Caravan Inn

Often when we visit Jerusalem we make our way to Abu Gosh for some simple no-nonsense local food. By local food we mean, hummus, pita and all the yummy stuff on the menu that comes in between like kubbeh (a fried croquette made from a bulgur shell stuffed with minced beef or lamb), and siniya (a tehihi and ground meat casserole). Every Israeli has their favorite place to go for hummus etc. and ours (in Jerusalem) is Carvan Inn. Tom's father has been eating there since the 1960's and it has become family custom to meet there for dinner whenever some of us are in the neighborhood. They have delicious kebabs and stuffed vegetables and Turkish coffee and baklava are on the house.

Kubbeh

Grilled Pita with Zatar

Hummus and Kubbeh

Siniya

Meat Kebabs and Majadera (rice and lentils)

Caravan Inn
27 Derech Hashalom
Abu Gosh
Jerusalem
tel 02 5342744

The New Israel Museum

Here are some more photos from the new Israel Museum now open to the public. We warmly recommend, especially for the very contemporary curating.

The newly constructed Entrance Pavilion.

The Entrance Pavilion and Museum Shop.

The new hall of passage.

Some works we managed to capture at the Still/Moving exhibition. We snapped away (although it was forbidden). Works by Olafur Eliasson and Junya Ishigami.

Anish Kapoor @ The Israel Museum

We took a Saturday trip to Jerusalem to see the newly renovated Israel Museum and the newly commissioned site specific, Anish Kapoor sculpture, Turning The World Upside Down, Jerusalem. Its  made of polished stainless steel, stands 5 meters high and reflects an inverted image of the museum and the surrounding hills. More on our museum visit soon...

Breakfast for Lunch, Hamitbachon, Jerusalem

Hamitbachon (The Kitchenette), is one of our favorite local Jerusalem hangouts and a known meeting point for the poor architecture students of the adjacent Bezalel Academy. Assaf serves up a simple, no nonsense menu of hummus, shakshuka, soup and sandwiches, made daily in a little shack on Narcis street.

Breakfast includes hummus (made by Assaf every morning), eggs the way you like them, israeli salad and 'cafe botz'.

Hamitbachon

A little shack on Narcis St. (off of Shmuel Hanagid), Jerusalem

Opening Hours: 12pm-12am

Halva & Tehini

Halva and tehini are products made from sesame seeds and staples in the Israeli kitchen. At the market we went in search for these creamy delicacies and found them...
We left Jerusalem with a doggy bag filled with goodies.
Lately we've been experimenting with tehina in our kitchen, exploring new recipes and eating it for breakfast with toast and homemade jam. For years we've been loyal to Techina Gamal, often traveling to Jerusalem to refill our supply but while at the market we decided to try something new.

Poppyseed Halva & Oat Halva

The BEST TEHINI we have ever had! We'll need to go back soon for a refill.

Fruit leather.

Mamlechet Hahalve
10 Etz Hachaim street, Machane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem
cell 054 7936895

Mizrachi Cafe

While at the market we stopped off for lunch at an old Jerusalem favorite...  Mizrachi: the perennial student hangout/uber-Jerusalem scene. Here basta (market stall) owners sit side by side the B+B (Bakah boheme). You can order a cafe botz, "mud coffee", though we prefer their excellent cappuccino. They also offer daily baked goods and a menu of salads, sandwiches and soups.

Mizrahi
12 Shazif street, Machaneh Yehuda Market, Jerusalem
tel 02 6242105

Mushroom tortellini in butter and sage.

Feta ravioli with greens, pear and parmesan.

Coffee and cake: this is the place with the best coffee in Jerusalem, hands down.

Spices in the market

We lingered around the market on the lookout for spices and dropped by Avraham Yechezkel's stall. We walked away with oats which we later made into porridge.

Avraham Yechezkel: coffee, spices and grains

Etz Hachaim street 32, Machane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem

tel 02 6252675

Coffee beans & cinnamon sticks

Candied ginger and sun-dried tomatoes

 Tea

Spices

How we buy our cheese, Jerusalem

When in Jerusalem we never miss out on a trip to the produce market, Machane Yehuda. We also never miss the best cheese store in Israel, Basher Fromagerie, located in said market. They have a large selection of imported and Israeli cheeses and professional staff eager to advise. We never leave without some goodies...

Basher Fromagerie  
Etz Haim street, Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem
tel 02 6257969

Camembert

Grape jam & baguettes

 

More saint mor please.

A Trip to the Plant Nursery, Abu Gosh

On Saturday we took a day trip to visit some friends and used the opportunity to pick up some plants for our new apartment at the plant nursery Shtiley Har in Abu Gosh. They have a great array of plants for the indoor and outdoor and a knowledgeable and helpful staff.

Our Cart with a selection of plants and herbs soon to be in our new home.

Issawiya, A Jerusalem View from Mt. Scopus

What They Wore... Dark Blazers/Beige Bottoms, Jerusalem

What They Wore... Keffiyeh Cool, Jerusalem

Very cool with his glasses and leather sandals.

What They Wore... To Church

While visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we asked this elegant elderly gentleman if he would be so kind as to allow us to take a quick snap. He kindly obliged. We loved the way he casually sat on a wooden bench while throngs of tourists passed by. His Circassia-like hat, gold rimmed glasses, cane and rosary beads complimented his elegant suit.

Breakfast at Versavee Cafe, Old City of Jerusalem

We went for a late breakfast at Versavee Cafe situated right inside the Jaffa Gate at the Imperial Hotel. Even though the food was simple and tad mild (we ordered a Jerusalem breakfast of hummus, labane cheese and salad- nothing to write home about) it was good enough. The Arab coffee and atmosphere, genuinely 'Old Jerusalem', were just what we needed to start our day. We will return for coffee or an afternoon beer.

The Old City, Jerusalem

We spent our Saturday morning out with friends exploring the Old City.