Joan Nathan, a nationally acclaimed cookbook author, is host and executive producer of the new public television series, Jewish Cooking in America with Joan Nathan. The series is based on her award-winning cookbook, Jewish Cooking in America (Knopf, 1994) which received the Julia Child Award for Best Cookbook of the Year in 1995 from the International Association of Culinary Professionals, as well as the 1995 James Beard Award for Food of the Americas. In 1998 a new version of the cookbook was released, with 35 brand new recipes, to coincide with the airing of the series.

Ms. Nathan is the author of five other books, including The Jewish Holiday Baker (Schocken Books), The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen (Schocken Books), The Jewish Holiday Kitchen(Schocken Books) and The Flavor of Jerusalem (with Stacey Goldman). In 1985, her American Folklife Cookbook received the R.T. French Tastemaker Award. Ms. Nathan contributes frequently to such publications as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Food Arts, Food and Wine Magazine and Hadassah Magazine and is working on a book on the foods of modern Israel.

Ms. Nathan was senior producer of "Passover: Traditions of Freedom," a one- hour documentary for public television which used food as a vehicle to understanding culture and history. The program won a Silver Award at the 1994 Houston International Film Festival and a Chris Award, the highest honor, in the Religion & Philosophy division at the 1994 Columbus International Film Festival.

A founding member of Les Dames d'Escoffier in Washington, D.C., Ms. Nathan received a Golda Award from the American Jewish Congress for her accomplishments and creative contributions to the quality of life in Washington, D.C. She lectures around the country and has appeared as a guest on The Television Food Network, "The Today Show," "Good Morning America," "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" and on National Public Radio. She is a founder of New York's Ninth Avenue Food Festival under Mayor Abraham Beame. Ms. Nathan lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and three children.

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