Unexpected Lunch – Morduch

My lunch at work usually contains a salad or if I really put in an effort some home made food. Two weeks ago I was in Jerusalem for work purpose and my host, Dror, suggested we will go to the Machnea Yehuda market. I was actually thinking about “Caffe Mizrahi” but the cab driver suggested a place that is consider as “institutes” in Jerusalem –  Morduch.

Mechna Yehuda’s Market

We have order the “salads” for sharing and I took the Red Kube Soup – “Out most poplar” as the menu suggested.  The Kube (or Kibbeh according to Wikipedia) is “an Levantine dish made of bulghur, minced onions and ground red meat, usually beef, lamb, goat or camel”.

The salads

All in all, it was a tasty and unusual lunch for me after which I wanted to take a nap, unfortunately I had to go back to work.

Kube

The check please (2 people)

Kube soup – 32NIS
Been soup – 22 NIS
Salads – 10NIS
2 X 7-up – 20NIS

All in all – 84 NIS

The Cizer Kobrinsky Scale

3.5 Forks

Morduch
Agripas 70, Machnea Yehuda market, Jerusalem
http://morduch.com/ | English Menu

Copycats – Fleamarket

We might have mentioned this before, but as tourists in Tel Aviv, you must not miss a night (a day as well, but nevertheless) in Jaffa Flea Market. The restaurant and bar scene at the “authentic” location not far away from Jaffa Port is becoming trendier as the time passes. Dozens of locations spread along the market area making it livelier at night than at day, and a great reason to visit. It is no surprising that the oh-so-2011 market-restaurants will arrive to the flea market. The name didn’t surprise as well – the Fleamarket.

Jaffa Flea Market @ Night

Well, unsurprising is probably what you’ll think all along your dinner (at least if you had some dinners in Tel Aviv). Yes, the location is great – the vibe coming from this area is quite laid back, almost like visiting the beach towns of Turkey or Greece. The vast amount of street tables is really fun and gives you the feeling of the old market coming to life. With that sort of pre-conditions, you would expect the food to match.

Andalusian Gazpacho soup

But it was so predictable. The same owners of the La Shuk restaurant from Dizingoff (which is itself a copy of Machne Yehuda restaurant from Jerusalem) brought to the Fleamarket the exact same type of food, with the same paper-menus-retro-metal-chairs, well, you get the point.

Tuna fish Nicoise Salad

And it wasn’t that the food was bad – a dish of Andalusian Gazpacho soup was OK, though not thrilling. Another starter of fresh Tuna fish Nicoise Salad was also not bad at all – it had some very classic taste achieved by a nice sauce. Even though, its pricing was somewhat high.

Black & White Grilled Calamari

The main courses kept the same spirit – tasty yet boring. The black & white grilled Calamari with goat yogurt was well executed, but we had the same dish in more than a dozen restaurants around town. The now-so-popular grilled sweetbreads had also some classic tastes in it, and it was rather the grilled Artichokes, Fennel and Beet that gave the bit-more-special variety to the dish.

Grilled Sweetbreads

Along with some Cabarne Franc white wine that was recommended to us, we have decided that market restaurants have finally lost their excitement in Tel Aviv restaurant scene. Though it doesn’t mean it will be easy for you to find a table in the Fleamarket, don’t expect it to surprise you in any way.

The Check Please (2 people)

Red Tuna Nicoise – 69 NIS
Andalusian Gazpacho – 28 NIS
Sweetbreads – 69 NIS
Black & White Calamari – 49 NIS
Cabarne Franc (by the glass) X2 – 78 NIS

All in all: 283 NIS

Summary

Food: Market Food
Price: Medium-Expensive
Location: Jaffa Flea Market

The Cizer Kobrinsky Scale

3 Forks

 

Contact details: Fleamarket

Address: 8 Rabbi Yohanan St. Jaffa | Phone: 036202262

Spice Up Your Friday – Levinsky Market

Mark yourselves a 2-hour time window at some Friday morning. Then you can stroll to one of the liveliest streets in Tel Aviv at that time – Levinsky Street. Levinsky Market, stretched along the street (from Ha’alia down west), is hectic and not so tourist oriented, but definitely should not be overlooked. The street is filled with shops selling spices, delicatessen, cheese and oriental food and would be a great place to add some touch-ups to your recipes.

As the market is becoming trendier lately, few places to eat are popping out here and there, throughout the market. At two different opportunities we have managed to visit two of the places that set out two very different experiences while supplying their own variation of the market.

Cafe Kaimak

Café Kaimak, located at the Nachlat Binyamin corner, is literally part of the market. As it is fully opened to the market, right between the vendors, you can hear all the trouble happening outside while sitting in the unpretentious setting. The prices are welcoming as well as the service and the food is pretty nice as well. On the late Friday morning, when we sat along with Adi for a late breakfast, we had a very decent Shakshuka (27 NIS) and a “Red Toast” that included Gauda cheese, tomatoes and a great red peppers paste (36 NIS).

Shakshuka (Cafe Kaimak)

Red Toast

Café Kaimak:

Food: Breakfast
Price: Cheap
Location: Levinsky Market

The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale:

3 Forks

Devochka

Devochka (“Girl” in Russian), located a bit off the market at the crossing HaChalutzim Street, is offering a far more relaxed atmosphere. You can pick one of a variety of sandwiches, made at the spot with some market goods displayed at the counter. Though there is (very) little place to sit inside, try to grab a sandwich and sit at the stools outside and catch some relaxing Friday noon sun (good luck finding that available spot). While meeting with Samuel and Keren for a lunch there, right before the vendors closed their shops, we had some great Corned Beef Sandwich and Cheese Sandwich (24 NIS each) along with a well-suitable-for-Friday-noon Coffee.

Devochka Counter

Corned Beef Sandwich

Devochka:

Food: Sandwiches
Price: Cheap-Medium
Location: Off Levinsky Market

The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale:

3.5 Forks

Coffee & Afternoon Sun (Devochka)

Tourist Spot: Not What You’d Expect – Kitchen Market

The market – Here we are again. The market restaurant scene is getting crowded as many restaurants join the trend. Some more successful (La Shuk for example), some don’t have much more than the trend (Montefiore 7). Eventually you’ll judge a “Market” restaurant based on fresh goods and the chef’s creativity and execution.

The Market in a Plate – Spanish Mackerel

The farmers market at Tel Aviv Port is a tricky location. At first sight it’s a perfect location – Sea View, interested tourists, locals with families and the nice market at your fingertips. Even though, such locations invite boring restaurants, counting on the setting alone as well as tourist traps, having a lousy value for money. Many restaurants located at the port’s deck answer these definitions. “Kitchen Market” though, is different altogether.

Pizza Milanese

Take the Pizza Milanese or the Beef Fillet Skewer for example. A Pizza in such a place as like a Beef Skewer allegedly does not relate to the market or the sea location and could very well be the fall of the dinner. In reality, the pizza, topped with Buffalo Mozarella, Italian Sausage and fresh tomatoes was the best we had in many years, not only because of the toppings but also the crunchy thin dough which brings lots of Italian memories. The Beef Skewer actually did come from the market’s butchery and showed that the butchery is well worth a visit.

Genius – Crispy Polenta Sticks

Two fried dishes of Melita fish and Crispy Polenta sticks were quite different from each other. The fried fish dish was escorted with lots of market supply like eggplant, chili and lemon which were great but actually hid the fish which lost it taste a little in the pan (we also think the dish is overpriced). The Polenta sticks on the other hand were genius, no less. It seemed like the chef gave all his heart while preparing the corn polenta and the delicate crisp. If you search for a drink escort this must be the dish for you. With a contrast, Truffle French Fries dish showed that Truffle should be used only where it fits.

Melita fish – Lost its taste

The Antipasti dish as well as the Spanish Mackerel was the market itself on our plates. We actually felt the beautiful goods from downstairs (Kitchen Market is located on the second floor) took the stairs straight to us.

The Market’s Antipasti

A summer Panacota (yes, late post… better than never) and a Coffee Brule, were just two of what seems to be a very inviting dessert vitrine you can’t help but to stare at. While it could have endangered the whole impression of the restaurant, as like the whole dinner, Kitchen Market doesn’t let itself fall. Not even for a minute.

Longing the Summer – Panacota

Excellent Coffee Brule

The check please (4 people)

Big Crispy Polenta Sticks – 31 NIS
Small Antipasti – 24 NIS
Pizza Milanese – 62 NIS
Beef Fillet Skewer – 72 NIS
Chicken Garganali – 58 NIS
Melitas – 72 NIS
Small Spanish Mackerel – 26 NIS
Truffle French Fries – 19 NIS
Summer Panacota – 36 NIS
Coffee Crème Brule – 38 NIS
Proseco (Bottle) – 98 NIS

All in all: 536 NIS

Summary:

Food: Market
Price: Medium-Expensive
Location: Tel Aviv Port – Farmers Market

 The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale: 

4.5 Forks

Contact details: Kitchen Market
Address: Hangar 12, Tel Aviv Port, Tel Aviv | Phone: 057-9426881 |
Opening Hours:  Monday-Thursday 12:30-16:30, 18:00-24:00 Friday-Saturday 09:00-16:30, 18:00-24:00
http://kitchenmarket.rest-e.co.il/

A Copy Well Made – La Shuk

La Shuk's Kitchen

The first really good market restaurant in Israel was opened just a few years ago just besides the Machne Yehuda’s developing market of Jerusalem. “Machne Yehuda” is also the name of the restaurant opened by the Chef Assaf Granit and is truly one of the best restaurants in the country (book well ahead). Following the success of the theme, market restaurants were opened as mushrooms after the rain in what seems to be a series of copycats. In “La Shuk”’s case, a well-made copy.

Dizengoff Square

La Shuk, opened just last spring, offers a rustic market setting, sounds that ranges from Israeli rock to Greek and Turkish taverns, and a surprisingly successful location, right below the Dizengof square that is about to go through renovations. Oh, and market food.

We weren’t that hungry, so we have settled for three courses. The smallest of which was Veal tartar which was a nice variation of the classic Tartar. Two toast breads with topped with mustard laid in a glass bowl that contained the Tartar along with a half-cooked egg. The Tartar tasted excellent and the combination, as a whole, was delicious. I was only upset it wasn’t a larger dish. Another combination was a dish of Tabbouleh Salad and Shrimps. In this case, although the Shrimps were cooked OK and were spicy in a good way, there wasn’t any real connection to the salad, that itself was mediocre.

Veal Tartar

Tabbouleh Salad and Shrimps

The last course was Siniyee, which is an Arabic dish that includes ground beef, vegetables and spices on top of oven baked bread. Although this Siniyee was less aggressive with flavors comparing to a “true” Siniyee (we recommend on the Siniyee served at “Al Reda” restaurant in Nazareth), it was tasteful and very satisfying.

Siniyee

A sweet and rich Malabi ended the evening, as we agreed that, although La Shuk seems like another copy of “Machne Yehuda”, it is quite a nice copy that we will probably return to.

Malabi

The check please (2 people)

Veal Tartar – 36 NIS
TabboulehSalad and Shrimps – 47 NIS
Siniyee – 44 NIS
2X Wine by the glass – 56 NIS
Malabi – 28 NIS

All in all: 211 NIS

Summary:

Food: Market Food
Price: Medium
Location: Dizingoff

 The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale:

3.5 Forks

Contact details: La Shuk

 Address:  92 Dizengoff st. (Dizengoff Square), Tel Aviv | Phone: 03-6033117 |
Opening Hours:  Sunday-Thursday 12:00-Late | Friday-Saturday 09:30 – Late
http://www.rest.co.il/sites/Default.asp?txtRestID=11726 (no English)

In-sea-fficient – Sifo

The Flea Market

Let’s start from the end – it’s not that we didn’t like the place – it is just that we expected more of it. It was simply insufficient. This year is the second year in which the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa is conducting the Pishpashuk – opening the flea market late in the evening every Thursday night during the summer. In this event the stores of the market alongside some stands and restaurants are open until midnight.

The Crowded Street

One can imagine that this kind of event will attract a lot of people. As such, we came early to the market (about 8:00 PM – don’t come near with a car later then that!) and we went straight to Sifo – a new seafood place that we have planned to visit thanks to some good reviews.

Sifo

We started with Fish Tartar that was served with slices of beet. This dish was an example for the whole meal – it was good but something was missing. For example – this dish was made from fresh ingredients but we missed some spiciness in it – adding green paper would have made it better.

Fish Tartar with Beet

We then continued with “Pasta” – served with Artichoke, Crab Beef & Calamari – another dish that sounds good “on the paper” (or should we say “on the menu”). Once again, on the plate it was good – but this time we missed the salt.  The Octopus Salad suffered from a combination of unrelated ingredients such as Tehini.

Pasta

At that point Adi have joined the table and ordered the Fish Ceviche that took lots of time to get to the table and was not different from the other dishes. In the meantime we were still a bit hungry and ordered small plate of Grilled Calamari – that had too much oil in it.

Grilled Calamari

For desert we ordered the chocolate cake which had a good bottom and average top (which was the cake itself).

Chocolate Cake

All in all it the dishes were fine, but none of them shined over the view of the crowded market. Next time we’re going back to Kalamata…

The check please (3 people)

Octopus Salad – 45NIS
Pasta – 63NIS
Fish Tartar – 45 NIS
Ceviche – 45 NIS
Grilled Calamari (100 gr)  – 32NIS
Krombacher beer – 18NIS
2 X Bottomless wine glasses – 50NIS
Chocolate Cake – 36NIS

All in all: 384 NIS

The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale:

3 Forks

Summary:

Food:  Seafood
Price:  Medium-Expensive
Location: Jaffa’s Flea Market

Contact details: Sifo

Address:  3 Rabbi Nachman St. Corner with 13 Amiad, Jaffa |   03-6038121
Opening Hours:  Saturday-Thursday 12:00PM-Late | Friday 12:00-18:00 | http://www.facebook.com/Sifo.Jaffa (No website)

The Perfect Romantic Celebration – The Wine Bar

We waited a long time since starting to write this blog until we have returned to one of our favorite places in Tel Aviv. Though quite a small place, containing nothing more than 4-5 tables and a bar, the Wine Bar has more romantic spirit and passion than most of the restaurants we have visited so far.

The Bar

Logging to their Facebook page, you’ll receive frequent updates (in Hebrew though) regarding their newest ingredient which came straight from the market or from the fisherman. Book a place at the bar as we have and you won’t be disappointed, as the highlight of the place is the fact that the chef is right in front of you, grilling the shrimps, chopping the Tuna and burning the Brule. That way you can also make sure the Wine Bar is using only fresh ingredients.

Greek Calamari Salad

We have booked a place at the bar a night after our wedding, as the celebration must continue. We shared three dishes. The first one was Greek Calamari Salad with Kalamate olives, tomatoes, green peppers and red onions. Though all fresh, something in the sauce didn’t come together and it was somewhat disappointing. The second dish was Pasta shreds with sautéed Italian Artichokes, delicate pesto sauce and Parmesan. This was a great example of the creative side of Wine Bar, and was a delicious dish (highly recommended if you are an Artichoke fan).

Artichokes and Pasta Shreds

The last dish we ordered is one of Inbar’s all time favorites –Seafood Gnocchi. A true quality homemade Gnocchi, was served with a selection of Shrimps and Calamari, cherry tomatoes, green peppers and coriander. The spiciness of the sauce and the fresh ingredients of the dish combined to one of the best seafood pastas we ever had.

Seafood Gnocchi

To end the evening with a sweet taste in our mouth we also took a Banana Crumble. The hot crisp topping and the warm banana fitted very well and were very tasty. Along with two glasses of Gewurztraminer wine we went out the street elated.

Banana Crumble

As long as the Wine Bar continues to have the passion it shows and continues to execute as it does now, we will definitely come back, at least once in a while.

The check please (2 people)

Artichokes and Pasta Shreds – 54 NIS
Greek Calamari Salad – 52 NIS
Seafood Gnocchi – 64 NIS
Banana Crumble – 32 NIS
2X Gewurztraminer by the glass – 68 NIS

All in all: 270 NIS

The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale: 

4.5 Forks

Summary:

Food:  Mediterranean
Price:  Expensive
Location: Montefiore-Nachlat Binyamin

Contact details: Wine Bar
Address:  36 Nachlat Binyamin,Tel Aviv | 03-5102923|
Opening Hours:  Sunday-Thrusday, Saturday 19:00-01:00 Friday 13:00-01:00 |
http://www.rest.co.il/sites/Default.asp?txtRestID=9866 (No English)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wine-Bar/99691452740

Fashion Victim – Montefiore 7

Update July 2013: The place is closed.

Montefiore 7 Bar

The latest trend on town in the restaurant scene is the market restaurants that are opening up like mushrooms after the rain (which in this year was extended more than expected). As Adi offered to celebrate my birthday I chose to go after the trend and try one of the new market places – Montefiore 7.

Spicy Lemon Spread & Za’atar

Montefiore 7 (Sheva, in Hebrew), deli and restaurant, is surprisingly located at 7^th Montefiore Street, the street that hosts at least two more places that adopted the street name when came to choose their names (Hotel Montefiore, Yavne-Montefiore). While riding Adi’s motorbike I was hoping that the place’s name does not indicate its (lack of) uniqueness.

When entering the well-designed market-oriented restaurant, I couldn’t help wondering whether I have been in the place before. And I did – I was in Machnea Yehuda, Tapas in the Port, Tapas 1 Haam, Cordovero and so on. Montefiore 7 is not different from all others.

We set on the bar and started with a bottle of Gewurztraminer wine and only then we were ready to order. We were served a complimentary paper bag, which luckily included white bread along with spicy lemon spread & Za’atar.

When coming to choose from the menu we couldn’t notice that it uses a lot of Hebrew terms that reminded us the terms of Eyal Shani in general and North Abraxas specifically. Nevertheless, we did not give up and ordered from the deli’s goods and from the restaurant menu, which changes on a daily bases and depends on the market supply.

Rump Carpaccio

We shared a Cold Sirloin, pickled in seven spices, served in a small plate and a farmer’s tomato salad – a salad that combines different kinds of tomatoes, red onion, garlic, spicy pepper, radish, black olives and Bryndza cheese. The fresh tomatoes salad, another hot trend in Tel Aviv, was served with small burned Pita bread, which added a different twist to the known dish.

Tomato Salad

For the main courses, although all served together, Adi took Rump Carpaccio while I took Purple Calamari served on top of yogurt and black pees salad. The Calamari was a bit stiff for me, but all in all it was a nice dish. The Rump Carpaccio was an average (but quite good) Carpaccio dish.

Malabi

For dessert we took Malabi, a small tasty dessert that was served in a mini jar alongside with pear jam.

When coming to summarize our visit I must say that although the place was not very unique, it was good, after all we are all fashion victims.

The check please (2 people)

Blue Nan Gewurztraminer (Bottle) – 98NIS
Pickled Sirloin in seven spices – 22NIS
Farmer’s Tomatoes Salad – 28NIS
Rump Carpaccio – 32NIS
Purple Calamari – 39NIS
Malabi – 28NIS

All in all: 247NIS

The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale:

3.5 Forks

 

Summary:

Food: Market food
Price:  Medium
Location: Montefiore / Hertzel

Contact details: Montefiore 7
Address: 7^th Montefiore St., Tel Aviv| 03-5100094 |
Opening Hours:  Sunday – Thursday 12:00-01:00, Friday- Saturday 09:00-01:00
No webpage

Memories From Madrid – Tapas in the Market

Update July 2013: The place is closed, a new place by Eyal Lavie was open instead.

A while ago, we decided to check the Tapas restaurant by the Yarazin brothers, owners of some of the most successful restaurants in town, Tapas in the market. Located at the new indoor market on Tel Aviv’s port, Tapas in the market offers sea and market view all together and promises to bring Spain to your plate.

Tapas in the Market

At our evening visit, though the market was already closed, we sat down with a lust for some good Tapas. We took some cold plates: Fennel Salad, pickled Sardines and crude Amberjack alongside some hot plates: Calamari “A la plancha” and Artichoke topped with breadcrumbs. Without any exceptions all of the Tapas were excellent, fresh and tasty. The open kitchen added to the atmosphere and reminded us the “Mercado de San Miguel” located in Madrid.

Fennel Salad

Calamari “A la plancha”

Crude Amberjack and Pickled Sardines

The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale: 

4 Forks

Summary:

Food:  Tapas
Price:  Medium
Location: Tel Aviv Port

Contact details: Tapas in the Market
Address:  Indoor Food Market, Tel Aviv Port, Tel Aviv | 03-7162757|
Opening Hours:  Monday-Thursday 08:00-00:00 Friday 08:00-17:00 Saturday 08:00-19:00  |

Carmel Market – Gallery Post

Photos from a Friday morning walk on Carmel Market stalls. Enjoy!

Strawberries

Carrot & Radish

Local Spices

Carrot & Radish

Fresh Fish

Carmel Market’s crowd

Beaufort Cheese

Halva

Baklavas

Vegetables stall

Market’s lighting

Back street

Cherries

Market goods

Apples (2)

Apples

Tangerines

Special

Making Fast Food