Some good eating in the Good Land - Part 1

    Most people who come to Israel absolutely LOVE the food here.  They rave about the humus, falafel, shwarma, Israeli salads, shakshuka, fresh fruits, shnitzel, our breads and of course - the famed, 'Israeli breakfast.'  But where do we Israelis go to eat?  There are no end to the good chicken/beef grill places, but what would I suggest if you want to try something really unique?  Well, this is part 1 of a sub-section of my blog, which we'll call: 'Some good eating in the Good Land,' okay? 

In each installment, I will feature a really cool Israeli restaurant, that you've probably never heard of.  And yes - only for you, my dear readers, will I make the 'sacrifice' of actually trying all this yummy stuff.  Only for you   ;-)

For #1, let's talk about Ishtabach, located right outside (Hashikma Street) of the amazing Machane Yehuda 'Shuk' (market) in Jerusalem.  One of my favorite places in all of Israel, where I buy lots of goodies and now get to try out some of the newest, cutting edge varied ethnic cuisines in the country.  

What's unique about Istabach is it only features a delicious meat filled pastry, like a boureka, called a shamburak.  It is a Kurdish- Syrian (Yay Kurdistan!!) delicacy that is almost beyond belief.

It is a made to order pastry, each of which has Indian flavored Mashed potatoes inside, along with chimichurri sauce.  And your choice of perfectly cooked meats - ranging from short ribs, chicken, brisket, tongue, etc.  I had the tongue (when eating out, why not get something you never make, right?) and sampled the brisket.  Absolutely delicious!  

It is one of the few places in Israel where you can't get chips ('French Fries' for those who haven't been out of the USA), but they have great potato wedges, which are like small roasted potatoes. The meal is served with a few small dishes, called mezze which give you some other delightful tastes.

I HIGHLY recommend Ishtabach (okay, to be totally honest - I am only going to feature the best, most unique places - I don't want this blog to become a food critic's toy, after all); you have GOT to try it.  When you're in Jerusalem, after a full day of guiding, let's go there for dinner, okay?  ;-)

With love & hugs from the Chosen Land,

Hanoch

Kolyehuda.hanoch@gmail.com