Alona’s stories are so endearingly honest and familiar, that even in the confluence of her vast cultural and ethnic influence–Israeli, Latino, American–they call to mind the reader’s own personal comforts and indulgences. Her recipes, though unique to her multicultural life, entice and relate to us all.” -Tara Mataraza Desmond, author of Full Belly: Good Eats for a Healthy Pregnancy, Choosing Sides: From Holidays to Every Day, 130 Delicious Recipes to Make the Meal, , and co-author of Almost Meatless: Recipes That Are Better for Your Health and the Planet.
— Tara Mataraza DesmondWriter, cookbook author, recipe developer Books, Blog, Clips & Recipes, Instagram, Twitter
Alona,
Thanks for sharing your book with me. This is a charming collection of exuberant food stories and recipes that invite you into the kitchen like a neighbor. It’s warm, personal, and the dishes look completely mouth-watering.
And you can quote me on that!
— Dave JoachimDavid Joachim has authored, edited, or collaborated on more than 40 cookbooks, including the IACP Award-winning reference books, The Food Substitutions Bible and The Science of Good Food, which also won a World Gourmand Award for Best Food Literature Book, a Cordon d'Or Award for Best Culinary Reference Book, and was a finalist for both a World Food Media Award and a James Beard Award.
In My Culinary Compulsion Alona has accomplished what so many food writers dream of doing. He has collected a set of recipes, yes; but lovingly glided them with stories and vignettes from a life well-lived. Reading them, then putting them aside, you find yourself longing to have a glass of wine or cup of coffee with your amigo; the one that makes you shriek with laughter at the naughty stories, or swoon at the sweet ones. My Culinary Compulsion is more than a collection of recipes, it’s a beautiful homage to the people and the food she loves.
— Jacqueline ChurchCulinary Consultant/Instructor
Witty and delectable, this culinary memoire enchants and delights! You’ll want to make every recipe.
— Sandra A. Gutierrezauthor of Latin American Street Food
Alona packed this cookbook and memoir full of funny, sensuous, and rebellious stories and recipes. You’ll see that she has the ravenous, restless mind of a stay-at-home mom who might be a little bored. The recipes show how she loves to tinker and experiment with all kinds of food. The product of an Israeli father and an American mother, Alona grew up in Venezuela and settled in Miami to raise a family. So you get this heady mix of Latin food, mommy dishes, Middle Eastern food, French dishes inspired by restaurant meals, and travel-inspired dishes from around the world. You’ll also find a few Jewish holiday dishes in a chapter named Extra Holiday Pounds, which includes a recipe for Venezuelan Ham Bread. If you haven’t figured this out by now, My Culinary Compulsion is a delightful read.
— Dianne Jacobauthor, Will Write for Food
Want the sizzle live? I’m available for book readings and signings, speaking engagements, interviews, conferences, and professional events.