Chanukah Recipe from Israel

Israel’s Thanksgiving Secret

We found this great Thanksgiving quiz online, and after we all failed miserably, we were shocked when we saw the correct answers– specifically #19.

1.When was the first American Thanksgiving celebration?
The correct answer is: 1621

2.Where was the turkey first domesticated?
The correct answer is: Mexico and Central America

3.What is a female turkey called?
The correct answer is: a hen

4.What is a male turkey called?
The correct answer is: a tom

Continue reading Israel’s Thanksgiving Secret…

Finally, Some Tasty Coffee

Nothing against socially conscious Starbucks, but sometimes their coffee is a bit over-roasted and has the caffeine effect similar to that of jet fuel. So we welcome Elite’s arrival with open mouths and can vouch for its great taste.

From Globes:

Elite Coffee-To-Go to US

Strauss chair Ofra Strauss says the group is building on its experience with Max Brenner Chocolate.

Yael Gross-Englander 19 Nov 07

The Strauss Group Ltd. (TASE:STEL) coffee carts are set to enter the US market, group chairman Ofra Strauss told the annual conference of the Kibbutz Industry Assocation yesterday. The company operates its takeaway coffee business in Israel through the Elite Coffee-To-Go chain.

Strauss added that the success of its gourmet chocolate subsidiary Max Brenner Ltd. had prompted a rethink of the group’s retail strategy. “We’ve learned from Max Brenner how to manage a uniform international brand worldwide, and how to manage retail. This is a skill which, if we acquire it properly, will enable us to consider launching additional brands in the future,” she said.

Prince Edward’s Mussels Are Kosher

Prince Edward, who is probably most famous for his mussels, is gracing the holy land with his royal presence, and we are so psyched!

From the JPOST:

Prince Edward to arrive today; 1st royal visit in decade

By ETGAR LEFKOVITS

Prince Edward will begin a four-day visit to Israel on Wednesday, the first by a British royal in more than a decade, embassy officials said on Tuesday.

The 43-year-old earl of Wessex is coming on what is being billed as a “working visit” at the invitation of the Israel Youth Award program, which is an affiliate of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award that was started by Edward’s father, Prince Philip, half a century ago.

The award enterprise is the largest international youth program in the world, with 600,000 participants in more than 120 countries, said Michael Gross, the co-chairman of the Israeli branch.

Continue reading Prince Edward’s Mussels Are Kosher…

A Culinary Success Story

Did they say Union Square?

Falafel takes over the world

It all began sixteen years ago at a small stand named ‘Maoz,’ that a couple named Nachman and Sima Milo set up in the center of Amsterdam. Today, after they have fried a million patties and opened branches in France, New York, and Australia, they are dreaming of becoming the next McDonald’s

By Sefi Hendler

The Latin Quarter of the capital of France has been a melting pot for countless languages and tastes for a long time. Once, 500 years ago, the students spoke Latin and thus the quarter received its name. Today the Sorbonne students speak more English than Latin, and eat more McDonald’s than baguettes.

The crowded streets are a type of giant fast- food court with a pinch of French and a lot of shwarma, or as they call it in France a “Greek sandwich”. But right in the middle of the quarter stands a tiny, green store that has no meat, but has a lot of customers who swear by their pita.

Continue reading A Culinary Success Story…

New Israeli Food

Grab some olive oil and roll up your sleeves, because Israel’s best food recipes are now revealed in Janna Gur’s fresh cookbook, The Book of New Israeli Food. The renowned editor of Israel’s most popular food and wine magazine, Al Hashulchan (On the Table), serves up more than 150 traditional and innovative recipes by talented local chefs. From stories and images of Israel to tips on secret ingredients and serving suggestions, Gur’s latest project is sure to dish out the good stuff.

The Book of New Israeli Food is available at Steimatzky book stores and Tzomet Sfarim chains across Israel. Or purchase it online.

Now if only we had Israel’s sweet produce on our tables, too.

Not your ordinary can of Coke

Nowadays, you can find “diet” foods everywhere. Low-fat cookies, sugar-free ice-cream, no-carb bread .. you know what I’m talking about.

Now, nobody likes to admit they need to lose a few pounds. But if that’s the case for you, it’s nice to be able to access these kinds of foods.

Israel has always stocked the widest supply of calorie-alternative food on the planet. And I’m talking, long before any of this stuff was available in the United States .

Yes, I am talking about the time, when a chubby person’s only alternative was to drink Tab and smoke cigarettes. By then, Israel already had a booming industry in tasty diet cheeses, bread, yoghurt, juice and pretty much anything else you can think of.

Now the Israeli food and beverage market has once again take the lead in creating a product none of us ever expected to “get healthy”: Coca Cola!

According to this report on Ynet news the owner of Coca Cola in Israel has responded to the population’s wish for health-conscious drinks and will begin selling a version of Coke that is free of preservatives and artificial coloring.

I wonder if it tastes any good?

‘DD’ for Effort Ahiraz

Some crucial culinary news on the wires this morning that we must share. Hey, even if it doesn’t work out and goes the way of Starbucks, it is certainly worth a try, right? As Ahiraz mentions, this is a concept Israeli’s have been looking for, in fact, just the other day I was walking through Dizengoff and thought to myself, “where can I find some good breasts and a couple of wings?”

From Reuters:

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S. restaurant chain Hooters, known for waitresses in low-cut blouses and short skirts, will open its first branch in Israel this summer, in the Mediterranean seaside city of Tel Aviv.

“I strongly believe that the Hooters concept is something that Israelis are looking for,” Ofer Ahiraz, who bought the Hooters franchise for Israel, told Reuters Monday. “Hooters can suit the Israeli entertainment culture.”

At Hooters, waitresses the company calls Hooters Girls serve spicy chicken wings, sandwiches, seafood and drinks.

Continue reading ‘DD’ for Effort Ahiraz…

Hummus Up to My Eyeballs

Wow, I guess it is true; there is a blog for everyone about everything. Sure, we love hummus just as much as the next Israeli, but never did we think that it would be bloggable? Well, we were wrong, oh so very, very wrong…

Humus101 - Humus Secrets

Is it Humus, Hummus or Houmous? we have it all.

Everbody in the middle east eat Hummus. Although considered an Arab dish, Israelis too consider it to be their national delicacy. In recent years, hummus has gone global, and you can find it anywhere in the world - sometimes reffered to as ”Houmous“ or ”Humus“.

This blog is about Hummus, regardless of sex, race, religion or color. It is about the love for Hummus and the things you can do with it - including making it yourself. We‘ll share with you our recipes, amaze you with some uncommon Hummus trivia facts, and suggest recommended restaurants where you can eat Hummus throughout the world.

Michelin Catching Up

According to HAARETZ, Michelin is thinking of finally doing a guide on Israel. Well it’s definitely about time. Last year Star Chefs, the largest culinary website, did a huge feature on where to go and what to eat in the Jewish State, and as they put it:

“Despite being a predominantly Jewish nation, Israel is diverse and multicultural. Jews both Ashkenazi and Sephardic, Arabs both Christian and Muslim, the Druze, North Africans, Russian and Ethiopian immigrants, Bedouins and Palestinians – all provide for a varying landscape of ethnicities, cultural traditions, and not surprisingly, cuisines.

The chefs of Israel reflect this diversity, establishing Israel as one of the world’s most interesting destinations for the food-savvy individual or the curious culinary professional. Even France’s highly influential Gault-Millau restaurant guide, which features very few countries outside of France, published its first Israeli edition in the late ‘90s.”

So Ya’lla already Michelin!!

To read the rest of the Star Chefs review click here. After the jump is a clip from the HAARETZ article.

Continue reading Michelin Catching Up…