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Jerusalem Restaurant Report (Part I)

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:51:04 GMT

I don't usually seek out seafood in Jerusalem - so I have no clue if there is a Blue Dolphin and Sea Dolphin, but II wouldn't be surprised if there was. I don't actually know the hebrew for Dolphin - but it's a word that ends up in a lot of restaurants and other establishments. In general, I don't find Israeli interpretation of 'heavy' food very good. They thrive more on lighter food served in obscene qualities. That being said, most people I know who go to Adom prefer to do so for the night life (ps that means red while we're expanding vocabulary). If you go further down Jaffa from that alley towards the Old City - there's an Ethiopian restaurant that I really love. Excellent bread.

dubai: near airport, open late

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:29:19 GMT

Right near the Airport is Garhoud and there is an awesome lebanese place that is very well known in Dubai. It is called Hallab....everyone would know it. Has excellent food and closer to the airport than Rigga Road

Must eat's in Dubai?

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:18:14 GMT

Dubai has a great variety of restaurants For authentic lebanese cusinine -- Al Mallah on Dhiyafah Street, has great shwarma, falafel, manakeesh Best steak- Definitely Manhattan Grille in the Grand Hyatt, do not miss the creamed spinach with veal bacon side Best Romantic- Pierchic in Al Qasr- absolutely amazing view of the Burj al Arab. The cuisine is mostly seafood, very up market. Food is excellent and definitely matches up with the view Indian/Pak- Ravi's on Dhiyafah, very homey, street type food...Chicken Thikka Inn has great Pakistani bbq, don't miss the behari kebab Chinese- great chinese/thai at Soy in Ibn Battuta Mall

A great place in Jerusalem

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:45:36 GMT

I'll second the high praise for Eucalyptus. We ate there twice on our recent trip to Jerusalem. I have a bit of a history with this restaurant. I was first introduced to chef Moshe Bassan's cooking over a decade ago when he gave a lecture/demonstration about the foods of the Bible at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The evening ended with dinner, prepared by the restaurant's chefs following Bassan's recipes, being served in the KenCen restaurant to the lecture crowd of more than 100 attendees. The food wasn't fabulous since it had been prepared/served under banquet conditions, but the promise was there. In 2000, I visited Jerusalem and had my first chance to dine at Eucalpytus. Delish! When we went to the restaurant on this trip, I wasn't sure I was in the same restaurant at first. The Biblical focus was the same, but the setting/location had changed from a large modern retail and office complex evoking ancient construction to a funky, slightly shabby space on Horkanos. I don't know what prompted the change, but I think it was an improvement! The more intimate space and the homey decorations in the new location are a better fit with the restaurant's personality. The hostess, executive chef, and, when in town, Bassan himself are constantly circling the restaurant chatting with guests and showing the herbs and other ingredients that are the foundation of the cuisine. Our first meal there, we ordered the middle-priced tasting menu. Actually, tasting menu is a misnomer, since I think of tasting meals as offering miniscule portions intended to introduce diners to the full range of a chef's talent. This meal was a multi-course extravaganza of food. I can remember some of the dishes, but far from all. The meal began with a trio of soups served in demi-tasse cups including Jerusalem artichoke soup and lentil soup. Then we were served small plates of approximately six mezze. I can't remember too many of these since they were overtaken by a later round of mezze. (We loved the potatoes with parsley and the black-eyed peas in the second round of mezze. I would never have ordered either of those dishes if I had been choosing a la carte, but I'm sure glad we got a chance to taste these dishes.) I know we were also served stuffed Jersualem sage leaves, Eggplant in pomegranate syrup, a portion of Ma'aluba from the communal preparation (a chicken, vegetable and rice casserole, lamb over smoked green wheat, and a beef dish from someone's grandmother's kitchen that was heady with spice and fruit. Dessert was the weakest part of the meal. A bottle of red wine and pitchers of lemonade and pomegranate juice accompanied the meal. As fabulous as our dining experience was, I had one small disappointment. The figs stuffed with chicken in tamarind sauce that I had adored from the lecture and my years-ago visit was not part of the meal. As we were waiting for the check, the hostess bustled over and said that the chef was making some stuffed figs for us. Major dilemma! We couldn't eat another bite, but those figs sure are good. We asked the chef to stop the cooking and we made a second reservation. At this meal, we ordered a la carte. We had a lamb preparation, again from someone's mother's or grandmother's home and an individual portion of the ma'aluba. (This wasn't as good as the portion from the communal batch. The vegetables that form the upside-down crust hadn't gotten as caramelized.) Here's a link to the restaurant's web site. The photograph of the restaurant on the home page is the exterior of the old location. http://www.the-eucalyptus.com/index.html

Tiberias and Haifa Restaurants

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:48:49 GMT

I'm with you. Raves for Emperor? The world-wide options for kosher Chinese must not be very good if Emperor's meals win raves. We actually had a reverse experience in Jerusalem. We ate lunch at the Quarter Cafe, a restaurant that gets praised for its views of the Kotel and dismissed for its food. Our guide in Jerusalem took us there, and we had such a delicious meal that we ended up eating there again one of the days we were exploring independently. The Quarter Cafe's layered baked eggplant dish is the stuff of dreams and the salads were quite good. For example, the tabbouleh was very distinctive for its large and nutty burghul. I liked the marinated carrot salad, but I'm drawing a blank on the other standout salad options. I'll be posting more about many excellent meals in Jerusalem. There, we at at Dolphin Yam (twice), Eucalyptus (twice), Darna, Adom, and Terra.

Eilat and Petra, Jordan Restaurants

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:29:55 GMT

We really wanted to visit Petra, Jordan so we made arrangements that involved a lot of expense and physical effort. These involved flights from Tel Aviv to/from Eilat and three hotel changes in as many nights. I'm not sure anything could have wholly lived up to the effort and expense, but our time in Wadi Rum (Sand Valley), a section of Jordan beloved by T. E. Lawrence for it's scenic splendor, and in Petra was quite special. This being Chowhound, I'll keep the focus on food. I had researched restaurants in Eilat, but the restaurant that appealed the most, Denise Kingdom, is a kosher restaurant so it was closed for Shabbat by the time we arrived. As a result, we simply asked for a recommendation within walking distance from the front desk of our hotel. Over the course of our two one-night stays in Eilat, we ate at two restaurants literally across the street from our hotel. We were willing to walk a bit further, but, even though we patronized the most convenient places, we still had positive eating experiences. (We never did make the trip out to the lagoon location of Denise Kingdom. The denise and the sea bream served at DK are farmed on the premises.) Blue Fish: This is not a fixed price fish restaurant with the mezze assortment described in my Tiberias & Haifa post. Instead, it is an a la carte fish restaurant. At this restaurant, our entree was the least successful dish of the evening, but this was probably our fault for ordering shrimp. In a country where much of the fish on a plate was swimming in the Red Sea or the Med earlier that day, ordering shrimp, which is invariably frozen, isn't a smart move. Still, the Provencal preparation beckoned more than the illogic of ordering shrimp. Besides, the sauce was tasty, and the appetizers and shared dessert were more than adequate compensations for tough shrimp. We ordered the grilled eggplant appetizer and the house salad as appetizers. While the language on the menu read only "grilled eggplant", in fact the eggplant is a mound of baked, mashed eggplant seasoned with oil and vinegar. Lovely. The house salad is an appealing mix of greens, avacado, and fruit . The huge salad portion made the eggplant spread unnecessary. The creme brulee dessert was a huge hit. The sugar crust was burnt moments before being brought to the table. The resulting contrast between the fragile cool custard and the warm, crisp topping lifted this dessert out of cliche territory. Olla is a Spanish restaurant offering both tapas and conventially-sized entrees. We began our meal with two of the tapas specials of the day: a cheese-spinach souffle and baked eggplant with sun-dried tomatoes and cheese. The eggplant dish was the winner. The spinach in the souffle was fresh but not fully washed resulting in unpleasant grit in each bite. I had a delicious fish preparation from the full-sized entrees: two fillet topped with diced vegetables. This was the best "recipe" fish preparation of the entire trip. (I don't recall the type of fish used in the dish.) Service was friendly and attentive at both places. In Jordan, we stayed at the Amra Palace Hotel in Petra. This is a slightly shabby hotel that is used as overnight accommodation by Eco-Tours for its two-day trip to Jordan. Buffet dinner and breakfast was included in the arrangements. The buffet dinner included the best lentil soup and the best babaganoush we ate during our entire trip. (Be sure to take a wedge of lemon from the plate next to the soup. Squeezing the lemon into the soup really brightens the flavor.) Based on memory (a dubious asset) my husband and I think the labne served at the hotel breakfast was the best labne we ate the entire trip. This version of labne was particularly tangy and delicious, but we never met a labne we didn't like at any of the hotels where we ate breakfast.

Indian Food in Jerusalem?

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:08:42 GMT

Are there any decent Indian restaurants in Jerusalem? There are certain food situations I have completely come to terms with here - but I'm moderately baffled that no one's bothered to open an Indian restaurant here.

Why is restaurant food in Tunis so dismal?

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 23:47:48 GMT

I really do not agree, with alamoaesthete, even if i think that restaurants could do much better. and even if i agree with the fries part.. But it looks like you didn't really ate what u should have eaten.. Did you taste the "mlawis" ? or the "lablabi" ? or did u try any og the small restaurants in the medina ? And for "high quality" restaurants, you should , there's a lot of other restaurants with very reasonable prices as the terasse in hammamet, sidi slim, and many others.. anyway you can now go on http://www.resto-tunisie.Com , a Tunisian restaurant's guide

Rumor: New Vietnamese Restaurant in Dubai?

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:46:55 GMT

The one single Vietnamese-ish restaurant in that expensive 5 star hotel, not naming any names, but it is the only one, it is really bad! But the other day I met a Vietnamese woman here and she told me that more Vietnamese people are coming here for work lately, and she heard through the grapevine that there is a new Vietnamese restaurant in Satwa. In Satwa means it will be affordable, and meant for a Vietnamese expat clientele. That means it could be...good Vietnamese food available in Dubai, finally! Have you heard anything? Is it true? The lady couldn't remember where in Satwa the VN restaurant is supposed to be. Fill me in if you know anything about this, please.

New Years Jerusalem

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:57:46 GMT

Hi Mielimato, New Year's isn't a big holiday in Jerusalem like it is in the States. Maybe in Tel-Aviv it is more popular but in Jerusalem it is rather low-key. It is gaining in popularity among the 20-35 crowd, but even so only in bars. Restaurants shouldn't be booked because the next day is a working day, as cresdy pointed. Last New Year's I went out for waffles at Babette's (Shamai St, open until 2:00 AM). This year I will be on patrol, and maybe I will get a waffle afterwards :) Joy on Emek Refaim is a nice place. Actually, lots of places on Emek might fit the bill. What do you (and whomever you are dining with) like to eat? And what do you consider to be "festive". I'm boring, so we may have different ideas. If you want to do sit-down waffles, Waffle Bar (Shlomtzion or Derech Beit Lechem) has waffles, sweet and savory crepes, salads, pizza, etc.

BBQs in Dubai

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:00:05 GMT

This is probably far too late to be useful, but Ace Hardware at Dubai Festival City sells a full range of Weber barbecues and accessories, plus other makes. The Dubai garden centre on Sheikh Zayed Road has them too, but it's more expensive than Ace.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai update

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:21:57 GMT

Hi. Just wanted to bump this thread with a few cheap eating suggestions: China Sea - right next to the clocktower on the exit that leads to Nasr Square. Fantastic cheap dim sum, especially on Friday lunchtime. Everything is beautifully fresh and the chef rolls out the pasta for the dumplings in front of you. Two tips: go with someone Chinese if you can. And don't call it dim sum - in my experience, no Chinese person calls it that! Just say dumplings. My personal favourite is the spicy chicken and the leek and vegetable gootie. Spring Bamboo - a few doors down from Barbecue Delights mentioned above, near Lamcy Plaza. Top quality yet unbelievably cheap Chinese, very popular with Chinese families. Order the crab. Another Chinese place whose name I forget but it's on the ground floor right next to the Twin Towers on the creek at Deira, slightly to the left as you face the towers. This is actually one of a well known Chinese chain, the only one outside China. It's a hotpot place. They set a pot in the table over a burner, fill it with two different broths, one spicy, one herby. Then you order whatever raw stuff you want to throw in and let it simmer - wafer thin slices of pork and beef, various offals such as lamb's spinal cord (!), big prawns, chicken and fish balls, tons of different veg and greens. There's also a table with about six different types of sauces - help yourself to whatever you fancy. Great food and great fun if you go in a group. Tahera - Indian kebab place, right at the crossroads of Computer Street, Bank Street and Mussalla Plaza, next door to the York hotel. Only recently re-emerged from behind the hoardings that surrounded the metro construction. Superb barbecued kebabs and great veg curries, all for just a few dirhams. Special Ostadi - Middle eastern food, mostly barbecue, on the street that runs down from the crossroads towards Al Fayidhi roundabout and the creek. It's been there for 30 years. I've occasionally seen Dubai royal family cars parked outside while the chauffeur is inside picking up takeaway - quite a recommendation! Limited menu, but great kebabs and soups. Karama Hotel - a scruffy place in perhaps the scruffiest street in Karama (and that's saying something!) but the restaurant on the ground floor does great, very spicy and very filling Indian food. Plus you can get a beer with it if you want. Would love to hear any more Dubai recommendations.

New Year's Eve in Tangier

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:45:40 GMT

I will be in Tangier on New Year's Eve and am looking for a good restaurant that night. Something fish and/or vegetarian friendly is best. Also, anyone have any recommendations about what to do after dinner??

israel food/wine tour

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:58:25 GMT

The link is correct. Just remove the period after the .il .

December 31 celebrations??

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:48:56 GMT

Based on my reading of this board and various web sites, places like Carmella ba Nahala, Catit, Herbert Samuel, Moul Yam, Orca, etc. would be names from which I'd choose my destination for the night. I'd appreciate some first-hand recommendations. P.S. I don't think we'll eat at the high end for most of our remaining meals in Tel Aviv, so any other recommendations would be appreciated. My husband and I have very eclectic tastes.

Jerusalem hotel breakfast buffet

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:36:56 GMT

The breakfast at the King David is truly special. They have everything and the service is amazing.

Recommendations for Morocco: Fes, Meknes or Tangier?

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:49:23 GMT

This is a really old post, but nice recommendations anyway! :-) I love the fish at the port in Essaouira. Only problem is how pricey its become! When I first went years ago to Morocco you could eat there like a king for pennies. Over the past few years Essaouira has gotten more and more tourists (especially European) which has risen the costs drastically. Still tasty either way. :-)

Kuwait and Bahrain Restaurants?

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:01:22 GMT

There are Trader Vic's locations in both cities. i hear the Bahrain restaurant is amazing design. food is top notch at both locations. Kuwait is new and near the water towers and aqua park. check out trader vic's website for contact info.

Elat - FOOD- Best place for lunch?

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:23:47 GMT

Nothing chi chi just good food please.

Cairo Bright Ideas?

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:22:06 GMT

hey Patz..if located in downtown then u propably know koshary eltahrir thw two branches if not then one is in Tahrir street and the other is in Talaat Harb street .. both are out of Tahrir square but the second one is in the end of talaat harb before a street called Shawarby street... u might look for an Egyptian pie in a shop near to the first koshary shop in tahrir street there's a egyptian fst food place in Kasr el Ayni street to the right from the AUC in Tahrir square also.. i suggest u also give me ur location more specified to tell u what's the most near for u have a nice stay in Egypt!! byez

Best Koshary in Egypt or Cairo?

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:06:32 GMT

hey guys, looks like the only Egyptian in the site ... intruder u may call me, just wanted to say if u r looking for the Koshary Tahrir that have the (KT) sign and still near from Tahrir Square where the AUC used to be, then i suggest u take Talaat Harb (6al3at 7arb) street and ask about (Shawarby) st. u will find the Koshary shop before intering the Shawarby street .. u can googleearth for it. oh.. by the way, if someone manages to ho to Nasr city there's a known area called (Mawqaf El Sabea) or ( maw2af elsabe3) where u will find three restaurants .. one of them is Koshary El Madina ...... for me this is the most delicious koshary i've ever tasted and more when u eat outside .. it really gives an Egyptian flavour to the desh. have a nice stay in Egypt byez

Ghana: can a chowhound survive?

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:26:52 GMT

Reporting back on my trip: 1. ACCRA: Stayed at the beginning at Shangri La. Regular restaurant overcooks everything, but the Chinese restaurant there was amazingly good. Try the Mapo Dofu, and any vegetable dish. I bet they have a Chinese cook. Frankie's: only go if you are American and incredibly homesick for your junky favorites, and don't mind paying a lot for poor simulations. Avoid the burgers unless you like your meat rock hard. Tribes Restaurant by the ocean, On Liberia Road Extended, in the Afia Beach Hotel: this place is a gem: kind people, good African and western food, real coffee, internet access. Recommended: tomato omelette, Afrokoko (spicy plantain fritters I never saw elsewhere), banana shake, other Ghanaian dishes I've forgotten. If you stay there, you can walk onto the beach. While staying at Shangri La, I walked to the Shoprite supermarket and bought peanut butter and Laughing Cow (La Vache Qui Rit) cheese and a vaiety of peelable fruits, which were VERY useful in HoHoe. Granola bars useful too, specially for my vegetarian daughter. HOHOE: Taste Lodge, for good banku with chicken, pancakes (sometimes) and good music and atmosphere. Otherwise mostly street food from the night markets, specially spicy kebabs, hot doughnuts (yum!) and fried or grilled bananas. Hard to find fresh fruit, except at the twice weekly market (Mon and Fri?) which hounds should def visit. LAKE VOLTA (Akosombo) I had a great time at the Afriko hotel: the setting, the outside pool and the food: my favorite meal so far * and one of my ten best fish dishes of all times* was this whole lake tilapia, fresh and perfectly fried, covered with a salsa of carrot, banana pepper, hot pepper, sweet onion and tomato, with fried plantains as a side. This I ate on a deck overlooking the lake, with its multiple islands, and the deep orange setting sun, while the fishermen rowed their boats into shore. After that, the mediocre breakfast buffet was a disappointment. Oh well...http://www.afrikikowaterfrontresort.com CAPE COAST: Had tasty peanut soup with chicken and rice at the amenable Castle Restaurant next to the Cape castle BUSUA (on the west coast, past Takoradi) small unsophisticated village with stunning beach, and surprisingly a French bourgeios inn (Busua Inn). Madame does the cooking, which was very good for Ghana: gaspacho, crepes, tilapia, curried goat. And REAL coffee. IN SUMMARY: I wouldn't go to Ghana for the food, but palm nut soup, banku, peanut stew and street food were all interesting, and fish, when they didn't overcook it, was outstanding. the things I missed most were real coffee (Nescafe: ugh!), cheese and wholewheat bread. Thanks for the hints!

Cairo

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:53:07 GMT

Message

Living in Cape Town for four months: where to eat?

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:51:16 GMT

Wembley Square has a bunch of cafes and restaurants which are great for lunch. http://www.wembleysquare.co.za/ I've also reviewed a bunch of the restaurants in Cape Town where we ate on my blog. Hope it helps! http://travelingchomps.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html I'd skip most of the Waterfront restaurants.

Biltong - where to get the best?

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:09:15 GMT

You should try the biltong at Checkers (grocers) in Sandton City - it is cut freshly - always better than the pre-packed stuff! But I don't think you'll go wrong with the Meat Company or Butcher Shop either.

Tiv Taam Hadera- frozen Dim Sum?

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:39:47 GMT

I spoke with Tiv Taam just now and was notified they are missing frozen Dim Sum due thier supplier. (usually they do keep some variety of DS) You may try and contact Teddy 054-6212098, she operates a Dim Sum catering and maybe can sell you or direct you to your desire.

Any suggestions for Israel?

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:09:41 GMT

Because I live there. Besides, we make "Israeli"/North African (Moroccan, Algerian etc...) food at home on a regular basis, I dont need to go out to a restaurant to get couscous boulette, Mafroom, Tagine, Hraimi etc.... That's why. I guess every one wants the others type of food, Japanese eat hamburgers and steaks while Americans eat schwarma, houmous, falafel and Sushi etc... FYI: "Tel Aviv world's 3rd largest sushi market in per capita terms, but industry faces grave threat" http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3499855,00.html and Marzipan ruggelah were great...BUT, last time I tasted one it was like eating a stick of margarine, try Marzipan's linzer tarts, they are really good. But I prefer Fazuelos and shebakia. Plus pay attention to the original question quoted from above. >>>>"I am open to any cuisine (although if anyone knows of good sushi in Tel-Aviv, I would be forever in your debt)."<<<< I know its an old post but better late than never

La Terraza restaurant in Haifa

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:12:35 GMT

A friend and I went there last Saturday and I was very pleased. We're big eaters, so we had the cold cucumber soup, a Mediterannean chopped salad, foccacia, and pasta main dishes; the Frutta di Mare for me and the Alla Oglio for her. We both ended up taking some of the pasta home, but polished off everything else with gusto. We sat at the bar so we'd be right in front of the fan, and it was quite pleasant. The bartenders who took our food order kept us plied with free peach schnapps, even though all we ordered to drink was water. I would recommend La Terraza to anyone looking for good Italian in Haifa. I'm new to the area, but it's on the side of the mountain, not the flat commercial part. They are on Moriah Ave and their phone # is 04 8101100.

A restaurant near the King David Hotel

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:45:11 GMT

Here is a list of some restaurants near the King David and Inbal hotels: 1868 ($$$) Gabriel ($$$) *maybe this one? Canela ($$$) Some more in the area: Rosemary Cup 'o' Joe Zohara's Kitchen Little Italy Olive and Fish As far as I know there is no Jezebel's. olive and fish is across What type of restaurant was this? what type of food? when did you eat there: lunch or diner? by prix fix maybe you mean business lunch?

Grape leaves?

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:05:27 GMT

Someone had posted a question about pickled grape leaves, to which I was about to post a reply, only to find that it has been removed. Anyway, if you're still monitoring this thread, there is no need to pickle if you have fresh leaves. Just blanch them in boiling water for three minutes and they're good to go. Or you can freeze them, and they will be ready once they're de-thawed.

Good Food in Zamalek?

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:37:35 GMT

Otlob has turned out to be hugely useful since my son is here training and we often get back to the hotel late with no inclination to go out. I recommend it to anyone who will be in Cairo (or Alexandria -- I believe there is that service there), and we have been particularly impressed with Le Pecha 1901. It is one of the boats in the Nile, and there is a variety of restaurants on board. Their Otlob menu draws from all of them, so we have had everything from pretty good sushi, greek salads, excellent pastas, a delicious steak (amazingly delivered medium rare as ordered), as well as numerous Egyptian and Lebanese specialties. I don't know if we will get to the actual boat, but we are so please to have all these different cuisines delivered to our hotel!

Looking for good eats in Marrakesh, Fes, and Essaouira.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:52:00 GMT

Hi there. The same names come up in all the guides because, although things are improving rapidly, there are still only a limited number of good restaurants in Marrakech. Unfortunately Casa Lalla, the riad-restaurant run by talented chef Richard Neat, is no more. Instead, for good Moroccan food and a lively atmosphere (hitting a crescendo on weekends) try Tanjia (www.le-tanjia.com). For quieter surrounds, Dar Moha (www.darmoha.ma), where I have had terrific meals on several occasions, although the quality isn't what it was. Similarly, quality is variable at Foundouk (www.foundouk.com) but the restaurant is super stylish and very beautiful.

Birthday dinner in Marrakesh?

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:13:02 GMT

Help!!!! It's my birthday on Friday -- there'll be two of us only. . .

Rec. cooking school near Haifa?

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:43:30 GMT

Thank you!!! I will give them a call. (And thank you for the warning about finding them - in my 3 months here I have been lost and made more U-turns than in a typical YEAR in Seattle!)

what is this called?

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:03:28 GMT

In Syria, kubbeh-making is an art form, and you can find them in many different shapes, sizes, and fillings (I know this from Paula Wolfert's cookbook "Cooking of the Eastern Mediterranean", not from having been there). Here in Israel, I've only found one kind - the kind you had, with ground meat and pine nuts.

Steakhouses in Johannesburg

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:30:35 GMT

Websites for the two above restaurants: www.thebutchershop.co.za www.thegrillhouse.co.za

Israel Restaurant Gift Certificate

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:37:54 GMT

I had heard of Darma and I think that would be perfect. Thank you!

Israel: Do these restaurants still exist?

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:00:23 GMT

Thanks. Now that you've supplied the name, I recognize it. This many years later, I don't remember the details of the rest of my meal but the harira soup was sublime. Lemony. Spicy. Yum!

Buddah Bar, Sofitel, Cairo

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:55:53 GMT

My 12 year-old son really wanted sushi, so I decided that the only place in Cairo I'd allow him to have some would be at a hotel restaurant. The Buddah Bar was huge, very well-decorated and completely empty from the minute we walked in at about 7:30 until we left at 8:45. We sat outside, Nile-side, and broke the bank with a relatively small amount of food. We had two apps, two mains, I had a beer and my son had a sprite and we're talking $120. Definitely NY prices, and I think we paid everyone's salary tonight. Nonetheless, if you're in Cairo and craving sushi, it was very good here as was the seared salmon teriyaki and Thai shrimps in red curry. The most we've paid for dinner until now was $20!

Guns & Buns

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:27:59 GMT

Has anyone eaten at the Guns & Buns in Beirut? Check out CNN video below. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/07/12/perry.lebanon.guns.n.buns.cnn

Ahi-grade tuna south of Haifa?

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 07:08:17 GMT

I'm afraid for top quality tuna you'll have to go further south, to Tel Aviv or Jaffa where most of the Fish dealers operate.

In search of the best,softest,fluffiest and tastiest cape malay roti recipe

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:33:37 GMT

SO AM I!!! I'm originally from Cape Town and now living in Johannesburg and I can't find a decent roti recipe. I just emailed the Snowflake website and hopefully they'll post a recipe for CAPE TOWN ROTI. Check out www.snowflake.co.za in the next few weeks.

updated amman and elsewhere in jordan?...?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:32:34 GMT

All those spots above are good, especially Reem for an authentic shawarmeh experience. A great restaurant just outside of Amman in the town of Fuheis is Zuwadeh. Their info is: Zuwadeh Restaurant in Fuheis, tel. 4721528. Opens daily from 10:00h-01:00h. I'm originally from Jordan, and took my German husband there--we had a blast. Also, Reem al Bawadi is another excellent restaurant in Amman, as is Al-Bustan. And, for one of the best examples of Arabic cuisine Lebanese style, you must definitely go to Fakhreldine--get the Apple Tobacco Nargheleh (hubbly bubbly/water tobacco pipe) with your mezza (appetizers). Enjoy, or in Arabic, Sahtain! Reema

Food gifts from Israel?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:35:24 GMT

Also Tahini, (t'hina, in Hebrew) fresh,if you are in the old city in Jerusalem, or a fine Nablous made (Karawan). Some spice like Zaatar or Sumac?

cheap vegetarian food in Jerusalem???

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:31:31 GMT

go to eluna.com, first you'll be able to print out the discounts and secondly they list numerous restaurants in jerusalem and all over israel. i would suggest tmol shilshom, anna ticho house, and the numerous cafes on emek refaim st. (cafit, cafe hillel, pizza meter ect.)

Riad Eating and Beyond In Marrakech and Fes

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:16:27 GMT

Recently back from Morocco...our meal at Maison Bleu in Fes was the best meal we had in Morocco...definitely worth the splurge for very fine traditional Moroccan cuisine. In Fes we also had a wonderful meal at Dar Anebar, a beautiful riad near Hotel Palais Jamai. The owner even drove us back and forth to our riad...totally beyond the call of duty but much appreciated as it was hard to find. In Marrakech, consider a nouvelle Moroccan meal in the garden of Dar Moha...an interesting counterpoint to Maison Bleue's very traditional cuisine in gorgeous surroundings. Also, they have some extremely subtle and beautiful musicians who play there at night...supposedly some of the finest instrumentalists in Morocco and I don't doubt it.

Yemen info?

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:43:06 GMT

OK, my time in Sana'a has come to close, I'm back home now. Here's my final wrap-up on the best places to eat in Sana'a. These suggestions will be mostly for people living there, the local cuisine isn't bad, but it is monotonous... My favorite restaurant has to be Mumbai Darbar on Sharia Bagdad. Really good Indian food and a really good price. I probably went there every week I was in Sana'a. The Turkish restaurant on Hadda street. When this place is good, it's very good. I think they have the best shawrma in town and they definitely have the best "lemon" juice (actually lime juice) in town. Prices aren't bad either. Pizziola is the best pizza in town. It's way down Hadda street, but it's very good. He even let me bring in my own pork pepperoni for my pizzas... There are now several Chinese restaurants in Sana'a. I counted 5. Most of them are on a street that parallels 60 meter rd. This includes the "sketchy" places. I have never heard of anyone eating there, but you can buy bottles of (cheap) alcohol there. I went to two other places on the same street, bit can be very good. Beijing cuisine is the oldest, and when they are doing well, it is very good food. Like most places in Sana'a, they can be a little inconsistent. I have also eaten in the Shanghai restaurant which is on the same street. That place has been very good every time I've been there. Both of these places cater to the Chinese community, so the dishes aren't exactly like you'd get in the states, plus they have to deal with the food quality in Yemen. They are also among the most expensive places to eat. They are tasty though... If you go to Sana'a. you should go to Al-faker restaurant. It is, of course, way down Hadda street, but it is worth it. They make traditional Yemeni dishes and they do it very well. Usually, you would have to get invited to someone's house to get this kind of food but you can go to this place and get it instead. It is also clean, and has a really nice atmosphere... Anyway, that's my wrap-up, hope it helps someone! Isaac Blogging in Yemen www.isaharr.com

Wine Tasting Bar in Jerusalem

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:15:27 GMT

Hi Alexandra, When will you be in Jerusalem? Your visit may overlap with the Wine Festival held mid-July. Shani

Damascus Restaurant Reviews

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:23:22 GMT

I have been living in Damascus for about 8 months now (I was living in NYC for the previous 4 years) and wanted to leave a post before leaving about some of the delicious food we've eaten here. Damascus: I think the best Arabic restaurant in Damascus has got to be the newcomer Narange. Located in the heart of the old city in a beautiful building with a terrace upstairs and a lovely dining room and open-ish kitchen. You can get all of the old standbys found in every decent restaurant in the Levant, as well as some more creative and seasonal dishes dishes. This is one of two restaurants that lives up to Western standards of service and cleanliness expected at a top-notch place. They serve a huge mezzeh which I highly recommend if you're going with a group. Alcohol is available. My second favorite place is an Italian restaurant run by a totally adorable Syrian-Italian couple called Arabesque. I know it's not Arabic food, but when the idea of eating another stuffed grape leave and bowl of mettabbel makes me feel a little... unexcited, this is where we go. It's also in the heart of the old city in a delightful old house. They serve a small menu of delightful Italian dishes with ingrediants that you just can't find in Syria - gorgonzola cheese and great fresh fish, for example. As for a good, classic Arabic meal in an old Arabic house, there is Bait Jebri, Al-Khawali and many many others in the old city. A place that serves amazing amazing food in a sort of sterile setting is called Mixed Grille, on the Tijara Corniche in the new city of Damascus. You know it's good b/c there isn't a single Westerner there and the men role in with a bottle of whiskey after 10 for dinner. A fun evening can be had by going there for dinner and then across the street to my favorite bar in Damascus (small, dim lighting, 99% Syrian crowd) called Kasebji. It has a red awning and is in a small house. A great place to spend a morning is in a french-style cafe called Salle Sucre in Abu Romani. Great coffee, a shaded terrace, friendly staff, tasty pastries, sandwiches and salads. I hate to admit it but I also like going to Costa Coffee in the Four Seasons for an afternoon cup of the good stuff. If you go to Sahat Kaiffer Sousseh after 2pm in the afternoon and look for a donut shop/bakery on the circle, you will find some of the best donuts I've ever had. To the left of the donut shop is a guy who sells a GREAT shawarma. Don't be afraid to venture out of the old city. If you're like me and you love wandering through food markets, the two best in the city are found outside of the Old City and are fabulous for wandering and tasting and learning: one is called Souq Serijeh just outside of the old city and the other is in an area up the mountain a little called Afief. Ask any taxi driver and they'll know both. For those who aren't familiar with the classic Arabic food you must try while visiting: here is an attempt at listing out the basics (incomplete I'm sure): Salads: Fatoush, Tabbouleh, Salad Sharqieh Dips: Hummus, Hummus Beiruti (hummus with green onions), Hummus bi Lehma (hummus with meat), mettabel (smoked eggplant w/ tahini), baba ganoush (eggplant, tomatoes, etc), muhammara (my husband's fave - a sometimes spicy sometimes smoky walnut/red pepper paste) Meat: Shish Taouk (chicken on a skewer), Kebab, Aleppo Kebab (made with a tasty tomato sauce), kibbeh (kibbeh is the quintessential Arab food - it's made of lamb pounded with bulgur and spices and served 100 different ways) - kibbeh meshwiyeh (fried), kibbeh naiyeh (raw), kibbeh maqlieh (grilled).

the best food in Israel?

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:50:53 GMT

in Jerusalem, we had amazing ethiopian near the old city on Jaffa st. I don't have the resto name, but its near the large Post Office building, about a 4 minute walk from the Jaffa gate. In Tel Aviv-Jaffo, I suggest Itzik Hagadol. its amazing shishlik and salads!