Location: Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way Palo Alto, CA 94303
Date: Sunday, June 8, 2025 · 11am – 12:30pm PDT. Doors at 10:40am
Dad, What’s For Dinner? A Father’s Day Celebration, David Nayfeld, Oshman Family JCC, Palo Alto, CA
Book launch and hands-on cooking demo with Che Fico restaurant owner and chef, David Nayfeld.
Just before Father’s Day, David Nayfeld, Co-owner and Chef of the Che Fico restaurants in San Francisco and Menlo Park, CA, releases his new cookbook, “Dad, What’s For Dinner?”. The book provides dads (and other parents) with over 80 simple, uncomplicated recipes for weeknights and beyond. Gwyneth Paltrow wrote the foreword.
David Nayfeld is the son of Jewish Belarussian refugees. His menus, which highlight rustic Italian cuisine, pay homage to his Jewish heritage by include recipes from Italy’s Jewish population.
Join us for a celebration featuring a book presentation, a hands-on cooking lesson, a meet-and-greet with David Nayfeld, and a book signing.
Register by May 20 to ensure a book is included with your ticket. Additional books will be available for purchase at the event.
Suitable for all ages (children from 5 to 14 must have adult supervision).
For additional information, contact mshabtai@paloaltojcc.org.
ABOUT THE BOOK.
This is a book for fathers (and mothers, grandparents, and anyone else who needs to put dinner on the table). It’s a book that believes “kids’ food” may encompass more than just buttered noodles. Chef David Nayfeld has spent decades cooking in some of the world’s top restaurants, including his own, so when his daughter began asking, “Dad, what’s for dinner?” He set out to transform his professional experience into something that all fathers may utilize to become more confident and creative in the kitchen, and better able to care for their loved ones—and themselves.
As a result, this book serves as a user’s guide to cooking for (and occasionally with) your children. A compilation of over 80 hearty, good-for-you dishes that the whole family will enjoy, from Italian Sausage and Broccolini Lasagna to The Best Fricking Meatloaf in the World; Tomato and Bread Salad (it still counts as a salad!) to Vanilla Buttercream Frosted Cupcakes.
This is a book that empowers home cooks by providing them with the tools, strategies (the benefits of batch cooking!), and recipes they need to break free from frozen goods and delivery. It is a book about bringing families together around the dinner table and producing more experimental eaters. Most importantly, it is a book that answers the age-old question, “Dad, what’s for dinner?” (Or lunch, or breakfast, or . . .)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
David Nayfeld collaborated with some of the world’s top chefs before co-founding Back Home Hospitality and building the group’s first restaurant, Che Fico, in San Francisco, which was voted one of the best new restaurants in America by Bon Appétit and Esquire. He is also the chef and co-owner of Che Fico Parco Menlo, il Mercato di Che Fico, and Che Fico Pizzeria. He was named a Rising Star Chef by Star Chefs in 2019. Nayfeld was recently selected a semifinalist for the 2023 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Chef.
What People Are Saying…
“As a father, I can attest to the difficulty of feeding your children. Dad, what’s for dinner? David helps fathers (and other parents) across get delicious dinner on the table.” —Tom Colicchio, chef and owner of Crafted Hospitality.
“Anyone with children understands how difficult it can be to get food on the table. David enables you to prepare authentic, delicious dishes (and even involve your children!). In my book, he has established himself as an honorary Italian for life.” ― Giada De Laurentiis.
“David Nayfeld is one of America’s best chefs and one of my favorite people. So it’s no wonder that this lovely and well-organized book stems from his kitchen and his desire for us all to cook and care for one another in the nicest and most delicious way possible. As a single father myself, this makes perfect sense, from bulk cooking to snack times. Dad, What’s for dinner? offers everyone interested in boosting their food game for their family a huge boost.” —Andrew Zimmern
Related Events:
Children’s Father’s Day Workshop, Morgan Hill, CA | June 15, 2025 
Father’s Day Car Show, Venture Christian Church, Los Gatos, CA | June 14, 2025 
Fathers Day Murder Mystery Dinner Show, Gravestone, The Old Spaghetti Factory, San Jose, CA | June 15, 2025 
Googirl Dance Showcase, Spangenberg Theatre, Palo Alto, CA | May 18, 2025
