EYW Blog

Photo by Isrealtourism/Flickr

Between the sprawling beach lining its western edge and the wide, shady boulevards that roam through it, Israel’s cosmopolitan center visually stuns. But Tel Aviv is more than just its good looks: From street food to top chefs, the cooks and kitchens of this city use fresh, Mediterranean produce, a heavy hand with the local spices, and culinary inspiration from around the globe. Many of Israel’s most famous dishes can be found in some form all over the world, but the unique excellence of the local versions sets them apart. From the pedestrian streets of Carmel Market to the stone paths of Jaffa’s old city, here are five local foods in Tel Aviv that you...

Hummus in Tel Aviv. All photos by Naomi Tomky.

Hummus—which hails from all over the Middle East—is a way of life in Israel. A survey recently found that 93% of Israelis eat hummus each week, and some eat it more than six times a week. Unsurprisingly, this means they’ve mastered the art of making and eating it. Sitting down to a bowl of warm, freshly mashed hummus in Israel is nothing at all like the soggy bowls of supermarket paste you find in the U.S. But there’s hope: Here’s how you can aim for a better hummus experience, no matter where you are.

1. Make it fresh. In Israel, the hummus is sometimes still warm from cooking the chickpeas, which gives it a fresh, comforting aspect...

All photos courtesy of Naomi Tomky                                                        

“[Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda Market] is not just about the fresh food. It is also a window onto this city’s culture and personality.” —Joel Haber, culinary tour guide in Israel

Joel Haber, also known as “Fun Joel” (and he does live up to that moniker), offers custom tours of all aspects of Israel, but he specializes in our favorite part: Jerusalem’s central market, called Machane Yehuda—or simply, “the Shuk.” When Haber walks the market, greetings come from every direction—vendors and visitors alike, as if he were a popular politician strolling the streets. His vast knowledge of local...