OyChicago articles

Laura Klibanow and her mom have been baking her cousin Libby's mandel bread recipe for as long as she can remember. For years, everyone who tasted it told them—"you have to sell this!" Finally, they decided it was time to share this delicious cookie with the world and named the company Libby & Laura, as a tribute to Libby, who passed away. Their mandel bread is unique—it is baked only once, not twice—making it softer than most mandel bread and biscotti.

When she is not baking mandel bread, Laura is studying for her MBA at the University of Illinois at Chicago where she is a Liautaud Scholar. She earned her undergraduate degree in Hispanic Studies at McGill University in Montreal. After graduating from McGill she lived in Israel for two years. Now she’s back home in Highland Park, sharing her sweet family recipe with the masses.

So if you like a delicious treat, wish you could be your own boss or want to travel the world, Laura Klibanow is a Jew You Should Know!

1. What is your favorite blog or website?
Google. I love all the Google apps and now that you can make free phone calls to anywhere in North America it's even better.

2. If time and money were limitless, where would you travel?
I want to go to Asia. My two brothers backpacked through India and Thailand while I was studying for the GMAT exam in preparation for business school. When I graduate I hope to have the opportunity to go there.

3. If a movie was made about your life, who would play you?
Probably Jennifer Aniston although she doesn't have curly hair. Natalie Portman would also be a good fit.

4. If you could have a meal with any two people, living or dead, famous or not, who would they be?
My grandmothers. I miss them.

5. What's your idea of the perfect day?
A totally stress free day with at least eight hours of sleep the night before. In the morning, great coffee followed by yoga. I like being productive, so a day where I get everything accomplished that I set out to do is a good day for me. Another perfect day for me would include sitting on a gorgeous serene beach and swimming in the ocean.

6. What do you love about what you do?
I love that right now I am my own boss. I love to see my ideas come to fruition. I think the Libby & Laura brand image is very cool, and I love anything that involves design, like working on the website or new packaging.

7. What job would you have had if not the one you have now?
I'd go study in Israel.

8. What's your favorite Jewish thing to do in Chicago?
I love to celebrate Shabbat—spending time with friends and family and eating great food. I'm usually expected to provide mandel bread. Best thing about Shabbat is, it happens every week!

What better to symbolize a wish for a sweet new year than double chocolate almond pecan Mandelbrot? Or try the white chocolate cranberry pistachio. Order yours now in time for the Jewish New Year, contact@libbyandlaura.com