10 Best Things to Eat in Israel

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Happy YASSSletter Thursday Gingis!

We are finally coming to the end of our time here in Israel, and boy oh boy has it been a trip of a life time! We've been north, south, and everywhere in between. We've spent time by the sea, in olive tree covered hilltop villages, in the dry mountainous desert, and have traveled all the way to the lowest place on earth.

AND now we are on our way home, newly inspired and excited for this upcoming season of events and awesome gastronomic moments. Ben and Zikki Catering is back just in time for spring. Book us now for your next big (or small) event! (Also, keep your eyes peeled for pre-sale tickets for our very first NYC spring kick-off Ben & Zikki Gastro Party - coming to you very soon! Wink wink, there may even be belly dancers.)

But this newsletter is not about instilling FOMO, but rather about preparing you to have the best ever trip to Israel sometime into the future.

So without further ado, this week, we are diving deep into the gastronomic universe of everything Israel has to offer.

10 Things to Eat When You are in Israel

This list is a combination between the obvious and not so obvious. For example did you know that in Israel that have bodegas that just sell packaged ice cream bars? Like 400 different kinds of ice cream bars. I mean seriously, nuts!

So lets jump right in.

HUMMUS: When you land in the airport in Tel Aviv, it will probably take some time to navigate the airport and be sure that you will stand on a line for at least 45 minutes to exit the place BUT there is good news. Only 20 minutes away, you have the best 📍hummus place.

FALAFEL: Falafel in Israel is not like your standard falafel from your local Mediterranean restaurant. Here is it always served hot, fresh, and super crisp. The most typical falafel you will encounter is Yemenite falafel which bright in color, loaded with lots of herbs, and very light. Although very similar in concept, the falafel in Israel may change from village to village, with everyone claiming they have the best recipe. Not to mention the📍 Falafel Pita in Israel is served in a delightfully fluffy fresh pita (made that day), with chopped salad, creamy tahini, and yummy spicy sauce. It is next level.

KNAFEH: Knafeh, which is a crazy delicious Middle Eastern desert made with spun pastry called kadaif, soaked in a sweet, sugar-based syrup called attar, and typically layered with cheese, or with other ingredients such as clotted cream, pistachio or nuts, depending on the region. This timeless savory and sweet delicacy, can be found at the shuk (market), at your 📍 favorite arabic cafe, or in the home of someone very special.

RAW FISH: My favorite food in the world is raw fish - in any form, but especially back home. Here in Israel, raw fish is served with toppings like sumac, grapes and extra virgin olive oil. Sometimes with strawberries, mint, and feta. And other times with burrata cheese and raw sliced fennel. However it is served, it is always always the fresh fish and unbelievably satisfying.📍 My go to place.

ICE CREAM: Ice cream is not simply a summer pastime here. Ice cream is a religion in Israel. As I mentioned before, there are bodegas in Israel that exclusively sell packaged ice cream bars - sometimes with up to 400 different choice available.

YEMENITE BEEF SOUP: I've lost track of how many times the world delicious has been used in this edition - but Gingis. This📍Yemenite Soup might be the motherland of all things incredible. This soup is cooked for over 12 hours. It features spices like Hawaij (cumin, turmeric, black pepper, and cardomom) that break your previous notions of "seasoned food." The soup always comes with one piece of whole potato and lahuh (a Yemenite sponge bread).

BUREKAS: Ah Burekas. Truly the taste of Friday mornings. Every Friday my family heads to the📍shuk to buy vegetables AND to eat📍Burekas straight from the oven with a hardboiled egg and freshly grated tomatoes. Something about all the shouting at the market on Friday mornings makes the burekas one of a kind. Keep in mind that in Israel you will encounter many different burekas. For example Turkish bourekas is made with phyllo dough while Israel Burekas is made with pastry dough!

SHAWARMA: Shawarma. Wrapped in a Laffa. Loaded with Cucumber, Tomatoes, & Pickles. With Tahini. Served with a million different salads. Now that. Slaps. 📍Shawarma Shimoni or Shawarma Barake.

ARABIC OPEN TABLE: This is probably my favorite way to eat - ever. In Israel when you "open a table" at a restaurant it refers to the arrival of 15 different little salads and bread at your table. Each salad served on a small plate for tasting and strategically chosen to be paired with the others, as a way to satiate the extreme hunger one feels upon entering a restaurant. These "salatim" may include tahini, hummus, matbucha, baba ganoush, pickles, Turkish salad etc. Each restaurant has their own style. The best kept secret in Israel? Go to the restaurant and just order the open table "salatim." Yes, that's an option AND its cheap & satisfying. 📍Big Itzik

CUCUMBERS: This one will seem ridiculous, but it is absolutely imperative that you eat your weight in persian cucumbers while in Israel. These bad boys can be found at the market or the "shuk" on a daily with their flowers still attached as they were picked that morning. There is absolutely no better cucumber on the planet - crunchy, refreshing, and perfect in ALL salads. In general, while in Israel make sure to hit all the "shuks" in whatever city you are traveling too. The best food lies in the heart of the restaurants built into the "shuks".

Riddle & Restaurants

Just in case the list above didn't cover it all, here is an additional short list covering a few more of our favorite places.

If you happen to find yourself in the dessert and need an awesome sandwich...this is your place:📍The Deli - Route 90 

If you are obsessed with GOOD FOOD and love a Miami Vice/Californiacation movie vibe...this is your place:📍Hotel Montefiore

If you find yourself driving through Akko and would love a local high-end Arabic sea-front meal...this is your place: 📍El Marsa Restaurant

If you find yourself craving unusual creative oven fresh pastries and a sexy coffee in a gorgeous good vibes atmosphere away from the craziness of Tel Aviv...this is your place: 📍 Iben

Hope you have a weekend full of YASSS! Until next Thursday Gingis.

Love, Ben xx

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