From Dana McCauley:

"Both before and after her death in February 2020, Norene Gilletz was recognized as a highly valuable contributor to the oeuvre of kosher food writing. While she was often called the ‘kosher Julia Child’ and the ‘queen of kosher cuisine’, Norene’s food writing often reached beyond this cultural demographic. For a generation of Canadians, Norene wrote recipe books that justified their investment in high-ticket appliance such as food processors and microwaves. In fact, forty years after first being published in Norene’s The Pleasures of your Food Processor, (later reprinted as The Food Processor Bible), her carrot cake recipe remains hugely popular with Canadians, producing thousands of references when entered into popular search engines.

As someone who loved to teach and to help others, Norene also wrote books that combined her culinary skills and interest health and wellness. The Colon Health Cookbook, The Low Iodine Cookbook and the Brain Boosting Diet are just three of her titles that reflect her attitude that food that is good for you should taste good, too.

As a prolific cookbook writer, food consultant and newspaper columnist, Norene deserved all the accolades used to describe her impact; but, to her friends she was so much more than her professional accomplishments. Always ready with a corny pun, Norene injected levity into every phone conversation or coffee date. She always had a story to share and was ready with truly thoughtful insight when asked for her advice and opinion. Her very favourite thing to do was to gather with friends for a meal. The last time I saw her was at our mutual friend Jocie Bussin’s beautiful lakefront home where we had a summer lunch and took a boat ride on lake Simcoe. It was exactly the kind of afternoon Norene loved: the food was all homemade and healthy and the conversation was steady and amiable.

Friendship and conversation were hallmarks of Norene’s writing and allowed her to connect deeply with her readers. Chatty and peppered with helpful hints that make you feel like she is talking directly to you, Norene’s books unite communities as diverse as Jews, food processor owners and thyroid cancer sufferers.

Many food writers set out to deliver wholly original or regionally accurate ethnic recipes. But for Norene, the best recipes are the ones people select when they want to bond over a delicious meal. Although her cooking skills and imagination were both abundant, Norene loved learning what her readers served around their tables. Then she would take their family favourite and turn them into a fully tested recipes that worked for every cook on the first try.

It was a winning formula that earned Norene celebrity status among her readers. I fondly recall going to the book launch for The Silver Platter: Simple to Spectacular (co-authored with Daniella Silver). If you’ve never been to a book launch party, you should know that for most Canadian cookbooks, a successful launch event will entice 10 to 20 of your friends and a handful of faithful readers to a bookstore where there will be a short talk and then a book signing. If the guests are lucky, there will be a cheese platter and plastic cups of white wine on offer.

Unless you are the beloved Norene Gilletz. When I arrived at Norene’s launch party with two friends in tow, we had to park around the block. The party was far too big for a bookstore and was held in a hall that was decorated like a posh bar mitzvah or a prom was to be held. Just like Norene herself, the event was fun (with photo stations, hundreds of pink balloons, a DJ, etc) and featured plenty of delicious food prepared from the book and served elegantly by waiters.

The room was packed and a never-ending line up of people waited patiently for Norene to autograph their books. From the time we arrived until we left, Norene was busy signing and exchanging stories with her readers. I had her attention only briefly that night, just long enough to tell her how great she looked and how excited I was to see her book literally become a best seller before my eyes.

Although she had no time to participate in the festivities herself, she was radiant and joyful amid a crowd who truly valued her work. And, that’s how I’m choosing to remember my dear friend. I can only hope that wherever Norene is now that the feelings she had that night are with her always."