Meet Jake Cohen, the chef reinventing the modern Jew-ish menu

But despite his success in the restaurant world, he quickly realised that his true calling wasn’t in fine dining. "I always knew that this wasn't where I wanted to end up," he says. Instead, he made his way into the media, running test kitchens for top magazines and eventually launching his own cookbook.

The result was Jew-ish: Reinvented Recipes from a Modern Mensch, published in 2021, and included recipes like salted honey chopped liver; crispy chicken thighs with tzimmes and salt and pepper sufganyot.

"I’m so proud of Jew-ish," he reflects. "It’s such an incredible tome for modern Jewish cooking. It helps people find their way back to Jewish ritual through the lens of food, which is something I love."

His second book, I Could Nosh: Classic Jew-ish Recipes Revamped for Every Day which was released in 2023 builds on Cohen’s signature modern twist on traditional Jewish recipes with a range of Ashkenazi and Sephardi-inspired recipes that ranged from borsht with flanken and sauerkraut to sabich egg salad and Nanny’s apple cake — his great grandmother’s original recipe.

Cohen’s approach to Jewish cuisine is deeply personal, rooted in the hospitality and comfort food he grew up with. “For me personally, so much of everything I know about hospitality, everything I know about comfort food, everything I know was rooted in growing up in a Jewish household," he explains. "As an adult, I really leaned into Shabbat as this practice for hosting, learning how to build community and cooking for those I love.”

It's clear from his recipes that his Ashkenazi roots are the foundation for much of his inspiration, but Cohen also explores the diversity of Jewish cuisine, influenced by his Middle Eastern ex-husband.

"I spent my entire 20s with a Middle Eastern Jew, and that was a great opportunity to learn his dishes and explore my own culture," Cohen says. "There’s such a broad diversity in the Jewish community, and to be able to explore the diaspora through a culinary lens is super important."

But it’s not just about the food for Cohen—it’s about showing the world who he is. He proudly wears a Star of David necklace throughout his social media posts, and he’s not afraid to be upfront about his identity. "It’s just, it’s something in terms of pride," he says. "I’m very keen on showing who I am. I want to show people my humour, how I cook, and be totally authentic. You either love it, or it’s not for you." This unapologetic embrace of his Jewish identity has resonated deeply with his followers.

However, not everything has been smooth sailing. Cohen has also been a victim of antisemitism, particularly on social media, where his posts sometimes spark negative reactions. "The answer is yes, I’ve experienced it," he says, adding that the intersection of Jewish identity and food can often be complicated.

"A lot of dishes around the world are so integral within Jewish communities, but sometimes we share dishes with other communities, and they’re not exclusively Jewish."

For Cohen, it’s never about claiming ownership of a dish but rather celebrating the unique ways Jewish culture has influenced culinary traditions.

When making his beloved honey-nut baklava recipe (which appears in I Could Nosh) for example, he highlights the Iraqi Jewish version, recognising the multiple cultural influences on the dish. "I just want to bring to life the Jewish version of that," he says.

In addition to his social media success and bestselling cookbooks, Cohen’s career has recently expanded with his new cooking show, Jake Makes It Easy. The show, which premiered in late October on the FYI Network, is all about making cooking approachable and fun.

"I want to inspire people to start inviting the people they love over for a dinner party," he says. "It’s about bringing people together, making food that’s easy, delicious, and rooted in tradition — but with a modern spin."

Cohen recently visited London, where he spent time with some of the food world’s biggest names, including Yotam Ottolenghi and Olia Hercules. He admits that the experience left him feeling "reinvented."

"To be cooked for by these incredible chefs was so comforting," he says. "It reinvigorated me in a way that I can’t describe." Cohen also had the chance to explore the London food scene, visiting places like Rochelle Canteen, Honey & Co., and Dishoom.

Looking ahead, Cohen’s future looks bright. Jake Makes It Easy airs on the FYI channel and app (although only US fans can enjoy it at this stage as it won’t be be available in the UK yet) and he says fans can expect even more from him in the near future. "I have another book coming out next year, which will be fun," he teases.

Instagram: jakecohen