Author Archives: Dan Magazine

ENJOY JERUSALEM

Jerusalem is establishing its’ status as a city of international tourism and offers a lively entertainment experience with a variety of cultural events, nightlife and a surprising culinary scene. Stay at one of the Dan Hotels in Jerusalem, and experience the ultimate vacation.

Jerusalem Holy City

Those who associate Jerusalem only as being a Holy City with a fascinating history, religions and resounding noise of prayer will be surprised to find out that something had happened to the capital in recent years. Beside all the familiar and recognizable symbols of the city, a new cultural and tourism experience has developed and been characterized by the rich variety of entertainment options the city now offers. These include a variety of cultural events, a lively nightlife and a surprising culinary scene, all happening here and now in Jerusalem. The unique character and diversity of Jerusalem has been chosen by the readers of the renowned tourism magazine “Travel + Leisure”, as one of the world’s best 10 cities alongside cities such as Rome, Barcelona, Bangkok, and others.

Those who have visited Jerusalem in the summer have discovered a city that lives and breathes from one festival to the next. The “Fes-tival of Light”, a dynamic display that combines illumination and music, the “Festival of Sound” in the ancient city, “Hutzot Hayotzer” Arts and Crafts Festival , these are just a few of the variety of events that rightly earned Jerusalem the title of “The Official Summer Revitalizer “. The Light Rail system quietly flows along Jaffa Street; however the street’s colorful atmosphere and ambience is thanks to the project “Yordim Me-Hapasim” which includes dozens of street artists, musicians and dancers that have made the experience of wandering in the city center an interactive and vibrant sensation.

The renowned “Umbrella” street project that has adorned streets around the world was also on display in Jerusalem. More than 1,000 col-orful umbrellas that hung over the heads of passersby decorated the historic pedestrian street Yoel Moshe Salomon.
When considering the tourism experiences Jerusalem has to offer, one must acknowledge, in a nutshell, the capital’s effervescent dining scene. The renowned “Machneyudah” (Mahane Yehuda) market is today, much more than just a market and is the home to market restau-rants and a range of leading trendy gourmet restaurants, bistros, bars and pubs that stay open until late where you can opt to spend an invigor-ating and vibrant night out. Here you can also find a range of choice hummus bars where you can savor a plate of hummus with steaming chickpeas and veteran bakeries with their mouthwatering aromas.

Meanwhile, at the Dan hotels. …
The variety of lively events and entertainment that Jerusalem has to offer are certainly a good enough reason to stay in town and enjoy the cultural richness and varied experiences that are unique to the capital city. This summer, Dan Hotel guests and especially e-Dan members were offered the opportunity to enjoy special events as part of the attractive accommodation packages available in each of the four hotels located in the capital – the King David Hotel, Dan Jerusalem, Dan Panorama and Dan Boutique.
“Hebrew Book Week” which took place in mid-June set the summer events in motion at the Dan hotels in Jerusalem with a “Book Week-end” that was held at the Dan Boutique Jerusalem. Book-lovers enjoyed an exceptional weekend experience meeting with writers accompanied by a musical performance, attending guided city tours and a tour in Mahane Yehuda market sampling the local fare.

The “Film Festival’, Israel’s most significant cinema event was held in Jerusalem during July. e-Dan members were invited to spend a mu-sical cinematic weekend in any of the capital’s Dan Hotels and enjoy a unique benefit , to attend the cinema showing of “The Godfather”, an outstanding event that took place at the Sultan’s Pool.

Guests at the Dan Panorama Jerusalem, comfortably located in close proximity to all the best sightseeing spots, enjoyed a weekend of melody, flavours and art, which included fascinating tours into the neighborhoods of Jerusalem that are shrouded in mysteries and secrets, a visit to the Islamic Museum where they saw a watch exhibition, and more.

Wine lovers, do not miss the annual Wine Festival held at the Israel Museum (17-21.8). The Dan Boutique prepared an exclusive “Wine, Culture and Culinary” package for guests that included two tickets to the festival and unlimited complimentary wine tasting of the finest wines offered by the participating wineries and a culinary tasting tour “Yalla Basta “ in the lively atmosphere of Mahane Yehuda market.

Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival (3-12.09), has earned an important place within the hearts of chamber music aficionados in Israel and this year offered participants an exciting and fascinating concert program. The King David and Dan Panorama hotel, that are located adja-cent to the YMCA concert hall, offered guests a gift of two tickets to a concert for each overnight stay at either of the two hotels.

Festival in Jerusalem

Hot Winter in Jerusalem
The upcoming season is set to be auspicious, and, according to all indications it’s going to be a “hot” winter in Jerusalem. The season’s events will commence with the “ Hamshushalayim Festival,” a Tourism and Culture Festival which continues for four weekends in December and offers visitors a chance to enjoy the hundreds of cultural events, concerts, dance and theatre performances until the wee hours alongside tourist attractions, tours and unique culinary experiences that the city offers.

The “Night Market” is a new tourist attraction that takes place every Thursday. The market opens in the afternoon and is made up of hundreds of art stalls that lead from the city center, along the Light Rail route in a cheerful and charming street theatre atmosphere accompanied by mime artists and music. Visitors are promised an exceptional shopping and entertainment experience that is famed in night markets across the world. According to the mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, “This is an additional stage in the process of turning Jerusalem into a vibrant city of culture and international tourism that helps turn a visit to the capital into a unique and magical entertainment experience.” “Jerusalem in Boots” takes place in March and closes the winter season events with a variety of cultural, culinary and entertainment happening for the whole family and many benefits for guests staying in the city’s hotels.

It is important to note that in addition to the main events, Jerusalem holds a variety of small cultural events that are just as enjoyable, and that offers an alternative young, sensational and innovative culture with a series of events held in unexpected places.

Found Jerusalem attractive? Check out our Hotels in the Holy City

The Famous Wineries of Israel

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The descendants of Sir Moses Montefiore established the Kerem Montefiore in Israel and a new winery that perpetuates Sir Moses love of wine and of Jerusalem.
A true mixture of historical roots and rich experience
in the wine industry.

Israeli Wineries

Sir Moses’ vision has without a doubt become a realization as today, a bottle of Israeli wine from the Kerem Montefiore Winery, founded by descendants of the British Montefiore, and, in commemoration of Sir Moses, can be enjoyed in British homes. Two wines from the Kerem Montefiore can be purchased in the Mayfair district of London at Hedonism which is classed as one of the world’s leading wine shops. And Hedonism is not alone as the wines are in top restaurants and hotels in Israel and 70% of the wines are sold abroad.

When the wines were launched in 2013, they relied mainly on the legacy of the philanthropist Montefiore and bottles were stamped with the family crest on a decorated label with the name “Jerusalem”. Although the Montefiore name intertwines with Israel’s history and past, there is a good chance that it will also have a part in the future of Israeli wines.

Sir Montefiore was born in Tuscany, lived in England and visited Israel on several occasions (his last visit was at the age of 91). At the age of 40 he took early retirement and decided to donate his time and energy to Judaism, charity and Israel. Montefiore’s vision was that Jews would work in agriculture, including planting vines and olive trees. Thus the earlier settlers of the late 19th century would be able to earn a de-cent living. There appears to be some credibility in his dream as Montefiore was a wine connoisseur who daily drank a bottle of wine and lived to the age of 101. He believed in his vision some 40 years before the founding of the modern wine industry by the Rothschild family.

The History of Wine in the Holy land

Sir Montefiore purchased land for agricultural use in Jaffa. This has since become known as the Montefiore Quarter of Tel Aviv. In Jerusa-lem he established the ‘Kerem Moshe Montefiore’ (Moses Montefiore’s vineyard), which later became known as ‘Mishkenot Sha’ananim’ and ‘Yemin Moshe’.

A Family history of thirty years in wine production
The continuity of the legacy of Sir Moses Montefiore continued when in 1989, one of his descendants, Adam Montefiore, together with his wife and children immigrated to Israel. Over the years Adam has devoted all his time and energy in the development and promotion of Israeli wine. He has been nicknamed the “Israeli Ambassador of Wine” and the “English voice of Israeli wine.”

Two of his children, David and Rachel Montefiore are founding partners of the new boutique winery which has rapidly become renowned and can be found in the menus of leading restaurants and hotels in Israel and sold in nine countries around the world.

They are the only Montefiore descendants of Sir Moses Montefiore who immigrated to Israel and have contributed to Israeli wine for 25 years. David Montefiore moved to Israel with his parents when he was six years old, served in the army and studied English literature at Tel Aviv University before entering the field of wine. He became a sommelier in some of the leading restaurants in Israel, worked for wineries in Australia and Spain and studied wines at the ‘WSET’ in London. He is currently in charge of wine culture at the Tabor Winery.

Rachel Montefiore was three years old at the time that her family made Aliyah. She served in the army and before she herself became enchanted by the wine industry, studied nutrition and Chinese medicine. Rachel enrolled in a course at the Wine Academy at Ramat Gan College and gained her experience whilst working at a wine shop and as a sommelier at a gourmet restaurant. She also gained experience in the marketing of Israeli wines. Today she is the winery’s marketing manager.

Arnon Geva is the founding partner and CEO. Arnon grew up in the “Yemin Moshe” neighborhood that overlooks the Montefiore Windmill in Jerusalem. Arnon was an initiator and partner of Castel Winery and held senior management positions in both the Carmel and Yatir wineries.

Sam Soroka is the winery’s winemaker and is considered one of the most senior and experienced winemakers in the country. He has been involved in winemaking in Australia, California, Canada, France and Israel. Together with the Montefiore siblings, Arnon Geva promoted the young winery with extraordinary speed, to its renowned position today. Their wines have already won impressive recognition.

Out with the Bombastic
The wines of Kerem Montefiore avoid the full bodied, bombastic style, preferring instead, wines with balance that are elegant, refreshing and blend excellently with food.
The Montefiore Red won a gold medal at the Eshkol Ha’Zahav Competition, and the white wine won a bronze medal in the same competition. The “Wine Enthusiast” gave Syrah a score of 90 points. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate described the Montefiore Kerem Moshe wine as a graceful and harmonious wine and the white wine as refreshing, balanced and suitable for summer.

Near the windmill at Mishkenot Sha’ananim (not far from the hotel), they are currently working on establishing a wine tasting centre. The first wines come from the 2010 vintage which were produced to commemorate and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Mishkenot Sha’ananim by Sir Moses Montefiore.

According to Arnon Geva, who serves as CEO, this Israeli winery’s historical roots connect the modern Jerusalem with the ancient. He adds that they produce the wines according to two leading principles; firstly the vineyards must be in close proximity to Jerusalem in order to preserve the legacy of Sir Montefiore, and secondly using a variety of grapes that are especially suited to the Israeli climate and agricultural conditions of the Judean Hills.

The wines produced by Kerem Montefiore are innovative blends like Montefiore White, (made from Colombard, Chardonnay and Semillon grapes) and Montefiore Red (a blend of Malbec, Shiraz and Petite Sirah). There are three reserve, oak aged varietal wines: Montefiore Cabernet Sauvignon, Montefiore Syrah and Montefiore Petite Sirah. Finally Montefiore Kerem Moshe the winery’s flagship wine, is handcrafted and produced in limited quantities from Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec grapes. Each variety is fermented separately before blended to make up the wine.

Additionally, and faithful to the teaching of Sir Montefiore in cultivating olives and producing olive oil, “Montefiore Vineyard “ produces extra virgin olive oil from Souri and Nabali olives grown in the ancient olive groves on the way to Jerusalem, where some of the trees are hundreds of years old.

The vision of the winery founders is explained on their website (http://www.montefiorewines.net/). They say that as benefactors of Moses Montefiore, they continue his agricultural vision. They produce wines from premium vineyards on the slopes of the Judean hills, where vines have grown since the biblical period, and by selecting a range of grape varieties which are particularly suitable to the Israeli and Mediterranean climate.
Sir Moses Montefiore would surely open a bottle to celebrate and to show his approval of the new winery…

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SUP – Israel`s Best Beach Attraction

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SUP – the new water sports trend is a surfboard with a paddling oar that ensures a surfing experience in even the calmest seas. A short lesson and you’re riding the wave…

Up until a few years ago the sea surfing sport was reserved for experienced surfers who always won looks of envy and / or admiration from those lying on the beach. The revolution was brought about by one surfboard which abbreviated name is SUP and full name – STAND UP PADDLE BOARD. This is a large surfboard (larger than a standard surfboard), but lightweight, large in volume with good buoyancy which guarantees stability and instant success. Surfing is done by standing up on the board and using a paddle, so some call it “the lifeguard tool of the new mil-lennium.” Anyone who gazes at the sea and dreams of surfing the SUP will definitely make your dream come true. Already after the first lesson you can enjoy surfing, even without prior experience or a spark for the sea, and the principle is simple: if you can stand – you can stand on a SUP.

Looking for a place to SUP in Israel? Check out Dan Accadia in Hertzliya – Its right on the beach

None of this would have happened if not for an initiative of a group of surfers from Hawaii, who developed the SUP surfboard. Inspired by an ancient surfing board that, in the past, served the Chief of the Polynesia Island, they took the board and added a contemporary touch thus creating this new trend and sweeping the field of water sports. All figures show that SUP surfing is considered as one of the world’s most popular sports and its popularity is growing at a fantastic rate. It goes without saying that SUP is considered to be one the best rehab sports and requires practice and control of balance not to mention endless fun whilst effectively burning up energy invested in oaring. SUP is great for body and soul and provides a perfect cardio work out along with training and development of muscles, improved posture, strengthening bones, coordina-tion and flexibility.

Dr. Itai Ziv, an expert in physical training explains: “during SUP paddling the body uses over 100 muscles including the pecs, shoulder, upper and lower back, triceps, leg muscles, abs and more.”

Success from coast to coast
The overwhelming success of the new board can be attributed primarily to the fact that almost anyone regardless of age, even if they have never set foot on a surfboard, can quickly stand on a SUP and paddle away. It’s not surprising to see women and families with children amongst the newcomers and enthusiasts of this water sport, who wish to enjoy a less extreme watersport whilst experiencing the freedom and tranquility of the sea.

Surf clubs the country were quick to catch on to the new trend. One of the clubs, named iSUP is managed by Michal M. who has many years of experience as a surfing instructor and competitor. “My first encounter with the SUP created an instant and inevitable connection; I came, I paddled, I fell in love,” says Michal, “For me paddling on a SUP isn’t just pleasure or a sport , it’s a lifestyle. Every day I am proud to help more and more people take their first steps on the SUP, which is the reason I started iSUP “.

The iSUP club conducts training activities in Tel Aviv and at Eilat’s Coral Beach, and offers SUP courses at different levels: a beginner course that teaches how to get on the board correctly, balance and correct paddling techniques, Paddling group that teaches rowing styles, preparation for the waves, strength exercises, balance and stability and a SUP surfing course for beginners and advanced surfers.

Thailand Cuisine at the Dan Hotels

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Dan Hotels launched a selection of Thai dishes to be included in the menu and enrich the cuisine offered at the chain’s hotels and restaurants

The attention that the Dan Hotel chain has invested in cuisine and its role as maybe the hospitality field’s most important ingredient, is boundless. “Thailand in Dan Hotels” is a project that was launched this summer, combines the scents of the Far East with a selection delectable and exotic Thai dishes that will now be integrated into the menu and served at the Dan Hotels &restaurants.

Haim Spiegel, Dan’s Food & Beverage Division Director, explains the concept’s background, “Thai cuisine has gained great popularity due to the eclipse of Chinese restaurants. We, at the Dan hotels, are more than happy to rise to the occasion and are delighted to offer our guests rich buffets and restaurant menus that include renowned tastes of the Far East. “

In order to learn the secrets of Thai cuisine at first hand, two of the chain’s senior chefs, Ofir Kedem from the Dan Eilat and Arik Porat from Dan Accadia, packed their bags in order to attend Le Cordon Bleu studies in Bangkok. The studies included professional tours of Thai hotels and restaurants.

The chefs eagerly shared the culinary knowledge they accumulated during their visit with the other Dan chefs, in a special training work-shop in which renowned Thai Chef Sawalee Eldar participated and contributed her own tips from her vast personal experience in Thai cuisine.
The launching ceremony was held at the Dan Accadia, attended by Raffi Sadeh, President of Dan Hotels, Israel’s Ambassador to Thailand Angsana Sihapitak, Dan management figures and other guests. The chefs demonstrated their performance and prepared a special dinner that included a selection of Thai cuisine served at stands designed in traditional Thai style.

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Thai cuisine lovers can now enjoy their favourite dishes at the Dan hotels & restaurants whose menus include a selection of classic dishes of this unique cuisine, including banana Lotti, Som Tam (papaya salad), Tom Yam soup, Thai cucumber salad, and more.

Preparing for the New Year

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With Rosh Hashannah fast approaching, we thought we’d share with you some ideas for ensuring of a sweet new year. Instead of the humdrum honey cake recipes, see what’s cooking at the Dan Gourmet cooking school:

Honeymoon

Cream of almonds, cider mascarpone cream, apple and cider jelly, topped with whipped caramel spaghetti

Ingredients for the Base:

500 g flour

300 g soft butter at room temperature

120 g eggs (4 large eggs)

60 g ground almonds

190 g Icing sugar

Half a stick of vanilla (broken into chips)

Few pinches of salt

Preparation:

Mix butter and Icing sugar until smooth.
Add the ground almonds and stir, add vanilla stick chips, salt and eggs, and stir.
Add flour and stir until well mixed.
Place the dough (wrapped in nylon) in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Roll out the dough to 2 mm thickness, place in ring and bake blind. (It’s best to place in the freezer before baking.)

For Mascarpone Cream and Cider

250 g cider, reduce to 180 cubic cm

For cider anglaise:

280 g sweet cream 38%

180 g reduced cider

80 g yolk (4 or 5 yolks)

4 g gelatin + 20 g water

250 g cider anglaise

165 g mascarpone cheese

Preparation:

Prepare the cider anglaise the day before it is needed, and place in fridge.
The next day, whip the cider anglaise and mascarpone cheese, and roll into balls up to 2/3cm height.

For Apple and Cider Jelly

5 g gelatin + 25 g water

200 g apple juice

25 g sugar

Tablespoon of cubed apples

Stir gelatin and water and set aside.

Heat apple juice and sugar; put gelatin in the hot liquid, and stir until well mixed.
Pour into silicon baking dish, put apple cubes into the mixture, and freeze.

Whipped Caramel Spaghetti

240 g brown sugar

810g sweet cream – Heat in pot

8 grams gelatin + 40 g water

Preparation:

Put water and gelatin in bowl, mix, and set aside until needed

Cook sugar in pot until caramelized.

Gradually add the hot cream and stir.

Add the gelatin, stir, and place in refrigerator (preferably all night).

Before using, lightly whip into apple cream.

Put in Ziploc bag with strands of spaghetti.

For decoration

Meringue kisses

Dried apple pieces

We hope this will bring a great wow factor for your guests around your dinner table and wish you all a very sweet, happy and healthy New Year.

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Exploring the Bauhaus White City

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Tel Aviv is a vibrant and multicultural hub where a fantastic mixture of local tradition and modern Israel resides. The city is stretched along the beautiful beaches of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, with a broad winding coastal promenade connecting the ancient city of Jaffa (Yafo) in the south, to the port in the north. As well as home to a distinctive café culture, Tel Aviv has more appetite-wetting Italian restaurants, sushi bars, and ice cream parlors than anyone could hope to visit in a year. It is also a city full of surprises, as I found out on my latest trip there.

I had visited Tel Aviv before and spent most of my time laying on the beaches in the day and drinking in the bars at night. It’s hard to resist the urge to relax when you are in Tel Aviv; but coming back to the city for a second time I wanted to do a bit more exploring – to discover something that was unique to Tel Aviv. I asked a local friend for some ideas, and she was quick in suggesting we go for a stroll around the Bauhaus White City, offering her services as a guide. I had to ask: what is it exactly?

The Bauhaus was a design school which originated in Germany in 1919, with an ethos of integrating art, whereby all forms, including architecture, would be brought together. It sought to unify the traditional with the industrial, crafts with fine art, and to house it all in modernist architecture. The Bauhaus, or the ‘School of Building’, existed in its homeland until 1933, when the Nazi regime denounced the movement for its foreign influences of ‘cosmopolitan modernism.’

Many of the artists subsequently fled from, or were exiled by, the Nazi regime. One result of this was an influx of German-Jewish architects to the British Mandate of Palestine. Thousands of Bauhaus style buildings were subsequently built all over the world, including many in Haifa and Jerusalem; but the collection of over 4,000 in Tel Aviv – the White City – is the largest concentration in any city of the world. It is in large part thanks to this architectural treasure that Tel Aviv was designated a UN (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in 2003.

Setting off in the afternoon on foot, my friend and I began our journey from Ben Gurion Street, and spent the rest of the day strolling through the White City. Located in the center of Tel Aviv, it encompasses much of the cities bars, restaurants, shops, and cafés, and some of its prettiest streets, with broad walkways that split the road down the middle, lined on either side by trees that benevolently shade pedestrians and cyclists.

The first thing that struck me about the Bauhaus collection was that while they are part of a body of work, a homogenous ideal; viewed separately, the organic roundness and asymmetry create infinite individual impressions.

Found Tel Aviv interesting? Check out Dan Tel Aviv – Hotel by the beach

The common features of the Bauhaus buildings become quite distinct once someone points them out to you. They are designed with the Mediterranean climate in mind: white and light colors reflect the sun’s rays; small windows limit exposure to the sun and its glare; long narrow balconies shade the neighboring balcony below, and flat roofs provide residential common areas.

Yet the buildings maintain enough individuality to make a tour rewarding. For example, the fascinating play of light and shadow created by the balconies, and emphasized by the white stone, find new expressions on every building.

Another thing that struck me is how the buildings seem to meander effortlessly with the contours of the streets. The rounded edges of the buildings hug the sidewalks, making the most out of the space they have, and create an organic feel to the layout of Tel Aviv. As my friend and I made our way through the White City, each street offered a new impression, a new surprise.

After a few hours my legs let me know they refused to take part in any more walking, so we sat down for a rest in one of the coffee shops scattered along Rothschild Boulevard. In the cool of the late afternoon I thought about how the architecture of the White City seems to define Tel Aviv. The visual splendor of the White City, and its grandness, is something unique to Tel Aviv that separates it from any other cultural capital in the world.

The story of Tel Aviv and the Bauhaus movement marks one of those chapters in history in which two separate ideas converged at the perfect time. As the Zionist movement was building a home in what would become Israel, the Bauhaus was a school without a home; Tel Aviv was the canvas upon which the movement created its greatest work. When viewed like this there is a special, almost magical, significance to the White City.

The Bauhaus Center in Tel Aviv organizes regular tours of the White City; or if prefer exploring it yourself it is easily done. Whether or not you have a passion for architecture I highly recommend you take an afternoon to explore this amazing collection of Bauhaus buildings; it is another one of Tel Aviv’s surprises that I was lucky enough to discover, and a part of the city that should not be missed.

Photo Chef

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Dan Gourmet hosted a unique exhibition of photographs
of dishes prepared and photographed by Israel’s leading chefs.

Photography culture that has captured our lives thanks to smartphones has also had a great impact in cuisine, which has also gained a distinguishing notch on Facebook and Instagram.
Any self-respecting chef feels obliged to take a snap shot of their exquisite dish and upload it to social networks, just before the first bite…

The project was initiated by cuisine photographer Assaf Ronen for the ten year anniversary celebration of his studio. Ronen gathered together 12 of Israel’s leading chefs and gave them a short course in food photography using simple camera and daylight. “Today food culture is a vibrant buzz on all social networks and I thought how I can help promote it?” says Ronen. He explains that the motivation for the project he initiated is the idea to teach chefs and assist them in bringing the art of creating dishes to interesting and stimulating visual images.”

Each of the chefs who took part in the project
– including Meir Adoni, Mickey Shemo, Assaf Granit,
Tzachi Buchester and Shaily Lipa – chose to photograph their favorite dish. The photographs were shown in a special exhibition at the Dan Gourmet, High Culinary
Arts Institute. For Dan Gourmet, as an institution which has changed the culture of culinary studies in Israel and prepares the next generation of chefs in Israel, it was only natural that the exhibition be held at Dan Gourmet who saw fit to provide a platform for this original and interesting exhibition called Focus on Israel culinary.

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The chefs, who learned the secrets of food photography, certainly felt that they benefited from the project:
“It was intriguing to see the process through the eye of
a photographer and learn how to do it,” said Eyal Lavi. Tzachi Buchester confessed, “Lately my photography is not as good as before, and Ronen gave me some small tips to promote that in a way that the shots came out sexier.”

“Leket Israel” also benefited from the project as the photos were placed on sale and the revenue was donated to the organization which collects food for the needy.
Ronen concluded: “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to contribute to the world of culinary photography, and at the same time donate to “Leket Israel” who I think do incredibly important charity work”

Work Out Wherever

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TRX straps were originally designed to train US commandos have become a popular fitness instrument that can be used almost anywhere, even during vacation

In 1997, a commando unit team commander in the US Navy came up with a creative idea to use old parachute straps to perform exercises with body weight. He tied the main strap to a door and held the other two straps in his hands. Using them he improvised diverse exercises that worked on muscle groups that usually aren’t worked on. Today, almost 20 years after having conceived the idea, anyone can now use these special straps to start building muscles and burn calories.
The TRX training system that has been implemented in Israel in recent years, promises an intense workout of all body muscles, even those you weren’t aware that you have.
The outcome being that you achieve quick results in a short time.
The TRX training method is carried out by using a 2.5 meter non-elastic strap that weighs approximately 810 grams and splits into two. The strap is tied to a pole, wood structure or any other stable element in a high position and holding the free ends. Most training sessions are conducted in small groups of 4-6 together with a training instructor in the gym or in the open air.

How it Works

This is a method that includes more than 500 different exercises enabling a workout which results in the sculpting and shaping of a variety of muscles groups that include abdominal, lateral, pelvic, biceps, chest and more. Due to these advantages, TRX has many great enthusiasts, especially advanced professional trainers who enjoy an intense workout in a short amount of time. Beyond the challenge and diversity of the exercises, many are drawn to this simple method that allows you to practice and work out anywhere.

Another unique advantage is the possibility to adjust the level of difficulty according to fitness level. The degrees of difficulty are easy to adjust by changing the angle of training or increasing the pace. Proper use of body weight during training can increase the challenge or make it easier.

The TRX also allows for a change in resistance levels by extending or shortening the straps, changing position, adjusting foot placement or hanging angle that is a quick and simple task.

A Variety of Exercises

The strap handles can be used on hands or feet allowing a variety of pulling, pushing and tilting exercises. The straps can also be used for performing a variety of arm exercises.

Another advantage is the ability to combine the two handles safely into one that immediately affects each exercise, by creating a rotational effort on the body and bringing into use a variety of muscles that are not commonly used.

“The best and most effective exercises that can be performed with TRX straps are the pulling exercises that work upper torso muscle groups,” says Ofer Kis from the fitness gym GREAT SHAPE, “These muscles usually show degeneration due to poor sitting posture. The leg muscle exercises (squats with support) require a better control technique, but are excellent and particularly useful to those suffering from knee problems and contribute to burning calories more than any other exercise. “

Keeping Fit even on Vacation

The biggest benefit of TRX training is availability – you can take the straps anywhere and practice. Serious trainees that are planning a vacation need not worry as the TRX straps easily fit into your suitcase enabling you to continue your exercise routine rather than settle for push-ups or relatively limited exercises on the hotel room floor. With the aid of a simple adapter the straps can be easily mounted on the door providing a strong and effective training session. Importantly, TRX requires practicing basic skills, so it is recommended initially to have the presence of a qualified training instructor, stick to safety rules and focus on sets of exercises that match the trainee’s physical abilities.

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