When Sarene Wallace and I launched the virtual cooking community Tasting Jerusalem, we didn’t know exactly where it would lead. We were drawn to the stories and recipes in the cookbook Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi, published by Ten Speed Press, and wanted to explore the book with others. It was also an opportunity to work together and learn about building an online community in the age of social media. From that spark, Tasting Jerusalem was born. Since then we’ve enjoyed steady growth, excellent contributions from members, and early media attention. Meanwhile, Jerusalem: A Cookbook has continued to earn awards and outsell the average cookbook.
The New York Times monthly feature Recipe Lab, written by Julia Moskin, recently spotlighted the book’s popularity. After we commented on posts about the chicken and cardamom recipes, Ms. Moskin reached out to Sarene for an interview, then contacted me about participating in a photo shoot to prepare a dish from the book. That was an easy decision—yes!
On Tuesday, July 30, the article ran online and the next day appeared in print in the Dining section, featuring a quote from Sarene and a photo of me. It was an exciting moment for our small but passionate community.
Below are a few photos my son took during the kitchen shoot with the talented New York Times photographer Jim Wilson.
We’re deeply grateful to the loyal and growing Tasting Jerusalem community. Your enthusiasm, feedback, and shared experiences are what make this project meaningful, and we look forward to learning and having fun together as the group continues to grow.
Are you already a fan of Jerusalem: A Cookbook or familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine? Share your stories and experiences below or join the conversation with Tasting Jerusalem. You can find us on Facebook, Google Plus, Pinterest, and by following the hashtag #TastingJrslm on Instagram and Twitter, as well as here on OMG! Yummy.