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Tag Archives: restaurant review

Crushin’ on Waffle Crush!

21 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by Nicole Small in dessert, restaurant review, vegetarian/vegan

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Tags

arizona, biscoff, cookie butter, food blog, food truck, liege waffle, Phoenix, phoenix flea, restaurant review, Scottsdale, sweets, waffle crush, waffles

If you live in Phoenix this is one food truck you MUST seek out.

Waffle Crush Review

We recently went to Phoenix Flea, a super adorable outdoor market offering vintage and new handmade treasures. It was fun to shop and explore the market, which took place in Heritage Square in Downtown Phoenix, but the true highlight of the day was Waffle Crush. I’m pretty sure that anytime I eat Waffle Crush it’ll be the highlight of my day. Dare I say of my month…!?

hanging out at Phoenix Flea

I enjoyed the Berry Waffle, a gourmet Liege Waffle topped with Biscoff (cookie butter!!!), fresh whipped cream and strawberry slices. The waffle itself is delicious, almost caramelized, with a perfectly crisp outside and soft, fluffy inside. The Biscoff melts into the waffle in the most delicious way, while the strawberries brighten the flavors. And anything with handmade whipped cream is divine. This is waffle heaven.

About to enjoy my first Waffle Crush

The Berry Waffle from Waffle Crush

It was absolutely the best waffle I’ve ever had. They also have chocolate filled waffles.
You read that right.

Waffle Crush

Waffle Crush Food Truck Information

Website: http://mywafflecrush.com
Hours & Location: Find their location & schedule via Instagram, Twitter and Facebook: @mywafflecrush
Phone: (480) 304-5636
Pricing: The Berry is $7.50

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An Afternoon at Irit’s

28 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by Nicole Small in dairy free, gluten free, healthy recipe, restaurant review, travel, vegetarian/vegan

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Authentic, dairy free, eggplant, food, food tour, foodie, gluten free, healthy, healthy recipe, israel, recipe, restaurant review, roasted, Tel Aviv, travel, vegan, vegetarian, Yemenite

05-06-19

I’m lost in Tel Aviv, again. I picked a random street to walk down in the general direction of my destination, and I’m lost, but it’s okay. Wandering just on the outskirts of Shuk HaCarmel, I peer into each shop, my eyes fruitlessly searching for a notebook. Just something small to jot down my thoughts and dreams. I am so intent on my quest to discover new shops and find my perfect notebook that I fail to recognize the street that I’m walking down, that I’ve walked down a few times before. If it wasn’t for the brilliant blue doors and emerald green awning which mark the entrance to her little restaurant, I might have passed Irit’s, but it is the solo outdoor table that catches my eye. An elderly gentleman is seated there, enjoying a tall glass of orange juice. I suddenly snap back to reality as I realize where I am.

Irit's: Tel Aviv restaurant review

I feel a small smile creep across my face as I step into her place. Although Irit likes to keep the radio on, a mishmash of American 90’s, Top 40 and Israeli songs, the real music of Irit’s is the sound of her voice calling over the others. She once told me her age, swiftly followed by the jubilant exclamation that her soul is young! And it is; you can hear it in her voice and see it in the twinkle in her eyes and her glowing skin.

Irit is middle-aged, about the same age as my own Mother, though her cheerful, raspy voice and caring nature leads me to feel as though she is everyone’s bubby.

My intent is to say hello and continue on my way, but soon I am sitting at one of her mismatched tables in a mismatched chair sipping freshly squeezed orange juice prepared by one of her friends, Yosi. Although she is married, I imagine that Irit has many admirers, and Yosi may even be one of them. Irit once told me that she had to turn down many marriage proposals in just one day, and I believe her.

Irit's unique cafe in Tel Aviv

I share the news with Yosi and Irit, although it isn’t really news; I am leaving Tel Aviv in about 10 days, and Israel not long after that. They erupt, as all Israelis do when they hear that the Americayi is leaving.

ARIZONA! boasts Yosi, You are SLEEPING in Arizona! The excitement is here! 

I try to tell him that Arizona can be exciting, but he presses on.

Sometimes (Arizona can be exciting), but here, the excitement is every day!

It’s true, there’s hardly a dull moment here.

Trinkets galore in Irit's tiny restaurant

Fire-Roasted Eggplant with Lemon and Tahini // Tsiporah Blog

I join Irit in her small kitchen and lean over the stove to find out how exactly she makes her fabulous eggplant. Is it low heat? Magic?
Low heat, she tells me, the same low heat used to make lachoch, a spongy and porous flatbread that she makes daily.
Soon I am greeted with a plate of Irit’s eggplant, my favorite dish of hers, along with a fresh pita and the last of the tahini. I am ready to adopt her as my 3rd grandmother.

When I am done, all that remains are 5 little lemon seeds, evidence of the whimsical, erratic method of Irit’s cooking.

Irit's cooking

Irit’s small restaurant is lit by bright daylight pouring in through the two open front doors. The sunlight spills into her small restaurant, and into the hearts of her loyal patrons. Irit is exuberant, always. Everything she prepares is the best I have ever had; the best shakshouka, the best eggplant, the best orange juice. Love is the main ingredient in her recipes, and you can taste it.

Click here for the full recipe on my new blog, Nourishing Wild.

Irit's Smokey Eggplant with Lemon and Tahini // Tsiporah Blog (recipes from Israel)

Smoked Eggplant

Smokey roasted eggplant

Click here for the full recipe on my new blog, Nourishing Wild.

Smokey Eggplant with Tahini // Tsiporah Blog

Click here for the full recipe on my new blog, Nourishing Wild.

Enjoy!

Discover Israel’s Tasty Side

I first discovered Irit’s little cafe through my work with Delicious Israel. Inbal, the owner of Delicious Israel (and my boss here in Tel Aviv), took me to Irit’s for the first time on a culinary tour during my very first week as her intern. I have since returned to Irit’s many times, and I have Inbal to thank for that. If you are visiting Israel, check out Inbal’s Culinary Tours to get the tastiest view of the country and to discover more hidden gems like this one!
Delicious Israel | PH: +972 525 699 499 | info@deliciousisrael.com

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Taqueria Tel Aviv – Restaurant Review

08 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by Nicole Small in restaurant review, travel, Tuesday Travel

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Authentic, food, food blog, gluten free, Mexican Food, restaurant review, tacos, Tel Aviv, travel

Beach days just beg for authentic tacos, especially on National Taco Day. Tel Aviv is filled with bustling cafes, restaurants and falafel stands, but there seems to be a shortage of Mexican and Asian foods. This is where Taqueria comes in; a Mexican restaurant in the heart of Tel Aviv.
Taqueria Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv Restaurant Review - Taqueria

When you walk into Taqueria you are welcomed with the aroma of fresh food and bright, brilliant colors everywhere. Their napkin dispensers made me smile; each was clad with a unique Mexican-inspired image or decorative text. This one was on our table, and it was my favorite; a simple black and white image of a saguaro that reminded me of home.

Taqueria Mexican Food

Nachos have been hard to find here in Tel Aviv; usually they just come as chips and salsa. Anyone from my home town will tell you that chips and salsa are surely no substitute for the wonder of real nachos; fresh cheese melted on corn tortilla chips, topped with an array of delicacies including, but not limited to, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, pickled jalapenos, salsa, cilantro, and green onions. Taqueria’s nachos did not disappoint; they had all of the above and they were absolutely indulgent.

Best Nachos in Tel Aviv

Taqueria Nachos in Tel Aviv

Cheesy, guac-y, delicious nachos

But what I really came for was either fish or carne asada tacos. The Pescado Frito (fish) Tacos were the first to catch my eye; beer-battered cod accompanied by fresh guacamole, salsa verde, mexican tartare, cilantro and cabbage. When you order tacos at Taqueria you have your choice of either corn or flour, so I chose corn tortillas.

Beer Battered Fish Tacos in Tel Aviv

Pescado Frito Tacos

These were perfected with a spritz of lime and a bit of Taqueria’s smoky salsa. The fish was beautifully moist and flavorful and the guacamole was bright and fresh, a creamy compliment to the crispy fried fish.

My friend Julia ordered the Camarones (shrimp) Tacos. Two tortillas filled with adobo-marinated shrimp, guacamole, chipotle aioli, spring onions, and lettuce, these tacos were light and satisfying.

Shrimp Tacos Tel Aviv

Camarones Tacos

My other friend ordered the Carnitas tacos. These tacos sound superb; slowly cooked pork shoulder with adobo, pineapple, pico de gallo, jalapenos and Taqueria’s super spicy salsa roja.

Carnitas Tacos Tel Aviv

Carnitas Tacos

Julia and I traded so that we could each have one fish and one shrimp taco. These tacos were so delicious, and they were a pure taste of home. Finding authentic Mexican food so far from Mexico is surprising, but Taqueria does a good job of combining unique flavors with genuine ingredients. Our overall favorite taco was the Pescado Frito; you just can’t beat an awesome crispy fish taco.

Best Tacos in Tel Aviv, Israel

Trading Tacos

Taqueria Restaurant Information

Website: https://www.facebook.com/taqueriatlv
Hours: Mon-Sun: 12:00 pm – 1:00 am
Location: Levontin 28, 65116 Tel Aviv, Israel
Phone: +972-03-600-5280
Pricing: Nachos 36 NIS; Tacos 28 NIS; Burritos 38 NIS

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Tuesday Travel: San Diego, California

13 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by Nicole Small in restaurant review, travel, Tuesday Travel

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Tags

California, food, restaurant review, San Diego, travel

In my Tuesday Travel series I will be sharing with you a city that I have traveled to, what I enjoyed doing there, and what I loved to eat while I was there.

San Diego and Coronado have been one of my favorite spots for vacations for quite some time. I adore the beach and I love California, but Coronado has a special atmosphere; it feels more small-town and quiet than the rest of San Diego. You can enjoy a relaxing day by the beach and then you can take a short taxi ride to the Gaslamp Quarter for restaurants, bars and shopping. Coronado and San Diego offer the perfect balance for a vacation. And, of course, I wouldn’t keep going back somewhere unless they had some great places to eat!

Where to eat in San Diego

Nado Gelato Cafe

I really love gelato, and this place takes the cake as the BEST gelato I’ve ever had. The flavors were so perfect and bold that I actually ordered vanilla! We happily went here two days in a row. I just couldn’t believe how much their flavors tasted like the real thing- banana actually tasted like I was eating frozen bananas. Their gelato is just incredible, Nado is a MUST visit in Coronado.

Nado Gelato Coronado Review | via Tsiporah Blog

Clayton’s Mexican Take out

Clayton’s Mexican Take Out has been a favorite for years. We asked a local where to find some yummy street tacos and he gave us directions to Clayton’s; a restaurant barely big enough to fit a kitchen, there is only seating outside. Their carne asada is so flavorful and their shrimp is always perfectly cooked. Try the carne asada fries or shrimp tacos. You can’t leave without some bunuelos! Fried tortilla strips coated in sweet cinnamon sugar are the best way to end your meal here.

Clayton's Takeout Coronado Review | via Tsiporah Blog

Clayton's Takeout Coronado Review | via Tsiporah Blog

Shrimp taco & rice

Little Italy – Filippi’s Pizza Grotto

Filippi’s Pizza Grotto in Little Italy stands out in my mind as my favorite restaurant that I’ve ever had the joy of dining at in San Diego. They serve up pasta, pizza, salads and other Italian favorites. Anything you order will be amazing, but my favorite is their good old classic spaghetti and meatball. I say meatball, not meatballs because their meatballs are roughly the size of a baseball! Their marinara sauce is the most perfect marinara sauce I’ve ever had. Also, Filippi’s antipasta salad is a great way to start out your meal alongside the rolls with butter that they happily provide.

While you’re at Filippis, order a bottle of Filippi’s chianti. Or two: one for dinner and one to bring home. This wine is my favorite and I always try to bring home a bottle or two with me while I am visiting.

Little Italy San Diego | via Tsiporah BlogFilippi's Pizza Grotto Review - San Diego | via Tsiporah Blog

Filippi's Pizza Grotto Review - San Diego | via Tsiporah Blog

Birthday Desserts

Filippi's Wine | via Tsiporah Blog

Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop

If you’re a chocolate fan (how could you not be?) you cannot miss the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. Here you can stock up on your favorite Ghirardelli squares, or you can mix and match ones that you’ve never had before. In addition you can experience the wonder and perfection of the Ghirardelli ice cream sundae.

Ghirardelli San Diego | via Tsiporah Blog

Ghiradelli San Diego | via Tsiporah Blog

Hotel Del – Chocolate Croissants

If you’re visiting Coronado then there’s a good chance that you’ll end up at the Del at some point or another. While you’re there admiring the hotel’s grandeur, stop by the little cafe in the hotel and order a chocolate croissant (or 5). When we visit Coronado, we wake up at the crack of dawn (okay, 8:00) to head to the cafe and get chocolate croissants. They are worth waking up early on your vacation and they are worth the price, I promise you. If you don’t want to wake up early, don’t worry, sometimes you can get lucky if they have a few leftover later in the day.

Hotel Del Coronado - Chocolate Croissants | via Tsiporah Blog

What to do in San Diego

BEACH BBQ

The best way to enjoy a beach sunset is with a beach BBQ. If you don’t have the ability to BBQ your own dinner, grab takeout and have a beach picnic instead. Grab a sweatshirt and spread out an oversized towel and enjoy mother nature’s show.

Beach BBQ in California | via Tsiporah BlogBeach BBQ in California | via Tsiporah Blog

Coronado Beach

Coronado beach is my favorite in San Diego, probably because we’ve been coming here for so long. Regardless, it is a really beautiful beach. During some seasons of the year you can find an abundance of sand dollars in the tide if you know where to look. In addition, you can explore the tide pools in the rocks. We’ve seen crabs, fish, starfish, hermit crabs, snails and more while exploring the tide pools.

Coronado Beach | via Tsiporah Blog

Rent Bikes

My friends and I decided to rent bikes for an hour on my most recent trip to Coronado. We had quite the myriad of bikes; a team of tandem bikes, beach cruisers, as well as other two person seated bikes, we blazed through the town exploring, giggling and enjoying the sights. Bike rentals are not expensive and it’s a fun way to stay active and see more of the area.

Rent Bikes in Coronado | via Tsiporah Blog

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to in California. The ornate buildings and the elaborate gardens and lily ponds are captivating. Just walking around here is enough for me, but they also have museums and other attractions in the park.

Balboa Park | via Tsiporah Blog Balboa Park | via Tsiporah Blog

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