For those who missed my 2018 Israel Foodie News Highlights post, I talked about a few trends that have emerged in the Israel restaurant scene:
- It is all about street food and some of Israel’s best chefs have got in on the deal
- Chef restaurants are showcasing more middle eastern dishes and less classic European dishes
- High-end restaurants are closing in favor of relaxed bistro styles
- More of Israel’s leading chefs are opening kosher restaurants
Certain food trends seem to be holding on such as Bao buns, Crack Pie and Chocolate Nemesis – it is the new Chocolate Fondant! Any predictions on what Israel Foodie trends we will see in 2019?
KOSHER
Seoul House claims to be the only kosher Korean restaurant in the world but it’s setting in the Old City is an unusual choice for such a niche cuisine. I personally know very little about Korean food, other than kimchi which is a fermented vegetable salad. Here is the full menu
Balkan is a dairy restaurant featuring food from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, North Greece, Western Turkey and Bulgaria. It is located on Rehov Hashmoni’im in Tel Aviv, between Sarona and the Fashion Mall.
Kukuriku, the rotisserie chicken stall by Chef Ran Shmueli in Sarona Market is now kosher.
Bake Off finalist Idan Shachar has opened DNA, in Gan Ha’ir in Tel Aviv. The main menu features dishes like shakshuka, pizza and sabich. The extensive dessert menu includes a number of vegan options with soy and almond-based ice creams and tofu-based cheesecake.
Lior Koka, another Bake Off finalist has opened an ice cream kiosk on Rothschild Boulevard called Glida Tova, serving ice cream and crepes.
Dreamerie is a French-style bakery and bistro in Petach Tikva from pastry Chef Idan Maimon. He previously worked as a pastry chef at top Tel Aviv restaurants such as Claro and Toto. As well as sweet pastries, the bistro will also serve savory pastries, sandwiches, salads, pizzas and pasta.
NOT KOSHER
Scotty & Patch is a new bistro in central Tel Aviv, with a French-influenced menu. I am not sure the origin of the name but hopefully the food is better than the name!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsdUBfDnyfw/
Pan Con Manteca is a Latin restaurant in the Levinsky area of Tel Aviv with a mixture of Spanish and Mexican dishes, including Cactus with avocado mousse, Lamb Tartar, Chorizo Verde and Paella Verde.
OTHER NEWS
Kosher Food & Wine Experience takes place on February 4th and the tickets are 250 NIS each.
Chef Yonatan Roshfeld has joined the team at Cafeteria (Not Kosher) in the Fashion Mall in Tel Aviv. The restaurant had so much potential when it first opened and although the décor is beautiful, the food and service did not deliver. Hopefully, Roshfeld will be able to change that. Apparently, it is worth going just for his cheesecake.
Tom Aviv, a winner of “Master Chef” and the chef of Coco Bambino and Fat Cow, has announced that his next project will be a kosher restaurant.
Bentoya will be Tel Aviv’s first Bento box restaurant, as part of a Japanese complex. Owned by a Japanese businessman from Osaka, the restaurant is due to open in the next few months.
Most New Yorkers will say that they cannot find authentic pizza in Israel. All that will change soon, because the famous NY based Italian restaurant Serafina will be opening a branch in Ramat Aviv. I have spent many a fun night in the various branches of Serafina in New York, so I hope that the Tel Aviv branch will be as good! The restaurant is due to open in the summer.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrtJz1gljdm/
RECENT POSTS
- 2018 Israel Foodie News Highlights
- Mapu By Chef Nir Zook – Kosher Food With a Middle Eastern Flare
- Top Ten Friday Night Restaurants in Jerusalem
- Debbest Dishes – December 2018
To read previous Israel Foodie monthly roundups, click here.
Categories: Monthly Roundup
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