COOKBOOK WATCH

Two new cookbooks give a glimpse of the variety of Jewish food in Southern California. In “The Low-Fat Jewish Cookbook” (Clarkson Potter, $24.95), local author Faye Levy proves that cutting the fat out of Jewish food isn’t as difficult as it might seem if you pay attention to flavor and look beyond traditional Eastern European classics for inspiration.

A smaller, more personal project is “Festival of Delights: A Celebration of Food, Festivals and Family” (Sisterhood of Temple Beth Hillel, $17.95), filled with recipes from the membership of the Sisterhood of Temple Beth Hillel in Valley Village near Studio City. Many of the recipes come from the temple’s considerable Russian Jewish population, many are traditional (kugels, brisket, honey cake) and many show the influences of the cuisines of Southern California (Cuban chicken, penne pasta salad with rosemary, sweet pea guacamole).

To order “Festival of Delights,” send $17.95 plus $3.50 postage and handling ($2.50 for additional copies to same address) and 8 1/4% sales tax (California residents only) to Sisterhood of Temple Beth Hillel, 12326 Riverside Drive, Valley Village, CA 91607. “The Low-Fat Jewish Cookbook” is sold in most bookstores.