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Tag Archives: Tel Aviv

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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