This post is going to be about food. Because well, the food is a definite high-light of this trip! Last night Josh and I went to a Hungarian blintz place. They had both sweet and savory blintzes. I was so enamored with this restaurant "Shoshanna & Uri's" that I snapped about 10 photos and transcribed everything we had off the menu. You could pick two different blintzes to be prepared on the same plate. They are about the size of burritos. Just for fun, here are the blintzes we had last night.
1. White salty cheese, baked in sour cream and kashkaval cheese
2. Baked eggplant mixed with garlic and white salty cheese baked in sour cream and kashkaval cheese
3. Spicy spinach, mixed with garlic and white salty cheese baked in sour cream and kashkaval cheese (josh's fav)
4. Mashed potatoes baked in an onion (sooo good) and sweet paprika sauce (tammy's fav)
It is a good thing I am walking around the city today. So much cheese!
Last night I played cards with two other folks we met at the hostel. One fella from South Africa who has been on holiday for 3 months (nice huh?), and a guy from Germany who is working on his master thesis in political science and making a documentary. We sat up, played cards and talked about everything from 9-11 to Israeli film makers. There was also another guy there who speaks Arabic and Hebrew and was taking an English lesson from the South African. He told me that my name means "date" (like the fruit).
Once again I have to mention just how sweet this hostel is. The area of town is a bit sketchy, but inside you feel like you are in a well worn, private, Mediterranean villa. Colorful walls that are slightly faded, pictures, maps, photos, paintings everywhere, large windows and balconies looking out on the busy flea market below and plants growing everywhere that seem to have just trailed in from the roof top balcony and settled in the kitchen and common areas.
But back to the food...
After stocking up on pastries to greet his co-workers with, I dropped josh off this morning at the airport to meet his tour. I then returned to the hostel for a nap. And, I'd like to take a moment here to say what a wonderful trip I've had with my brother. We haven't spent this much time together since we were kids and even though we still have our brother and sister moments, I've really enjoyed his company on this vacation. (Thanks yoshy!)
OK, so after my little nap, I drove into Tel Aviv proper and parked the car. I managed to find an open air market which I believe was in Karem Hataymanim (The Yemenite Quarter). I had a handful of fresh strawberries which must be in season because they are everywhere. After a long walk I stopped for a falafel sandwich. Not just any falafel sandwich, but the best falafel sandwich ever! It came stuffed with salad, hummus, tahini, falafels and FRENCH FRIES... You could also help your self to the bar of condiments. And every condiment is pickled (cabbage, oranges, radishes, cucubmers.)
And that's about it for today. Josh may send me notes from his second week in Israel which I will post here. (So check back for more)
