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Written by Buzzy Gordon

Published: 20 October 2016

 

 

 

Mateh Yehudah Wine Festival Celebrates the Judean Terroir

 

Mateh Yehudah, a region extending from the hills just west of Jerusalem to the valleys southwest of Beit Shemesh, will be hosting a wine festival extending over the three weekends between October 27 and November 12, 2016. The festival, which boasts the participation of 35 wineries, is one of Israel’s most prestigious annual wine festivals, now marking its 18th consecutive year.

 

 

The wineries involved in the festival range from some of Israel’s largest, producing more than 100,000 bottles a year, to some of the country’s newest boutique wineries. Many are known for their award-winning wines, encompassing both kosher and non-kosher labels, as well as white, red and rosé wines.

 

 

 

 

The festival will kick off with an evening of tasting to be held on 27.10.16 at the Yad Shmona Country Hotel in Kibbutz Yad Shmona. A number of the wines to be served during the event and the festival are being introduced to the public for the first time.

 

A noteworthy innovation of the festival this year is an initiative being sponsored by festival organizers together with local hotels and B&Bs: free transportation to and from tasting events and participating lodgings, so that visitors may imbibe wine without needing to drive afterwards. Designated drivers also enjoy special discounts.

 

The region, which is rich in Biblical history, is home to numerous fine restaurants, as well as artists’ studios. Another popular culinary aspect of the festival is home-cooked ethnic meals served in hosts’ houses.

 

For more information, visit the Hebrew website www.tour-yehuda.org.il.

 

 Photo  Inval Ros  /  Haim Ros

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Written by KKL

Published: 20 September 2016

 

KKL-JNF cooperates with the Australian embassy to clean the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret)

Sunday, September 18, Australian ambassador in Israel, Dave Sharma, Embassy staff and their families, KKL-JNF volunteers, about 150 Australians youngsters and Kinneret Authority advocacy teams - mobilized to clean the Kinneret Municipal Association ("Igud Arim") Zinbari beach. The event took place in the framework of the international clean-up day that KKL-JNF has been leading for the last 16 years

KKL-JNF Australia, Australian embassy in Israel, Kinneret Municipal Association Zionist Federation of Australia has cooperated for the “international clean-up day” joining them are 150 Australian youngsters who are in Israel as part of an Australian youth movement. The teens, escorted by the diplomatic and professional embassy staff, Kinneret Municipal Association team and KKL-JNF workers and volunteers, worked and labored under the hot sun to clean up the beach in favor of one goal - to protect the environment in which we live in. The participants made sure to separate garbage in order to recycle into friendly bags (Brown paper for garbage, Blue for plastic garbage, green for organic garbage, white for general garbage). It is important to note that the cleaning teams had been surprised to find fairly clean beaches.

KKL-JNF Chairman, Danny Atar, welcomed the activities and said: "keeping the environment and natural resource is part of KKL-JNF DNA; our goal in the International Day is to educate the young generation to be responsible and caring of the environment, to ensure a greener and cleaner environment for the current and future generation. It is not the first year that the Australian Embassy has joined the efforts, and I am thankful and appreciative of such, together we show that the environmental interest knows no boundaries".

At the end of the activities, the Australian ambassador in Israel, Dave Sharma, said: "the international clean-up day initiative, which started initially in Australia, has become an international tradition, I am proud for that. Each and every one of us needs to treat the environment the same as one does its own home. Our home is not the street or city in which we live, but planet Earth, the responsibility is international, crossing borders and countries, only together in cooperation, can we protect our planet. 100 years ago Australian soldiers fought right here against the Ottoman Empire to liberate the country, and now, Australian youngsters are here to safe keep and preserve it."

The Kinneret Authority congratulated the Ambassador for his engagement with the teens and noted that by joining forces and pushing the concept into the public awareness, we can keep the Kinneret, in particular, and the environment, in general, clean. Yael Sela, Education and Community Department Manager in the Kinneret Authority noted: "during the months of July-August the National Lake was attended by about 760 thousand visitors. Regardless of these amounts, "Igud Arim Kinneret" preserved the cleanliness and order thanks to well-planned and executed activities, advocacy teams in the beaches and clean-up crews. We feel the change in the Israeli vacationer who safeguards the environment more and as a result, both the Ambassador and the volunteers found clean beaches today. We will continue to raise awareness of the importance of guarding the environment and the purity of water sources."

The clean-up activities mark the opening of Australia week in Israel (OZRAELI) that celebrates the diplomatic-cultural-social cooperation between the two States, and continue in a line-up of events during the week.

 

 

 

 

International cleanup day background

Clean up the World organization was established in 1993 in Australia, and operates under the sponsorship of the UN Environmental Program (UNEP), and is currently the biggest environmental safekeeping organization in the world. During the International cleanup day activities, 40 Million people from 120 states around the world will note the occasion.

Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) joined the organization in the year 2001, and followed to lead the international cleanup day in Israel, which turned, now in its 16th year, into the biggest event including thousands of volunteers taking part in the different clean-up activities in open areas and inside cites. It is also executed in cooperation with the Union of Local Authorities in Israel and the Center of Regional Councils.

 

Pictures:  (Photo Credit: Michael Huri - KKL-JNF, Photo Caption: KKL-JNF, Australian Embassy and teens cleaning-up and collecting garbage at the Kinneret w\ Australian Ambassador, Dave Sharma).

 

Details

Written by Buzzy Gordon

Published: 04 October 2016

 

 

The intriguingly named The Blue Rooster is the restaurant, deli and bar of two of Tel Aviv’s most distinguished chefs: Shaul Ben Aderet and Charlie Fadida. Situated in the upscale Tzameret G shopping mall, the restaurant encompasses a handsome bar and interior, as well as an attractive al fresco area on the second floor rooftop, with stunning views of the residential towers of north Tel Aviv, and cooling evening breezes.  

 

We were greeted with complimentary glasses of apple cider with strawberry syrup, a welcome and refreshing gesture. The alcohol and wine menus recently underwent changes, and the new English wine list -- rather extensive, featuring Israeli and imported wines -- should be unveiled soon.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, the food and dessert menus are in English, and the wait staff also speak the language well. They explained the specialty cocktails, from which I ordered the house caipirinha, made with cachaça, lime, ginger and honey and garnished with mint and purple flower. Quite simply, it is the best caipirinha I have had in Israel.  

 

Non-alcoholic (“virgin”) versions are available for most of the cocktails; my companion enjoyed her blend of tropical fruit juices immensely.

 

The Blue Rooster offers a tasting menu, which takes the guesswork out of deciding among the many options on the menu. As we awaited our appetizers, we were served a loaf of braided hallah in honor of the Sabbath, together with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, as well as herbed green olives.

Our first starter was tuna ceviche on a bed of guacamole, with tomato salsa garnished with leafy herbs and topped with black “caviar” made from seaweed. The freshness of the fish was evident, and the unique vegetarian mock caviar a nice extra touch.  

 

 

 

 

Our salad appetizer was a sweet and spicy cold pumpkin salad lightly dressed in a pomegranate vinaigrette, with Gorgonzola cheese, dried cranberries, mint and nuts. This was a delicious eye-opener -- a veritable symphony of flavors.

 

Next came white fish carpaccio on a bed of ikra -- white taramasalata -- with seasoned garden vegetables. The beautiful presentation made this dish a feast for the eyes as well as the palate, while the razor-thin slices of fish were enhanced nicely by the inspired combination of ingredients.

 

There are some excellent vegetarian options as well: the classic risotto in a porcini mushroom broth with a mix of mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, peas and truffles was one of the outstanding dishes of the evening, rich and hearty.

 

Similarly, the polenta with shimeji mushrooms, asparagus, truffle oil and caciocavallo cheese was a creamy delight, the al dente vegetable a brilliant counterpoint to the cornmeal delicacy.

 

Progressing to the main courses, we were treated to two meat dishes: sirloin steak creatively encrusted with sunflower seeds, and butcher’s cut with a smear of chimichurri. Both cuts of prime beef were grilled to perfection, tender and flavorful.  

 

Our main course in the fish category was Asian-flavored cod in a coconut milk casserole with curry, chili, ginger and lemongrass. The generous chunks of flaky white fish were succulent, in a dish that would please any fan of Thai cuisine.

 

The dessert menu is varied and eclectic, with Western, Middle Eastern and Asian options.

The kanaffeh was a confection of soft, salty goat cheese wrapped in golden strands of crispy angel hair kadaif and then suffused in lemon, geranium and honey syrup. All in all, a wonderful interplay of flavors and textures.

 

The semifreddo pistachio creme brûlée was like a cross between pudding and ice cream: both cooling and intense, the creme brûlée burst into flavor with ever bite.

 

Finally, the shortest description on the dessert menu was “the perfect Malabi.” I confess that I am not generally a fan of this Levantine sweet, but this one was truly exceptional. I would order it again in a heartbeat.

 

The Blue Rooster is a popular place not only for romantic dates and families, but also for events, with an elegant room off the wine cellar for private functions. Private parties may also be held in the restaurant or the rooftop garden. For more information, contact the Events Manager, Michael, at (054) 222-1100.

The Blue Rooster: Restaurant/Deli/Bar

Tzameret G Mall, Nissim Aloni Street 10, Tel Aviv

Tel. (03) 544-3349

 

Website: http://thebluerooster.co.il/en/

 

 Instagram   @the_blue-rooster

https://www.instagram.com/the_blue_rooster/

 

Photo  Silvia Golan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Details

Published: 08 September 2016

 

Menta Magazine presents: "Good Life Guidebook"

On the 6rd of September, Menta Magazine launched its first book - "Good Life Guidebook" in a glamorous event in Tel Aviv  

Menta health magazine held it's first ever book launch for the "Good Life Guidebook" in a glamorous wellness dedicated event in Arca at the Tel Aviv port.

The event included a lecture about happiness, a Yoga class, presentations and demonstrations by several lifestyle, health and fitness brands etc.

Among the participants: Omer Dror, Model, Shir Elmaliach, Model, Titi Aynaw, Former Miss Israel, Shani Hazan , Former Miss Israel 2012 , Anastasia Judith Michaeli Former MK and many others

 

 Photo  Silvia Golan