Author Archives: Lee Saunders

The Land of Milk, Honey and … Cheesecake

In the 1980s US sitcom The Golden Girls, there was no problem that could not be solved by cheesecake.

This weekend in Israel sees the arrival of the festival of Shavuot, when enough cheesecake will be consumed to put the world to right. Tenfold.

You could easily be forgiven for not knowing too much about the Jewish festival of Shavuot (Pentecost), It does not attract as much attention as the solemn empty streets of Yom Kippur or the huts of Sukkot, but Shavuot is actually one of Judaism’s most important holidays, one of the three pilgrimage festivals, celebrating the event that turned the Hebrews into the Jewish people: the giving of the Torah around 3,300 years ago.

Seasonal wheat harvest

Celebrated seven weeks after Passover, Shavuot coincided with the end of the wheat harvest in the land of Israel and commemorates the custom of bringing offerings to the Holy Temple from the first fruits of the harvest. Like many other festivals, it revolves around food, and particularly dairy. In Israel, described in the bible as “the land of milk and honey,” you may not have considered that it might be perfectly valid to celebrate a holiday by staying up all night and eating cheese, but at Shavuot, sleep deprivation and cheesecake are the way to go.

Mascarpone and Raspberry Cheesecake at Dan Gourmet

Observant Jews will honor Shavuot with the tradition of staying up all night and learning, which derives from when the Children of Israel stayed awake the whole night in anticipation of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai.
But why dairy? The spring harvest comes at a time when animals grazing on lush green pastures from winter rains produce an abundance of milk. As such, it has become tradition to enjoy blintzes (thin-rolled pancakes), bourekas (thin flaky pastries) kreplach stuffed with cheese and various salads that have added cheese, as well as the legendary cheesecake, which, was once made with milk and honey, in Greece, and fed to Olympian athletes.

At most synagogues across the country, and in particular the Tel Aviv International Synagogue (Frishman Street 23), near the Dan Tel Aviv, you will find festive evening meals with mouthwatering cheesecake, followed by learning in Hebrew, English and some places French. Join a dawn sing-a-long on the beach, as the waves lap gently on the shore.
The following day, head down to Nahalat Binyamin 32 to celebrate the harvest festival with a folk dancing marathon. Don’t forget to try the variety of phenomenal cheesecakes on offer at many of Tel Aviv’s blissful bakeries. Piece of Cake (Levontin 30) dishes up the Alfajores cheesecake combines cream cheese and dulce de leche with white chocolate mousse, coated with caramel cookies.
If you have room, visit Lehamim Bakery (Hashmonaim 103) and try the Tropical Cheesecake, a crispy crumble with vanilla Chantilly cream and tropical fruits.

Specialty Cheesecake at Peice-of-cake Bakery. Credit: Dror Einav

There can arguably be no place more symbolic for the giving of the Torah than the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Head down before sunrise to experience dawn breaking at this holy site, a spiritual moment to rival few others. Once your senses have been awakened, Beit Avi Chai (King George Street 44) offers a culinary workshop, a special talk on the significance of the holiday foods and the vitality of agriculture in Israel.
Then go eat! Head down to the iconic Mahane Yehuda market where the smell of freshly baked goods lingers permanently in the air. Sample many of the cheesy bourekas or blintzes on offer here, or the cheesecake in a jar at Beit Yaakov 10 inside the market, or head down to Cafe Kadosh, a veteran Jerusalem institution, to enjoy their unbeatable pastries and desserts, all a healthy walk down from another Jerusalem institution, the King David Hotel.

Agricultural procession through the streets of Zichron Yaakov

At Shavuot, this is a terrific opportunity to also step out the city and visit many of the country’s Kibbutz collective farms and Moshav family cooperatives, which are open to tourists and locals as they demonstrate how the dairy industry is indeed one of Israel’s strongest agricultural pillars. Sample many of the country’s renowned artisanal cheeses, seize the chance to learn about milking cows, plowing, sowing and harvesting the fields and enjoy rides on tractors and horses.

To stay somewhat healthy during a festival full of sweet dairy delights, we have a special recipe including cheese from our Dan Gourmet cooking school:

Beet and blue cheese salad, with apples and walnuts – Sasi Shaulzon
For 4 people

Ingredients:
3 Peeled and cooked Beets
200 gr Blue cheese
200 gr Walnuts
1 Green apple (not too sweet)
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
Preparation:
Cut Beets into wedges
Thinly slice the apple
Peel and crush the walnuts (big pieces)
Break up the cheese (with your fingers) into small pieces
Place all the ingredients gently on a plate in this order: Beet, Apple, Nuts, Cheese
Dress with a little salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil
Serve at room temperature

Beet and blue cheese salad, with apples and walnuts from Dan Gourmet

Shavuot takes place from the evening of Saturday 19 May and finishes in the evening of Sunday 20 May.

Israel Won Eurovision

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Israel – 12 points!!!
Forty years since Israel’s first win, and 20 years since its last, Israel celebrated being crowned winners of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 for the fourth time on Saturday in Lisbon…

Amidst scenes of euphoria, the magnetic Netta Barzilai won the final of this year’s contest in Portugal, beating main rival Cyprus and Austria into 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
Her song Toy, an uplifting self-empowerment song featuring voice synthesizers, has already become a global sensation with more than 50 million views on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.

On Right: Netta with Lior Haimovitz, CEO of Dan Panorama Tel Aviv.

A short while prior to the main event, while visiting the nearby Dan Panorama Tel Aviv, Netta, 25, from Hod Hasharon, performed the song live to an energetic 20-000 strong audience in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square at the Israel Calling event, which welcomed representatives of some of the other countries to the stage, many of them to Israel, for the first time.
Clearly, many had also practiced their Hebrew. Australia’s Jessica Mauboy opened with “Tel Aviv, ya habibi Tel Aviv,” San Marino and Moldova’s singers managed whole sentences, while Greece, Bulgaria and Norway sent video messages.

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The participants also spent time touring Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, planting trees in the President’s Forest in Tzora, outside Jerusalem and watching a flotilla of yachts parade past the Herzliya Marina, a short walk from then Dan Accadia Herzliya.

Founded in 1956, Eurovision is the longest running annual international TV song competition in the world, with global superstars Abba and Céline Dion launching successful worldwide careers after their wins for Sweden (1974) and Switzerland (1988).

Israeli song “Hallelujah”, performed by Gali Atari and Milk and Honey who took the first place in Eurovision Contest 1979.

Five years after making its debut in the competition in 1973, Israel was crowned Eurovision winners in 1978 when Yemenite Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta group of singers made history, winning with the song Abanibi, which became an all-time Israeli classic.
The following year, Israel won again! One of only four countries to win back to back contests.
Held at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, the legendary song Hallelujah, performed by Gali Atari and Milk and Honey, took top spot.
A further 20 years went by before transsexual Dana International also made history and dramatically won the 1998 song contest, which went down to the very last vote cast by Macedonia. Her huge techno-pop anthem Diva was a dancefloor classic across Europe.

Dana International is making a history and winning the contest on 1998.

While the format has changed, and the number of countries expanded over the years, the excitement has provided a welcome break from the tension of global politics as countries catapult singers onto the European stage to perform catchy ballads and dance tracks in often the most outrageous and eye-popping costumes.

Returning home following the win, the charming and talented overall competition winner, Netta Barzilai performed to an ecstatic Kikar Rabin in Tel Aviv.

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An estimated 200 million people around the world watched the event live on television. Many in Israel packed out pubs and bars on Ibn Gvirol, Allenby and Ben Yehuda streets, all a short hop from the Dan Tel Aviv and the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv, both hotels capturing the spirit of the event and providing luxurious welcomes to many Eurovision stars of years, present and past.

Next year in Jerusalem, indeed.

Promo event “Israel Calling” 2018 at Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square- The City Hall building “Flagged” with lights.

A Spectacular Night Experience at King David Hotel, Jerusalem

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As Israel prepares to welcome Prince William in the first official visit by a member of the British Royal Family, tourists and locals can enjoy the atmosphere and get into the royal spirit right now at Jerusalem’s iconic landmark, the Tower of David, in the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City.

Tower of David by day

No historical person more connected to Jerusalem than King David
Launched on April 1, the spectacular King David night experience is a show of breathtaking originality and dazzling innovation, charting the journey from shepherd-to-king of the globally recognised David. “There is no historical person more connected to Jerusalem than the biblical figure of King David,” added Eilat Lieber, Director of the Tower of David Museum. An inspiration for the world’s most famous artists, great painters and sculptors for centuries, David is significant in Judaism as the father of the Davidic dynasty, an instrumental figure in Christianity and one of the ancient prophets in Islam.

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This dramatic and novel cinematic experience combines the newest technology in one of the oldest locations in the city to bring to life the majestic and engaging story of David, from shepherd-to-king. Beamed onto the walls and excavations of this ancient citadel, this is close an event to time travel as you will get without the DeLorean car in Back to the Future or Dr Who’s TARDIS. The result draws in the young and fascinates the old in one of the most memorable attractions in the city, under the stars of the Jerusalem night sky.

Tower of David Night Spectacular

The city’s growth in creativity
Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat explained: “we are constantly developing innovative urban models to advance the city’s growth in creativity and the arts.” And this was certainly innovative. The show is screened using a sophisticated computer system installed the throughout the courtyard and utilizes
18 Lumen Single Chip M-Vision laser projectors, 20 speakers and 10 kilometers of cable to broadcast a technicolor experience of 250,000 lumens and 35 million pixels.

Tower of David Night Spectacular

Using advanced laser technology, these projectors, provided by Manchester-based Digital Projection, have an operational life of 20,000 hours, up to 40 times longer than traditional projection lamps. The Tower of David will have to change the whole system before it needs to change a lightbulb by 2028!

With a hardware investment of close to $750,000, this national heritage and archaeological site still had to overcome the lack of visual documents to tell the story and tapped into the many artistic interpretations from well-known artists such as Chagall, Rembrandt, Matisse and Caravaggio – as well as Jewish and Christian medieval illuminations and Ethiopian representations.

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On arrival to the citadel, take a short tour through the pathways of the Tower of David, which have witnessed war and peace, destruction and rebuilding. Enjoy the show set against the backdrop of the archaeological findings that bear witness to the history of Jerusalem – from the walls of the Crusaders 13th century to the remains of the Herod’s guard rooms from 2,000 years ago.

Take advantage of this new King David show to visit the Tower’s museum during the daytime and take in the history inside the citadel’s walls before climbing a short staircase to take in a 360-degree panoramic view of Jerusalem, with the view of the Old City, the King David Hotel, the flagship of the four Dan Hotels in Jerusalem – Dan Boutique, Dan Panorama Jerusalem and the Dan Jerusalem, close to the Tower of David. From the top of the Tower ,you can also see the Judean Desert and Mount of Olives, where Prince William’s great-grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg is buried – at the Church of Mary Magdalene – after rescuing Jewish families during the Holocaust.

Statue of King David at City of David

While His Royal Highness may not relate to having been the young shepherd King David was in his formative years, maybe one day, we will see Prince William pixelated and beamed on the exteriors of Buckingham Palace. Maybe – Or maybe, he might just catch the show himself when he visits in the summer?

The King David Night Experience runs twice a night on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings.

70 and Proud – The Tourists Keep Coming

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“In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles,” said David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister. Six months after the UN partition plan, on May 14th, 1948, Ben-Gurion finally read out Israel’s Declaration of Independence at an old art museum in Tel Aviv, composed in just 32 minutes, before the Sabbath came in. Israel was born in just over half an hour – a miracle itself in a nation of highly vocal and passionate souls!

The King David hotel in 1948

This year, – from the evening of April 18th-until the evening of the 19th – Israel celebrates a continuation of that miracle – its 70th birthday. During that time, there have been unprecedented challenges to overcome, but also phenomenal achievements in a country no bigger than the U.S. state of New Jersey, and with fewer people!

These achievements span many industries and many decades but are particularly eye-catching in the country’s vibrant tourism sector. Last year, Israel welcomed more tourists than ever before: around 3.6 million, a jump of 25% on 2016. And the Dan Hotels – last year celebrating its very own 70th birthday – has been there every step of the way.

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Indeed, it is no surprise that tourists’ appetite for Israel remains undiminished. Whether you come for the glorious beaches, the unrivalled history, lively nightlife or spectacular parks and desert, Israel continues to defy stereotypes and dazzle visitors. While the U.S., Russia and France dominate the arrivals, the appeal is widespread. LATAM Airlines recently announced direct flights between Israel and Brazil to start from this December, while Air India has already begun to operate direct flights between Tel Aviv and Delhi from March.
A new route from Shanghai has helped lead to a 46% increase in Chinese tourism since 2016. These airlines join the raft of others flying to Ben-Gurion airport, with 18 new routes opening up during the past year alone, and 50 weekly flights to the southern resort city of Eilat. This boom in air travel owes much to the Open Skies agreement that Israel signed with the European Union in 2012, opening up the domestic market to international competition.

Fireworks on Independence day

And on Independence Day, or Yom Ha’atzmaut, the skies above Israel’s Mediterranean coastline are open again – to low-flying fighter jets displaying their flying skills, as the traditional annual flyover takes place and turns heads. In the north, watch the spectacle from the equally spectacular Dan Carmel or Dan Panorama Haifa, while as the planes head further south, go down early to the beach in front of the Dan Accadia in Herzliya, the Dan Tel Aviv or Dan Panorama Tel Aviv. These are among the perfect spots to marvel at the impressive display of tricks by Apache helicopters and F-16s as they fly over the country’s golden beaches. The flyover heads from the very top of the country to the southern tip, with resort city of Eilat really getting into the spirit, nowhere more so than the Dan Eilat, which entertains guests with an impressive firework display on its own private beach.

It is an oddly surreal experience to be in Israel at this time, moving from the solemn and reflective occasion that is Yom Hazikaron, or Remembrance Day (April 17th) straight into -Yom Ha’atzmaut. From remembering fallen soldiers and victims of terror to celebrating life. Join the locals on Yom Ha’atzmaut as they flock to the beaches, national parks, hiking trails and beauty spots for barbecues and picnics, while the streets are filled with flags, foam and inflatable blue and white hammers.

Streets are filled with flags on Yom Haazmaut

It was on one of the main thoroughfares – Rothschild Boulevard – where, on May 14th, 1948, the State of Israel was born. With a treasure trove of illuminating facts, Independence Hall has become an iconic feature in the history of the country. With its high windows, thick walls and emergency exits, it was here – in this former art museum – that on Friday May 14th in 1948, days before the British left, that Ben-Gurion took 17 minutes to read out the landmark document, Israel’s Declaration of Independence, to a crowded hall and to audiences listening on radios around the world. Close to Independence Hall, a pop-up 10-minute movie about that day will bring a black and white past into a colorful present.

In the country’s 70th year, Independence Hall is earmarked as the last of 10 designated historical spots that make up the new and interactive ‘Independence Trail,’ a permanent attraction launched on April 19th by the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality, the Ministry of Tourism and the Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Ministry, which together invested almost $2.9 million in this exciting project. Starting at the site of the city’s first kiosk established in 1910- now unsurprisingly an espresso bar – the 1km trail engages you as it snakes through the iconic landmarks, linking you to the history of Tel Aviv and Israel from its earliest days.

David Ben-Gurion at Independence hall in Tel Aviv

Choose one of three types of tour – a self-guided tour via a mobile app or tablet; a classic guided tour; or an entertainment tour led by a guide in costume. In the self-guided tour, visitors receive an audio-visual explanation of what they are seeing, together with old photographs and archive footage. At night, the gold-colored trail will also be illuminated and can be followed via the mobile app. Tours will be in English and Hebrew with a map available in eight languages.

There are even more attractions planned for Tel Aviv shortly- including a Museum of Natural History, the Peres Center for Innovation, and a new museum founded by celebrity illusionist Uri Geller – as the city looks to pull in as many tourists as nearby Jerusalem.

Jerusalem celebrates Yom Ha’atzmaut in its own special way. Mount Herzl is the backdrop to a traditional annual ceremony when prominent Israelis, diaspora Jews and others take part in a televised ceremony involving performances, speeches, live bands and the lighting of 12 torches – symbolizing the 12 Tribes of Israel –to mark the occasion.

The same evening, on April 18th, there are festive prayers at the Western Wall, the Tower of David hosts a variety of live musical and theatrical performances, while street parties electrify Jaffa and Ben Yehuda streets. DJ booths keep revelers partying all night long at the must-see Machane Yehuda market, Israeli rock and groove artists perform in the city’s public spaces, and bands, such as Balkan Beat Box, will perform night concerts at Independence Park, remembering to visit the King David Jerusalem or Dan Panorama Jerusalem for stunning views of the fireworks dancing in the chilly skies above the Old City later that night.

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As dawn breaks, enjoy a special champagne breakfast in the morning, for example at the Dan Boutique Jerusalem, before heading out to enjoy the day and join the locals gathering in Teddy Park or at the Israel Museum, where local dance troupes put on traditional folk dancing to entertain the public. While Ben Gurion House in Tel Aviv offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of Israel’s first Prime Minister, you can also enjoy a free visit, on April 19th, of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, and learn about the life journey of the influential Menachem Begin, the sixth Prime Minister of Israel.

Independence hall Tel Aviv

Today, with four-fifths of all tourists not Jewish and two-fifths of guests visiting the country again, Israel has become a beacon for leisure and business travel from all over the world: for those seeking to learn, those seeking to appreciate and those seeking to enjoy what this small and diverse country has to offer. What better time to come than Yom Ha’atzmaut? And for that, they can be grateful to the leaders and pioneers that came before them. Aren’t you curious too?

Best of the Blues Music Across Israel

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“Blues is hard to play but easy to feel,” claimed music legend Jimi Hendrix. It is hard to imagine, yet also easy to see why blues music has started to come of age in Israel. Typically, when you think of the blues, you might think of Muddy Waters or Etta James or the music’s 19th century origins in the plantations around the Mississippi Delta. Possibly not a small country in the Middle East. However, with its themes of overcoming adversity and enjoying life, it is not all surprising that blues music has been enjoying a growing popularity in Israel.

Blues night at Akbar Pub

Veteran fans may recall when blues legend, the late B.B. King visited Israel in the 1970s but even as recently as two years ago renowned guitarist Buddy Guy received a rapturous welcome in Caesarea when he performed as part of the Tel Aviv Blues Festival. Celebrating its fifth anniversary last November, the festival showcases gifted performances by Israeli artists, including SOBO, a Jerusalem-based international rock and blues band that has helped fuel the growing Israeli blues scene. The warmth, honesty and magic of this festival continues to draw in thousands of visitors each year to attend live music and workshops in more than 20 locations around Tel Aviv and Jaffa.

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As venues hosting local talent have blossomed, the northern tip of the Tel Aviv promenade has become a go-to area. The hangars at the Tel Aviv Port transform into one of the city’s trendiest and liveliest nightlife scenes. The Black Coffee Blues Exchange (“Exchange”) can be seen at the Port every February, with the renowned Yaron Ben-Ami bringing the blues – from ragtime to Chicago, and Boogie to shuffle – to the public for more than 20 years. Another seasoned professional and Exchange regular is Dov Hammer, who has been playing the harmonica, singing and writing the blues for over 25 years.

Arte Glideria – Enjoy music while eating ice cream

You don’t need to wait for once a year, though, to experience the blues in Israel. The Port’s Hangar 13 is home to the cosy Shablul Jazz Club, where you can listen to relaxing and melodic sessions by bands, such as the Blues Generation, as the waves of the Mediterranean lap gently against the sea walls. If you wish to enjoy a luxurious cocktail, head down to the southern end of the promenade, in Jaffa, where the energetic and youthful Akbar pub hosts popular weekly blues nights amid the lively atmosphere of the Jaffa flea market. On the way, as you pass the Dan Tel Aviv, you’ll come across American pub Mike’s Place, also a popular choice for live blues music in the afternoons and evenings, while an evening stroll past the iconic Arte Glideria in Nachalat Binyamin allows you to enjoy live performances in the street outside, while tasting the store’s delicious ice creams. Around the corner, next to Carmel Market, is Beit Haamudim, another quieter and quirky venue to take a coffee and listen to some quality jazz and blues.

Lively atmosphere in heart of Jaffa, Akbar Pub

While the eclectic diversity of Tel Aviv may be an expected magnet for blues music, Jerusalem does not lag behind at all. In the Talpiot area of the city, its premier venue – Yellow Submarine – is a major hotspot for all live music aficionados, and one where blues fans can enjoy performances from local blues and jazz stars. Meanwhile, close to the King David Hotel and the Dan Panorama Jerusalem, the unique and old school restaurant and piano bar, Birman, is a vibrant cauldron of hot talent where musicians gather for impromptu jam sessions, and to polish their acts in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Enjoy a cocktail and bite to eat in this world of blues, funk and soul connoisseurs.

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From the hilly streets of Jerusalem to the steeper hills around Haifa, the timeless sounds of the blues know no limits. In the downtown area of this northern city, the warm neighborly Eli’s Pub is one of Haifa’s stalwarts on the live blues circuit. A short drive from the Dan Carmel Haifa and the Dan Panorama Haifa, the pub opens its doors to both entertaining jam sessions and live concerts, a beacon for Haifa’s budding musicians and their loyal fans.

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While blues is often associated with an older fanbase, the upcoming next generation of aspiring musicians are realizing and appreciating one of the oldest musical styles around. And, while once upon a time, the blues was largely imported to Israel by immigrants and travelers, today, Israel has blues both on its flag and increasingly in its soul.

“Blues is hard to play but easy to feel” Jimi Hendrix

Doing the Matzah Munch in Israel

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Passover and Easter are the only Jewish and Christian holidays that each year tend to move in sync, but these two spiritual and family-oriented holidays are about more than just bread and bunny rabbits. They are about liberty, freedom and being born again – and nowhere do we see this more than in Israel.

Many people think that the festival of Passover (or Pesach) is the one where Jewish people cannot eat bread for a long, arduous week – not an easy feat in the state of Israel – the land of the pita. However, Passover is about so much more than over-cleaning and constant cooking. One of the grandest – and longest – festivals in the Jewish calendar, Passover commemorates the journey from slavery to freedom for the Jewish people, around 3,500 years ago.

Reading the Haggadah at the Seder table

The story of the exodus from Egypt goes as follows: the Israelites left Egypt hurriedly, and the dough they had prepared had no time to rise, so they baked it into matzah, or unleavened bread. As such, one of the most important features of this festival includes abstaining from eating baked goods with flour, which rise. As such, matzah takes center stage during the Seder, the opening night’s ceremonial meal, when the story and songs of Passover are recited between courses, often until late into the night. Very late.

The Western Wall, Priestly Blessing every year

Lasting seven days and nights in Israel – between 30 March and 7 April (eight in the Diaspora) – Passover is one of the three pilgrimage festivals and a truly phenomenal experience in Jerusalem. Take a walk along the timeless cobbles of the awe-inspiring Old City, a short walk from the legendary King David Jerusalem, a landmark overlooking the ancient walls, minarets and domes. As you shuffle through the narrow alleyways of the Jewish Quarter, you will discover virtual escape rooms that take travelers back in time, guided tours of the museums and a mosaic tile project in the Cardo that takes you back to when this ancient shopping strip functioned as the local market. Afterwards, head for the Western Wall, a spiritually golden site at this time of year, when there is a fascinating priestly blessing in the morning of April 2.

The Seder Plate

At the Western Wall Plaza, witness the story of the Jewish people through a spectacular audiovisual show for the whole family. Marvel at the ancient and magical world that lies underneath, taking in a guided tour of the Western Wall Tunnels, an archive of secrets about civilization and its very beginnings. There can be no place that captivates and embodies more the miracle of being alive and freedom associated with Passover.
The madness of Mimouna.

Mimouna party. Don’t forget to taste a Mufleta..

At the end of Passover, before you return to eating bread full time, and travelling around the country, make sure you enjoy a Mimouna, a celebration by Moroccan Jews the day after Passover. Some of the best Mimouna parties, with tables full of cakes and breads, are in Tel Aviv. No matter what your roots are – Americans, Eastern Europeans, Asians or simply Moroccans who want madness – Mimouna belongs to everyone. Head down to the authentic Moroccan bar, Tangier on 7 April to continue the tradition!
Retrace Jesus’ Footsteps.

Christian Easter procession in Jerusalem

With Easter taking place during the same time, the hustle and bustle is all the more exciting, as large numbers of tourists make the holy trip to Jerusalem where the story of Easter takes place. Stretching from Holy Week until Easter Monday on April 2, Easter is arguably the most important festival in the Christian calendar, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, two days after he was crucified, on what became Good Friday.

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No Easter in the Holy Land is complete without exploring the shrine that is Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is a magnet for pilgrims from all around the world, who trace Jesus’ final footsteps and last moments. On Good Friday, March 30, the crucifixion is remembered in the morning in the Basilica of Christianity’s holiest site, followed by a procession on the Via Dolorosa with Franciscan Friars, huge celebrations and additional daily marches on Easter Sunday and Monday.

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While Jerusalem is certainly the place to be at Easter, there are many events in Jaffa, at the city’s largest Catholic and Protestant Churches. A nice stroll from the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv, visit St Peter’s Church, a Franciscan church built in 1654 and perched high overlooking the Mediterranean. There are Catholic services at St Anthony’s Church and a series of concerts and at the Immanuel Church, a Lutheran Church built over a century ago. Located high up on the slopes of Mount Carmel in Haifa is the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery. Like the nearby Dan Carmel Haifa, the monastery hosts Easter Vigil and Mass services and concerts as it casts a watchful eye onto the splendid Mediterranean.

Israel at this time of year – this is not a time to pass over.

Top Asian Restaurants in Israel

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Israel’s Taste for the Far East
In the Jewish calendar, this year is 5778. According to the Chinese calendar, this year – the Year of the Dog – is 4716. That means for 1,062 years, the Jews went without Chinese food.
For a long time, the only Asian food Israelis knew was Chinese, but in Israel today, all kinds of Asian restaurants—either regional or pan-Asian—are now serving up the delights of the Far East.
Here, we explore some of our favorite Tel Aviv restaurants serving up an abundance of sensational dishes.

Ze Sushi” Restaurant at Sarona Market in Tel Aviv

“Ze Sushi” Restaurant at Sarona Market Center in Tel Aviv

The enduring affair with Chinese food
Taking pole position for some time has been Chinese food – its popularity owing a lot to the new twist on familiar tastes: chicken and beef dishes, with cooked vegetables that can more easily comply with kosher food laws, a vital ingredient for observant Jews.
One of the city’s favorite hotspots is The Bun, close to the entrance of Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market. A specialist in steam buns, the freshly cooked sea bass with a helping of spicy noodles is a must!
Hong Kong Dim Sum is a popular and authentic Hong Kong experience offering a range of dim sum platters and soups packed with noodles, vegetables and a range of fresh dumplings. This institution on Ben Yehuda Street doesn’t leave you waiting long and will leave you licking your lips in satisfaction.
Further down the same street is Furama, whose sizeable portions and lively atmosphere make this a popular stopping point after a walk along the nearby beach. Don’t forget to try to succulent chicken dishes, the miso soups and the range of vegetarian options.
Both of these venues are a stone’s throw from the Dan Tel Aviv and Dan Panorama Tel Aviv, which welcome Chinese dignitaries, celebrities and tourists throughout the year, and offer specially tailored Chinese menus and breakfasts, for Chinese the growing number of Chinese guests now visiting Israel.

Directly from the Chinese Kitchen – The famous Dim Sum Platter

The gateway to Japanese cuisine
While the lofty reputation of Chinese food has remained steady, other cuisines have soared. Japanese sushi dishes have long moved beyond the status symbol of the 1990s to affordable chains and luxurious restaurants.

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Today, Tel Aviv is the gateway to Japanese food, with some of the best sushi restaurants around. Among them is Moon Sushi, a chic and elegant restaurant on Borgrashov Street that provides delightful and high-quality sushi from an extensive menu of innovative dishes. These include colorful maki dishes – sushi and raw vegetables, wrapped in seaweed – such as the blue elephant, spicy tuna and rainbow maki.
Located in the Basel area and Sarona Market, the popularity of Ze Sushi lies as much with its affordable menu and vibrant atmosphere as it does its variety of tasty combinations of sushi platters, ramen, bahns (dumplings) and noodles.
The high standards of service and quality of ingredients ensure that one of Tel Aviv’s oldest restaurants, Onami is always worth a visit. A modern and sophisticated vibe and excellent presentation make this flagship restaurant on Ha’Arbaa Street one of the destinations of choice for sumptuous fish dishes, Japanese drinks and cocktails.
The endless menu of Ya-Pan, a historic bistro on Nachmani Street, brings Japanese street food to life, with firm favorites classical katsu curry and tempura, a dish – popularized by Japan – comprising vegetables or seafood that have been battered and deep fried.

The Japanese Sushi in different forms and flavors

Thai red and green Curries find home in the White City
If your backpack and taste buds have set foot in Thailand, then authentic hot and spicy Thai curries stay with you long after the trip. In Tel Aviv, there has been a rising number of superb Thai restaurants that bring back the heat.
The place to go for many years has been the Thai House, which has mastered the Thai menu, setting a gold standard. Situated on Ben Yehuda/Borgrashov Street, this well-known institution offers a menu that allows you to enjoy mild curries or crank up the spices. Their range of excellent green curries – including with eggplant – are a must, as is the tapioca and papaya desserts.
Competing for top spot is also Nam, much loved for its fantastic pad Thai or green and red curry dishes, topped with eye-watering spices. Despite sounding Vietnamese, this Thai restaurant on Dizengoff Street also offers a range of superb noodle dishes, all at reasonable prices that don’t break the bank.
For a lively atmosphere and terrific bites, head over to Kab Kem, Thai House’s little sister. Steaming Thai food and exotic cocktails with a punch will ensure you leave with a smile on your face and a twinkle in your eye.

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Oodles of Noodles – the love of Vietnamese
While it may be newer to the Tel Aviv culinary scene, Israel has well and truly said Good Morning Vietnam to that county’s phenomenally tasty cuisine.
Vong Vietnamese Kitchen serves up an intriguing range of noodles in charming and lively spot on Rothschild Street. An addictive menu offers must-sample spring rolls, wonderful fish soup and an exquisite papaya salad.
Close by on Lilienblum Street is Hanoi, a chilled venue for authentic and affordable Vietnamese dishes. Popular with tourists and locals alike, the choices are impressive and include the must-try Bahn Mi, the traditional Vietnamese sandwich, and the splendid vegan pho soup.
Centrally located in Rabin Square is Cà Phê Hanoi, a new player in town. Its creative menu packed with local spices and fresh ingredients contains specialities such as Vietnamese spring rolls, steamed fish in banana leaves, salivating chicken with ginger and lemongrass, and is one of our favorite kosher Asian venues.

The exciting taste of fusion
If selecting a particular country for dining proves too challenging, there are many fusion-style restaurants with exciting menus and splendid atmospheres. While Giraffe may have been one of the pioneering pan-Asian restaurants when it opened its doors in the mid-90s, many others have sprung up.
The delightfully named Topolopompo, on HaSoleilim Street, is unquestionably one of the best in town. A diverse choice of exquisite dishes includes culinary masterpieces for both conservative and adventurous diners, with sublime salmon dishes and fresh spring rolls among an endless menu, while the commitment to service and superb décor provide the backdrop to a thoroughly enjoyable meal.
Taizu takes in the personal culinary journey of Chef Yuval Ben Neriah and explores local street food from India, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Located on Menakhem Begin Street, the restaurant pays close attention to the textures, colors and spices of the dishes served.

Spices, Scents, Colors and Textures from the Far East

Israelis’ love of travel across the Far East has transformed the culinary landscape and turned Tel Aviv into one of the world’s foremost culinary melting pots.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! Purim Comes to Town

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Choosing your outfit, makeup and working out where the best parties are.
Often, these questions are associated with the Oscars, but these perennial dilemmas are on the minds of children and their parents as the enchanting festival of Purim comes to towns and cities across Israel…

Often compared to Halloween, the story of Purim is set a little over 2,300 years ago and told in the Biblical Book of Esther. It celebrates the survival of the Jewish people after a plot to eradicate them by Haman, the wicked Prime Minister of then Persian King Ahasuerus. Haman had the Jewish people draw lots, or pur in Hebrew, to decide the day of their annihilation. In a story filled with heroes and heroines, twists and turns, the plot was discovered, Haman was hanged, and the genocide was eventually averted.

A little girl prepares for Purim

As a result, this day of salvation became a day of rejoicing and feasting and is embraced across Israel. Streets up and down the country burst into life, color and spray paint, as youngsters and grown-ups pose for selfies, wearing the weirdest, craziest and scariest costumes, reflecting the disguised involvement of God in the miracle of Purim. Many exchange mishloach manot, or gifts of food and wine, and everyone munches on the treats that are hamenstaschen – small triangular pastries, believed to symbolize Haman’s ears, and made with different fillings, including poppy seed, chocolate, jam and cherry.

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Nowhere does the magical time-old tale give you goosebumps more than in Jerusalem. Within reach of the four Dan Hotels in Jerusalem, you can attend the main event – in the city’s Safra Square – on 2 March, just outside the captivating Old City. Here, the streets spill over with entertainment for all the family, from circus acts and costume competitions to live shows and arts and crafts workshops. You can marvel at the sheer diversity of costumes on display at the traditional Nachlaot Street Party, which takes place in this artsy neighborhood, west of the Downtown Triangle.

Megillat Esther – The story behind Purim

If you are looking for diversity in music, the more hardcore party animals make their way to nearby Sacher Park for an all-day cacophony of beats, from drum and bass to electro-Arab beats. Many of the city’s museums also get in on the act, offering quieter, family-friendly events. Join in the Purim treasure hunt and “hide and seek” in the ancient citadel that is the Tower of David Museum. The Israel Museum is honoring Purim with the unveiling a 3,000-year-old Phoenician mold created for the mass production of masks, while Bloomfield Science Museum combines science and magic to offer children a series of workshops to create their own Purim masks, with their own hands.

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Some of the scariest and most inventive costumes can be seen over in Tel Aviv, and one of our favorite events for visitors is the Tel Aviv Purim Zombie Walk. This wonderful experience encourages participants of all ages to find their inner zombie and walk through the streets of Tel Aviv, doing their best to terrify locals. The Zombie invasion begins on the evening of 3 March, close to the Dizengoff Center, a hop, skip and a terrifying leap from a more luxurious and restful stay at the Dan Tel Aviv.

People celebrate Purim with costumes on the streets of Tel Aviv

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The energetic and festive atmosphere is the backdrop to countless street parties, among them the annual, and free, Tel Aviv Purim Street Party, a lively event in north Tel Aviv’s Kikar Medina area, and one featuring performances from leading musicians, while the Street Party in the Yemenite Quarter runs until dawn, a short walk from the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv. With it considered a good deed to drink on Purim, there are many pubs, bars and nightclubs in which to indulge yourself – among them Joy Records Purim Tel Aviv brings together more than 1,000 partygoers for an epic annual costume party at the city’s Pascal venue, while the popular Kuli Alma nightclub hosts almost a week of live bands and grand celebrations.

It may not quite be Hollywood’s Oscars, but Purim would surely win “Best Festival of the Year.” Make sure you attend.

Hamantaschen- The traditional food of Purim