before,” as one reviewer wrote.

Stemming from the thesis that Jews eat by occasion (and with enthusiasm), the book is organized into 19 different events and celebrations chronicling a Jewish life in food, from bris to shivah, and all the makeshift and meaningful events in between.

PRAISE FOR EAT SOMETHING

“Probably the funniest Jewish cookbook ever written… witty yet insightful” – Best 2020 Cookbooks, San Francisco Chronicle

“Something special…What I like so much about this book is its heart, both that it’s in the right place, and that it exists to begin with.” Taste
“Hilarious” —Eater

“A deeply personal dive into the psyche of Jewish American life.” -Tablet Magazine
2020 Books We Want to Cook From Now – Epicurious

“…will have the millennial set and their grandparents laughing while they nosh.” – Best 2020 Cookbooks, Forbes

“This book isn’t too cheffy. It’s comfort food. And it’s fun.” EaterSF

“Witty, at times touching. the cookbook version of ‘Wet Hot American Summer.'”  Heated
“Imaginative” and “hilarious” – New York Times’ Wirecutter
“The essence of Levin’s colorful personal narratives can be boiled down to one memorable quote: “Every Jewish mother mourns the day her child leaves her dinner table.” Rich traditions, plated with a touch of schmaltz, make this a fun and satisfying cookbook.” Publishers Weekly

“This cookbook with a splash of irony offers the culinary secrets of a San Francisco deli, but in the style of ‘Bar Mitzvah Disco'” – 25 Cookbooks that Need to be Part of Your Collection, Minnesota’s Star Tribune

“This book is an extremely entertaining and haimish guide to Jewish food and the role it plays in our lives.” – Josh Russ Tupper, 4th generation co-owner of Russ Daughters

“My Russian-born mother always used to ask, “Is it good for the Jews?” And I have to say that Eat Something not only is good for the Jews but also will make them chuckle and enjoy cooking. This book offers a fresh California perspective and a dash of cultural irreverence.” – Joyce Goldstein, chef author

“This book embodies the spirit of Jewish soul food we all need right now. Equally delicious and inspiring, it satisfies like a holiday brisket, with a joy that lasts for days (minus the heartburn).” – David Sax, author of Save the Deli

Where to Buy: Omnivore Books,Green Apple Books, your favorite book store, and wherever books are sold!

STEAMED: A Catharsis Cookbook for Getting Dinner and Your Feelings on the Table (Running Press, 2021)

As heard on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and displayed at Urban Outfitters nationwide, STEAMED (Running Press, Spring 2021) is the cookbook you didn’t know you needed — but desperately do. “Cuing off the difficult times we are living in, authors Rachel Levin and Tara Duggan have a new, and hilarious, cookbook that encourages readers to put their feelings into making food. Whether you want to pound out your anger on a pork loin to make their Hammered Schnitzel or cry over sliced onions for some Sad French Onion Soup, STEAMED: A Catharsis Cookbook for Getting Dinner and Your Feelings on the Table has a recipe for you. What’s the dish that you make when you’re “anxiety cooking” — which, according to the authors, is “stress-eating’s more productive cousin”? — KQED Forum

Buy it here at Running Press

Watch it here at a San Francisco Chronicle event.

EAT SOMETHING (Chronicle Books, Covid 2020)

(Chronicle Books, March 2020) Order from your local bookstore! Or buy here.

ADVANCE PRAISE!

“This book embodies the spirit of Jewish soul food we all need right now. Equally delicious and inspiring, it satisfies like a holiday brisket, with a joy that lasts for days (minus the heartburn).” —David Sax, author of Save the Deli

“My Russian-born mother always used to ask, “Is it good for the Jews?” And I have to say that Eat Something not only is good for the Jews but also will make them chuckle and enjoy cooking. This book offers a fresh California perspective and a dash of cultural irreverence.” — Joyce Goldstein, chef & author

“An extremely entertaining and haimish guide to Jewish food and the role it plays in our lives.” — Josh Russ Tupper, 4th generation co-owner of Russ & Daughters

***

From nationally recognized Jewish brand Wise Sons, the cookbook Eat Something features over 60 recipes for salads, soups, baked goods, holiday dishes, and more.

This long-awaited cookbook (the first one for Wise Sons!) is packed with homey recipes and relatable humor; it is as much a delicious, lighthearted, and nostalgic cookbook as it is a lively celebration of Jewish culture.

Stemming from the thesis that Jews eat by occasion (and with enthusiasm), the book is organized into 19 different events and celebrations chronicling a Jewish life in food, from bris to shivah, and all the makeshift and meaningful events in between, including: Shabbat, Passover, the high holidays, first meal home from college, J-dating, wedding, and more.

LOOK BIG (Ten Speed, 2018)

Available at your local bookstore, online at Amazon  + Green Apple
Follow on Instagram @lookbigbook

“LOOK BIG is the definitive guide for anyone who has ever wondered what to do in an animal encounter. With equal parts humor and sound advice, Rachel Levin provides all the info you need to defuse a major critter crisis. Just don’t run. Unless it’s an alligator.” —Chris Keyes, editor of Outside magazine

“Ms. Levin has mastered the art of describing animals and their behavior in archly urban ways. . . a nifty idea carried out with humor and a deft touch.” —Wall Street Journal

“Hilarious but genuinely helpful” The Best Books from 2018 for Every Kind of Reader, Buzzfeed

“Finally, a book that answers the questions every outdoor-loving North American urbanite asks: What is it that I do again if I encounter a mountain lion while hiking? And are you supposed to run if you stumble upon a moose or hold your ground? Rachel Levin’s light-hearted read combines funny stories about wildlife encounters with facts and knowledgeable tips on what to do if you find yourself faced with any one of 50 North American creatures, from alligators to bed bugs. You’ll be ready to walk on the wild side in no time.” — 10 Books to Travel with this Summer, AFAR

“This book both amused and empowered me. I’m now prepared to haze a goose or do hand-to-hand combat with a cougar. . .  whatever it takes.”  — Jon Mooallem, author of The Wild Ones

“Journalist Levin gives well-researched advice for surviving run-ins with coyotes, bears, and moose, among other large animals, along with helpful tips, anecdotes, and charts for dealing with smaller critters, from bees to skunks. The illustrations make it the perfect coffee table book, while its small size means it also fits nicely in a backpack.” —Real Simple

“Levin takes a fun-filled, practical approach to dealing with all kinds of critters. . . Beyond being a simple and speedy reference book, the gorgeous and often humorous illustrations from Jeff Östberg make this fun to flip through, too. . . You’ll likely find yourself spending more time than you expected learning how to look big.” —Mother Nature Network

“Rachel Levin is a heck of a writer … ” —Hunting Life  

LOOK BIG is a humorous and helpful illustrated field guide that explains what to do in the face of fifty of our most feared— or frustrating—animals.

As humans encroach on wild places, encounters with animals—from bears, bison, mountain lions, and mice to turkeys, ticks, rats, and raccoons—have become increasingly commonplace. But wait, what are the rules for facing a moose up close? Do you run from a coyote or stand your ground? How deadly, really, are black widow spiders, rattlesnakes, and sharks?

Packed with expert tips, fascinating facts, and not-so-harrowing true tales (from writers like Peter Orner and Samin Nosrat), LOOK BIG is a must-have survival guide for urban, suburban, and outdoor adventurers alike. If you have ever feared the approach of a grizzly, the spray of a skunk, or an army of cockroaches in the kitchen, this book is for you.

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