Maria Lobanovsky

Maria Lobanovsky was born in San Francisco to Russian immigrants who settled in California after touring with the USO during and post WWII. Her childhood experiences and cuisine were influenced by the Russian American community and the highly diverse population of the Bay Area. For Maria, dinner was a special time in the family's day for relaxing, eating, and sharing adventures.

Originally, The Lobanovsky Family Table was written as a memoir cookbook intended to be a Christmas gift to her son. But this project took on a life of its own and became a series of eight books. It includes hundreds of favorite family recipes, many with amusing back stories. The collection on Amazon has grown to include eight books, The Russian Sweet Tooth, Drinks and Zakuski, Beyond Beef Stroganoff, Beyond Borscht and Beets, Fish and Other Friends From Land and Sea, Things Made of Dough, Cakes, Cookies and Sweet Pirogs, and Easter Specialties of the House.

So many celebrations center around food. Food can be a cultural experience as well as a catalyst to enliven childhood memories. Maria's books do both. They also touch upon the history and traditions of the Russian American community in San Francisco and how America became a safe refuge and happy home for these immigrants.

"May dinner become a little more special. Carve out time to create treasured moments for your family and friends, or we all run the risk of having too few of either. May you live your life more fully. From my family to yours, enjoy!" - Maria