Something a little bit different. With all the talk on this blog of theology, politics and conflict in the Middle East it's easy to forget how vibrant the region's culture is. Israel is particularly cosmopolitan, where Jews from across the world, together with their distinctive food, music, fashion and general outlook on life, live. It is also, of course, home to over 1.5 million Arabs, which has had a major impact on Israeli culture. During Ottoman times the Turks also had considerable influence upon the region's culture. The result is food in Israel which has a strong Arabic-Middle East flavour so alien to what many Westerners are used to.
David Williams, one of my students who once attended a King's B.Th. field trip to Israel, just sent me a link to a food blog of a chef who has visited Israel. The description of his experience at an Arabic restaurant in Jaffa, together with the pictures, made David's mouth water (both of us were always on the look-out for a new food experience during that trip). Seeing the pictures made my mouth water too. The food here is great, and really healthy. My wife can't wait to go back to Israel (she visited for the first time last November and we plan to return this November), and I'm quite sure we'll be visiting this Jaffa restaurant.
So for those of you who know the Middle East, and the rest of you who are missing out and should, visit David Lebovitz' blog of his time in Jaffa. Well worth it. Thanks, David, for the link. Readers are invited to add their own Middle East foodie links below.
1 comment:
If you like ME food, can I strongly suggest next time you're in London, you go to Ottolenghi (which is run by an Israeli, but has food from all over) and Moro, which is Spanish-ME fusion. Moro better in my view, but both excellent,
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