I’m back from the motherland – the beautiful, complex country of Israel! I was there this past week for 10 days on a Taglit Birthright Trip getting my Jew on. I was carted around the Jersey-sized country, to Tel Aviv, to Jerusalem, to the Golan Heights and to the Negev Desert in a big ol’ tour bus with 39 other Jews. I don’t doubt we barely scratched the surface of Israeli exploration, but I really felt like I experienced a lot of the country…And most importantly, I can say I ate my weight in hummus and shwarma on this trip.
I had high expectations for the food there, and save for a few janky Kibbutz meals, I was seriously impressed. My three highlights were Shakshuka, Ahi Tuna Fish ‘n’ Chips, and of course, ze Shwarma. Seriously, I freaking love shwarma. While there is no way I’d ever attempt making it, I can’t wait to attempt the Shakshuka and Tuna Fish ‘n’ Chips!
Photo credit shout out to my amazing new friend Justin Drazin, author of the Pillow Monster Series. (He took the pretty pictures, I took the food pictures.)
Shakshuska
Eggs baked in a scrumptious tomato, onion, pepper, herb mixture served with side salads and crusty bread.
Kosher Ahi Tuna Fish ‘n’ Chips with Curry Mayo
Only the most brilliant riff on fish ‘n’ chips ever in the history of man.
Shwarma
Just…yea. Mmmm. Mmm. Mm!
Some other amazing images from our adventures:
Inside a water cistern at Masada
The Kotel at Dusk
Syrian farmland, view from Golan Heights
I want them all
Grapes almost ready for harvest
Shalom, Tel Aviv!
In case there was any doubt…I’m definitely a Jew!!