An apple-and-honey snacking cake, fresh out of the oven, was sitting on the stovetop in Jake Cohen’s Long Island City apartment. Just a few feet away on the counter, there was a freshly baked challah with sesame seeds and flaky salt. Despite feeling hungry, the visitor was hesitant. Mr. Cohen apologized but was unwavering. The pastry and bread were being taken to “Good Morning America” with him, where he would discuss his new cookbook, “I Could Nosh: Classic Jew-ish Recipes Revamped for Every Day,” the sequel to his 2021 bestseller, “Jew-ish: Reinvented Recipes From a Modern Mensch.”
“But I always have baked goods around,” Mr. Cohen said, as he opened the freezer to reveal cookies and banana bread stored for both expected and unexpected guests. “People come by all the time.”
This explained why he and his husband, Alex Shapiro, a financial consultant, always set their dining table for six. Mr. Cohen described it as “Lucky Girl Syndrome,” where they were open to the universe and the possibility of something happening.
Living in Long Island City, Mr. Cohen grew up in Bayside, Queens, and on Long Island. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, he moved into the Murray Hill studio apartment his mother had purchased as an investment. Mr. Shapiro eventually joined him there after they met on Hinge in 2015, and they got married in 2018.
After selling the apartment in 2019, the couple planned to buy a place in Brooklyn Heights. However, at the same time, Mr. Cohen’s mother, Elizabette, sold their family home on Long Island and considered moving back to Forest Hills. However, Mr. Cohen suggested she move to Long Island City, which would be convenient for her freelance veterinarian work and a central location for her children’s homes.
Ms. Cohen instantly fell in love with the neighborhood and purchased a condo in a yet-to-be-constructed building. She happily waited for the building’s completion, residing in a nearby luxury high-rise rental as one of the first tenants. Her enthusiasm spread to her daughter, who decided to rent in the same building.
Meanwhile, Mr. Cohen and Mr. Shapiro had planned to buy an apartment in Brooklyn. However, they had a moment of realization and chose to rent a one-bedroom apartment on the 22nd floor of the same building where Mr. Cohen’s mother (44th floor) and sister (12th floor) lived. They referred to this experience as the “urban kibbutz,” creating a close-knit community during the pandemic.
Last year, Mr. Cohen’s mother and sister moved to different buildings just a block away from him. Mr. Cohen and Mr. Shapiro also moved to a two-bedroom apartment down the hall from their original one-bedroom apartment. Despite the challenges of moving during a Covid wave, Mr. Cohen took charge and moved most of their furniture himself with the help of a dolly.
The new apartment offers stunning views of the skyline through west-facing floor-to-ceiling windows. The abundance of light even turned their silver alpaca accent pillows green. Mr. Cohen described the joy of waking up to the view in the morning and sitting on the couch at night, with Manhattan seemingly staring back at them.
The apartment includes a pantry, which is convenient for Mr. Cohen’s various flours and spices. The space itself is modern, with stainless steel appliances, light oak floors, and a sleek off-white bouclé sectional. However, its real charm lies in the meaningful objects placed throughout the apartment.
A marble-topped rack holds a silver-and-wood lox platter passed down from Mr. Cohen’s maternal grandmother and his great-grandmother’s recipe box. In the primary bedroom, a braided challah menorah and a collection of glass and ceramic pomegranates sit next to a kiddush cup from his great-grandparents’ wedding. Mr. Shapiro gave Mr. Cohen crystal candlesticks for his 25th birthday, and they now grace the center of the dining table, symbolizing a new tradition to be passed down.
Soon, Mr. Cohen’s maternal grandmother will be moving to Florida from the Caribbean, and she has mother-of-pearl fruit knives to give him. Mr. Cohen is always ready to put new additions to good use, as he loves hosting guests and sharing his hospitality. Regular attendees to Sabbath dinner include comedian Alex Edelman, Judy Gold, Shoshana Bean, and composer Benj Pasek. They also hold game nights and enjoy dinners with other couples.
When it comes to apartment upgrades, Mr. Cohen dreams of having an additional 500 square feet, not for a bigger kitchen or more bedrooms, but to host larger parties. He loves his current apartment but acknowledges that, when renting, one must always be ready for new opportunities. “Your dream apartment could go on the market tomorrow,” he said.