Joan Nathan

Joan Nathan was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to Jewish parents Pearl (Gluck) Nathan and Ernest Nathan. After receiving a master's degree in French literature from the University of Michigan, she earned another master's degree in public administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.{{cite web|url=http://www.randomhouse.com/kvpa/nathan/bio.html|title=About Joan Nathan|publisher=Random House|access-date=2009-07-20}} As a newspaper food journalist she has visited, among other places, France{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/dining/17hanu.html?em|title = In Successful Paris Restaurant, Jewish Roots|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 17 December 2008|last1 = Nathan|first1 = Joan}} and Brazil,{{Cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE3D71F3EF933A15757C0A9639C8B63|title = In Brazil, Passover Holdovers|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 20 April 2005|last1 = Nathan|first1 = Joan}} uncovering new dishes or researching Jewish cuisine.

She was executive producer and host of Jewish Cooking in America with Joan Nathan, a PBS series based on her cookbook, Jewish Cooking in America. The series follows Nathan as she travels across the United States, visiting the kitchens of celebrities, chefs, and other notable Jewish cooks as she explores Jewish culture and history throughout the nation.{{Cite web |title=Jewish Cooking in America {{!}} Cooking Shows |url=https://www.pbs.org/food/shows/jewish-cooking-in-america/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115134329/http://www.pbs.org/food/shows/jewish-cooking-in-america/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 15, 2011 |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=PBS Food |language=en-US}} The success of the series helped Nathan earn the distinction of being called the "Jewish Julia Child" in the media.{{Cite web |title=Jewish Julia Child' discovers the right mix |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/10/01/jewish-julia-child-discovers-the-right-mix/ |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}} In 2000, the series was nominated for best national television food show at the James Beard Awards.{{Cite news |last=Lerner |first=Michele |date=2014-02-06 |title=For cookbook author Joan Nathan, a home that 'loves people' |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/for-cookbook-author-joan-nathan-a-home-that-loves-people/2014/02/05/99bcf3da-8386-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_story.html |access-date=2023-01-24 |issn=0190-8286}}

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Nathan has written twelve cookbooks, winning numerous awards for them. Six are about Jewish cuisine and two on Israeli cuisine. Her goal is to preserve Jewish traditions by interviewing cooks and documenting their recipes and stories for posterity.[http://www.haaretz.com/culture/books/profile-cooking-with-chutzpah-1.346916 "Cooking with chutzpah"], Book Section, Haaretz

In 1985, An American Folklife Cookbook won the R.T. French Tastemaker Award (now the James Beard Award). The New American Cooking won the James Beard and IACP Awards for Food of the Americas and Best American Cookbook. She was guest curator of Food Culture USA at the 2005 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which was based on the research for her book.

Two decades later, in 2005, Jewish Cooking in America won the Julia Child Award for Best Cookbook of the Year, and the James Beard Award (again) for Food of the Americas.[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/dining/28nathan.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Joan Nathan profile], New York Times, March 28, 2007. In 2017, the IACP: International Association of Culinary Professionals honored Jewish Cooking in America as a Culinary Classic.

• The Flavor of Jerusalem, Little, Brown 1975
• The Jewish Holiday Kitchen, Schocken 1979
• An American Folklife Cookbook, Schocken 1984
• The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen, Schocken 1988
• Jewish Cooking in America, Knopf 1994
• The Jewish Holiday Baker, Schocken 1997
• The Foods of Israel Today, Knopf 2001
• Joan Nathan's Jewish Holiday Cookbook, Schocken 2004
• The New American Cooking, Knopf 2005
• Quiches, Kugels and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France, Knopf 2010
• King Solomon's Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World, Knopf 2017
• My Life in Recipes: Food, Family, and Memories, Knopf 2024
• A Sweet Year: Jewish Celebrations and Festive Recipes, Knopf 2024

She lived in Israel for three years working for Mayor Teddy Kollek of Jerusalem.{{cite web|url=http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1860137|title=Israeli Hanukkah|website=myrecipes.com|access-date=2011-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228215326/http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1860137|archive-date=2008-12-28|url-status=dead}}

Nathan was married to the late Allan Gerson, an attorney; the couple has three children and two grandchildren.{{Cite web |title=About – Joan Nathan |url=http://joannathan.com/about/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |language=en-US}} Nathan divides her time between Washington, D.C., and Martha's Vineyard.

• 2018, Creativity Moment Award, Moment Magazine {{citation needed|date=November 2022}}
• 2015, Grande Dame Award, Les Dames d'Escoffier International {{citation needed|date=November 2022}}
• 2011, [with her husband, Allan] Special Recognition Award from the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research for her contribution to preserving Jewish culture {{cite web|title=YIVO 10th Annual Heritage Dinner|url=http://www.njapf.com/YIVO_HeritageProg_2ndBatch/HerDinnerProg2011_YIVO_v7HiBypageCrops.pdf|website=YIVO|access-date=May 31, 2011}} {{dead link|date=September 2013}}
• 2008, MacDowell Fellow, the MacDowell Colony {{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
• 2005, Silver Spoon Award, Food Arts Magazine {{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
• 2002, Honorary doctorate from the Spertus Institute of Jewish Culture {{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
• 2001, Inductee into James Beard Foundation's Who's Who in American Food and Beverage {{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
• 1998, Jewish Daily Forward "Forward 50"
• 1995, Golda Award, American Jewish Congress {{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
• 1994, Jewish Cooking in America received the James Beard Award for Best American Cookbook and later, the IACP/Julia Child Cookbook of the Year Award

• Good Morning, America{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=4190|title=Joan Nathan: Book Fest 07|publisher=The Library of Congress|access-date=2009-07-20}}
• The Today Show
• Live with Regis and Kathie Lee{{cite web|url=http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/tv-chef-interview-joan-nathan|title=Interview with TV Chef Joan Nathan|last=Denchak|first=Melissa|publisher=Food and Wine|access-date=2009-07-20}}
• Food Network{{cite web|url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/cooking-live/hannukah-with-joan-nathan/index.html|title=Hannukah with Joan Nathan|website=Episode CL9422|publisher=Food Network|access-date=2009-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010005709/http://www.foodnetwork.com/cooking-live/hannukah-with-joan-nathan/index.html|archive-date=2009-10-10|url-status=dead}}
• The Martha Stewart Show.
• All Things Considered and Weekend Edition{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5068097|title=Joan Nathan: An Exotic Holiday Feast|website=NPR.org |publisher=NPR|access-date=2009-07-20}}

In January 2009, she began choking on a piece of chicken at the Art.Food.Hope dinner in Washington, D.C., but was saved by chef Tom Colicchio, who performed the Heimlich maneuver.[http://www.slashfood.com/2009/01/19/tom-colicchio-uses-heimlich-manuver-to-save-cookbook-authors-li/?icid=200100397x1217316856x1201131322Tom Colicchio Uses Heimlich Maneuver to Save Cookbook Author] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927062156/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/01/19/tom-colicchio-uses-heimlich-manuver-to-save-cookbook-authors-li/?icid=200100397x1217316856x1201131322Tom |date=2013-09-27 }} Slash Food, January 19, 2009.

{{reflist|30em}}

{{external links|date=February 2021}}

• [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/dining/17hanu.html?em In Successful Paris Restaurant, Jewish Roots]
• [https://slate.com/human-interest/2008/11/a-short-history-of-the-bagel.html A Short History of the Bagel: From Ancient Egypt to Lender's]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9505E5D71138F937A1575AC0A96E9C8B63 Sweet, Sour, Tasty: An Old Iraq New Year]
• [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8978739 Gefilte Fish: Cooking Up a Seder Staple]
• [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/dining/16sede.html?scp=2&sq=Joan%20Nathan&st=nyt Bread of Freedom in Times of Despair]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE1DC1739F930A15752C0A96E9C8B63 On Martha's Vineyard, Using Scallops as Currency]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E6DC1238F936A35751C1A9619C8B63&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink Inviting an Old Favorite to the Hanukkah Table]
• [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/dining/12tong.html?_r=1&ref=dining&oref=slogin A Delicacy That Is Better When It's Not Served Whole]
• [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/dining/22eco.html Of Church and Steak: Farming for the Soul]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E7DD1330F93BA15750C0A9619C8B63 For a Sweeter Passover, Old and New Sephardic Delights]
• [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/02/AR2007010200180.html A Toast to a Diplomat With a Cook's Heart]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E4DE1531F930A25751C1A9609C8B63 From Hungary, For Hanukkah, From Long Ago]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9506E2D91031F933A1575AC0A9609C8B63 New Year, New Dumpling]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEFDF1030F936A35757C0A9609C8B63 It's Passover, Lighten Up]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E3D61730F932A15751C1A9639C8B63 In France, It's Not All Chopped Liver]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE5DE163EF931A35752C1A9639C8B63 An Old-Fashioned American Standby, Fish Sauce and All]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE1DF1230F93BA1575AC0A9639C8B63 Kugel Unraveled]
• [https://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/050815/15ender.htm Red, White, and Blueberry]
• [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400EFD81F38F936A25755C0A9639C8B63 A Crossover Hit For a Global Star]

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Category:1943 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers

Category:21st-century American women journalists

Category:21st-century American journalists

Category:21st-century American women writers

Category:American cookbook writers

Category:American newspaper journalists

Category:American women food writers

Category:American women non-fiction writers

Category:American women television producers

Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni

Category:James Beard Foundation Award winners

Category:Jewish American journalists

Category:Jewish American non-fiction writers

Category:Jewish women writers

Category:University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts alumni