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Home > News > Archive 2007 > September > Jewish Princesses visit Sinclair House

Date:  19 September 2007

'Having your cake and eating it'

Contrary to the popular (and usually less flattering) stereotype, a true Jewish Princess is simply a woman who knows how to make the most of herself and enjoy life to the full. So say Georgie Tarn and Tracey Fine, authors of the Jewish Princess Cookbook, who made their first Redbridge appearance at Jewish Care’s Sinclair House Community Centre on Monday 17th September.

The girls, who have been friends since the age of nine, gave an entertaining talk to around 80 women of all ages, who attended the event at the centre in Woodford Bridge Road. The ladies-only evening was part of the centre’s High Holyday Programme and raised £300 for the centre’s work.

“What does a Jewish Princess make for dinner? She makes a reservation,” chorus the girls, who are both good cooks and enjoy entertaining. “The idea for the book came in my sleep, I literally dreamt it. So I called Tracey, who is my oldest friend, and asked if she would do it with me. She took one second and said yes,” explains Georgie.

Their humour may be tongue-in-cheek but the book contains a wealth of mouth-watering recipes such as bloody mary borscht, caramelised onion tomato and brie tart, as well as how to make the ultimate Friday night dinner with chicken soup, matzo balls and delicious apple strudel pie.

Adds Georgie: “It’s traditional Jewish cooking with a twist. None of the recipes require too much time for preparation. Eating well doesn’t have to mean whole days slaving in the kitchen. Today’s Princess wants to run a wonderful home, look good and produce lovely food – and have plenty of time for the hairdresser and the manicurist.” She also stressed the importance of having a good butcher!

Now in paperback and hardback, the book has been endorsed by Gordon Ramsay’s protégé Angela Hartnett. There is also a range of Princess products including aprons, and tea-towels with slogans such as: “I pledge to let the dishwasher do its job” and “I pledge if all else fails to call the caterer.”

Their visit to Redbridge had a special meaning for Tracey Fine as her father had grown up in the area and she was taken on a trip to Valentine’s Park as a small child. Talking of the success of their Princess enterprise, Tracey says: “It’s lovely to do something that’s so upbeat and fun. It’s more than a cookbook – it’s a philosophy. Our mantra is the three ‘Ps’: positive, productive and princess-like.

“I always cook, I love making wonderful salads – I couldn’t give my children just a sandwich for lunch, I would feel guilty – it’s the way I am.”

Afterwards, the women queued up to buy the book although some, like Woodford resident Beverley Steinberg already had one, so brought it to be signed. “I think they’re very good, she said.” Another attendee, Denise Shulman, said: “They were very entertaining – I’m looking forward to using the book.”

The youngest audience member, 11-year-old Natasha Gee-Firsht, a King Solomon High School pupil, had come with her mother Tracey, one of the centre’s meals-on-wheels volunteers. “I’m a fan,” said Natasha, who was more than happy to be photographed with the princess pair.

The visit was pronounced a “great success” by organisers Kata Alfoldy and Sam Curtis, who said that “everyone enjoyed it.”

For details for the Jewish Princess Cookbook and merchandise visit www.thejewishprincess.com or email info@jewishprincess.com For details of the adult activities programme at Sinclair House call Sam on 020 8551 0017 or email scurtis@jcare.org