Mizlala

Some pictures from a delicious meal at Mizlala, chef Meir Adoni's second restaurant in Tel Aviv that opened two months ago. The food was not only a feast for the eyes - elaborate, unique, and colorful - but a joy to taste and discuss. We couldn't get enough of the earl gray-infused martinis and steak and eggs dish.

Protest(s)

Have you guys been following the riots in London? Does it make anyone else nervous to think the Olympics are a year away and if the London police can't even control their own locals how are they prepared to handle the millions of people soon to invade the city? I met a guy traveling who was a paramedic in London and insisted on telling me his theories about a terrorist attack at the London games next summer. Talk about a morbid conversation! I just hope their police force can get their act together. Here's some photos of the riots if you're not familiar with what's been going on.

In other protest news, earlier this week over 250,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv for yet another demonstration against the rising housing prices. Have you seen photos of Rothschild? While I walk down the street almost every day on my way to work yesterday I finally brought my camera to document the madness. Aside from tents lining the streets, people have brought in couches, televisions, teepees (who has a teepee in Tel Aviv?), and set up mass kitchens and laundry facilities...in the middle of the boulevard! It's been growing for neither six weeks now with no signs of shutting down.

More Chummus

Who could not love Israel's "fast food"? Pita aside, it's chickpeas and fresh salads. Sigh. I'm gonna miss this!

Snack time!

Can someone please explain to me what this amazing goodiness is? You can find these pastry shops all over Tel Aviv, they're like beehive-shaped cinnamon spirals coated in honey and nuts. The smell is heavenly. Think if I brought one back to America for friends it would stay in tact in my suitcase?

Not a chance. 

"Plastic Spoon"

Interesting, depressing, thought-provoking, and sadly sold-out print by brand designer Max Temkin. Check out some of his other work here.

Brasserie Review

My second review for TasteTLV was posted on their site today! Check it out here.

Brasserie is one of four restaurants owned by a genius company, R2M, that has truly made a mark on the food scene in Tel Aviv. Their restaurants are praised by locals, and during my time here I've had the opportunity to eat at three of them, including Brasserie, which is the place to go for upscale food but at easy-on-the-wallet prices. I highly recommend the salmon belini (pictured above) and have heard great things about their hamburger, which I have yet to try. So next time you're in Tel Aviv and can't bare to eat another falafel ball, this place is where it's at.

Brasserie 70 Ibn Gvirol St; 03-696-7111

Puaa

Valerie and I ate at a Puaa cafe in Yafo last week. I'm on such an ice coffee kick these days, and we ordered the deep-fried cauliflower and an interesting salad with barley, walnuts, apples, celery, mint, garlic and a honey-date dressing. How odd do all those ingredients sound together? Which is precisely why we had to try it. So delicious and I'm so going to try to replicate it at home. Aside from the tantalizing menu, the atmosphere at Puaa is beyond delightful. Everything in the store from the chairs, tables, lamps, and pictures on the walls comes from the nearby flea market and is for sale. If only I had an apartment here to furnish. You never know, perhaps one day!

Puaa 3 Rabi Yochanan St, Yafo; 03/682-3821

Ramat Hanadiv

I am volunteering in Tel Aviv at a school for children who are first-generation Israelis, or whose parents aren't Israeli citizens, and last week we went on a tiyul up north to Ramat Hanadiv, which is the garden built in memory of Rothschild who was a huge supporter and did many great things for Israel. We went hiking, swimming, and saw a turtle! These photos don't do the kids justice as I didn't want to get my camera wet, but they are so cute and fun, and have their end of the year play this Wednesday! Rumor has it they've been practicing very diligently and I can't wait to see it.

Chummus

I just can't get enough.

I guess this was #1 on my bucket list. CHECK.

photo credit here.

Lilush Panini

A few weeks ago I began writing for a food website called TasteTLV and my first review is live on the site! It's on Lilush Panini, a delicious panini-salad-pasta cafe with amazing Sangria, friendly staff, and always packed with locals. TasteTLV was started by three American girls who made Aliyah and upon meeting realized they share an interest in food. So they started the website, with the motto "behind every dish there is a story", to share reviews of their favorite restaurants in Tel Aviv. I stumbled upon the site while Facebook stalking a few weeks ago and am so excited to be a part of the team! Go here for the review, and below are some photos that didn't get posted.

Lilush Panini 73 Frishman St; 03/529-1852

Summer Lovin'

Kind of in love with these signs on Sderot Ben Tsiyon. Also kind of in love with Tel Aviv at the moment. Perhaps it's all this sunshine?

Weather is here. Wish you were beautiful. 

Proud to be a NEW YORKER

If I was home I'd be guzzling champagne in the streets. 

Grad Speeches

I'm a huge sucker for graduation speeches. Something about the influential, eloquent words from people who've invented cool things or written jaw-dropping books or talk to me from a TV screen every day always leaves me feeling introspective.

Anyway, here's Conan at Dartmouth's 2011 graduation. It's raw and hilarious and 24 minutes long, but find time and watch it. Seriously. He doesn't disappoint.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I've been on the hunt for a cozy neighborhood bistro near my apartment in Tel Aviv since I moved in a few weeks ago. I live on King George Street not far from the Carmel Market (also known as the shuk), and anyone who is familiar with the area knows it's not so "neighborhoodie." So I was excited when this weekend my friend Rebecca told me about a cafe with a backyard garden called Sonya Getzel Shapira, which turns out is literally 50 feet from my apartment! I spent the day there writing, finishing off a plate of shakshuka, and feeding a little bird with my leftovers. Oh, and taking pictures in their retro bathroom.

How fun is the bathroom? Silver records contrast the black-and-white tiles. 

Can you 1. find me? and 2. find the toilet?

Sonya Getzel Shapira 1 Simta Alnomit; 077/527-1234