Conquering desserts

VICKY TOBIANAH

The Parent Association of Hebrew Academy of Montreal wanted to find a unique way to raise money for their school. Considering the school is diverse – they have a mix of Sephardi and Ashkenazi students, who represent varying degrees of religious observance – they wanted a project that would honor the wide diversity of their student body.

Finally, in June, after five years of labor, and countless hours collecting and testing recipes, photographing the dishes and graphic design, they launched the result, And Then There Was Cake. The years of work paid off – this hardcover 200-page cookbook is filled with more than 80 dessert recipes accompanied by colorful images and the stories behind the varied treats.

“It was definitely a labor of love,” said Jordana Levy, one of the parents in charge of assembling the book. “There are really diverse recipes, from a babka ... to a Madeleine ... to a mille-feuille, and then there’s really plain oatmeal cookies. There’s something for everyone. Everywhere I go, people tell me ‘Oh, I just made this,’ or ‘I just made that.’”

Several families contributed recipes, along with the family history or tradition behind the dessert, which Levy said makes the project unique.

“It’s not only a cookbook, it’s a story,” she said. “Every chapter starts with a chapter sponsor, and they gave us an item that was precious to them and we included it in our cookbook. Each item tells a little story.”

Since the launch in June, they have sold 300 copies – the cookbook sells for $50. If the response continues to be as it has been so far, Levy said they are prepared to create a series of cookbooks.

“When we were picking our title, we [decided on] And Then There Was Cake in the hopes that our next book could be And Then There Were Salads,” she said. “The book was done to really support our students and give our students the extra things they want,” said Levy. “It’s perfection that we were aiming for, we didn’t want anything less, especially when you’re spending so much time and money on it. And so far, it exceeds ours expectations. It just really, truly is a beautiful book.”

To purchase a copy, visit ha-cookbook.com.

Vicky Tobianah is a freelance writer and editor based in Toronto and a recent McGill University graduate. Connect with her on Twitter, @vicktob, or by e-mail to [email protected].

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