“I have long been a fan of Shochat's fabulous Middle Eastern-inspired food, so relished the opportunity not only to recreate it myself, but also to learn more about the woman behind Ima. In the fascinating introduction by author David Cohen, we learn about Yael's own ima [mother], Thelma, who spurred her daughter's love for cooking. We also learn about how in the Middle East, food is far from just food — it's spiced with history, as Cohen puts it.”

— The Six Best Cook Books Released in 2016, According to ‘Cuisine’ Magazine