Som-ting Yum-mee

Last night I was adopted into my friend's family for dinner-time. They were here visiting her in Israel and I was just lucky enough to join the family for a night out on the town at this asian inspired restaurant called Zepra, on Igal Alon 96 (everyone plug this restaurant into your GoogleMaps...it might be a far walk, or drive, or flight, but it's worth it). And yes, in Israel, the numbers come after the street names. Anyhoo, back to the food, because that's why you guys read my blog posts...for the food, am I right? At first glance, the menu was overwhelming - filled with different course sections, different asian-fusion categories. The waitress wanted to make it easy for us, so instead of us ordering, we were presented with different options for appetizers, main courses, and of course (because we're legal in Israel, even though I'm legal back home) drizzyyyy Drinnkzzzzz! My friend and I decided to be adventurous and order some cocktails, I chose a rum inspired ginger, lime, mint drink that was filled to the brim with little ice cubes.

The ginger was spicy, the lime tangy and the mint refreshing. It was such a good little cocktail that I didn't feel like I was drinking alcohol and as an alcohol connoisseur I believe that's the way it should be. As we casually sipped on our drinks, the appetizers came out - we didn't know what was coming, which was part of the fun experience, each dish was a surprise. For appetizers we had Sashimi, the Healthy Buddha salad and a Tapioca dumpling filled with chicken and various vegetables. The fish was fresh and the pieces melted in my mouth, the sauces on top were a little spicy, it was a perfect mixture of fiery spice with the delicate taste of the fish. The Healthy Buddha salad was a top fave - a combination of one of my favorite foods and one of my favorite cuisines: salads and Asian. The thinly julienned pieces of daikon, carrots, and cabbage were crunchy and then there was the crispy bean sprouts and the sharp pungent mint to cleanse the palette. For the Tapioca dumpling was a bright turquoise...like what?!? It was a soft outer layer that encompassed a tasty chicken/asian vegetable mixture in the center, with each bite, more gooey goodness came.

Within 10 minutes, out came the main courses. Although our stomachs were saying "no more food", our mouths had different ideas, and our eyes were in constant shock by the beautiful colors of the food. Out came a full white fish covered in a redish brown chili sauce covered in mint leaves...bear in mind that I'm not a huge fish fan, but when it's disguised with other flavors, I enjoy it. And this piece, I thoroughly enjoyed.

For the meat lovers out there, the next dish was a veal chop dish with sautéed spinach and red lettuce.

I was blown away by this meal. Every single bite was filled with delicious flavors and it was nice to dine with a family, even if it wasn't mine. It reminded me of the comfort of home and the food I love, which I can safely say, I can definitely find in Israel. Catch ya on the flip side. Nomz out.

Full Moon

Last night I finally got my sushi fix, and it was completely worth the wait. So far, being in Israel I've had sushi two other times, neither to my liking, but last night - the restaurant Moon, on Bograshav Street hit the jackpot. The restaurant was small, but packed with both Americans, Brits and Israelis - plus it's gotten great recommendations, so I was very excited to try it. The menu was filled with different appetizers, colorful rolls, sushi sandwiches, pouches of rice/tofu filled with fish and vegetables, sashimi - the list could go on. The menu was overwhelming, but everything looked sooooo good. Plus, they had the option of brown rice, it was 2GOOD2BTRUE!!!!! I decided on two rolls - the spicy tuna; a mixture of tuna and avocado rolled in rice, wrapped in a slice of cucumber, with a spicy radish mixture drizzled over the top. For my second roll, I chose a Japanese tofu pouch stuffed with Yellowtail, avocado and sesame seeds sprinkled on top, with a side of a thinly julienned daikon and carrot salad. I picked up a piece, slathered on wasabi, dipped in gooey Eel sauce, Spicy orange mayo and a final splash in the dark brown Soy Sauce. This piece was legend, wait for it, wait for it...dary. Probably the best meal I've eaten out so far in Tel Aviv, and that's saying a lot because I'm a picky eater, especially when it comes to Sushi. I really don't like fish, but I really enjoy it in Sushi. The fish was fresh, the avocado melted in my mouth, the spicy radish pieces, along with the spicy mayo/wasabi mixture, left me with a fiery incense in my mouth - my eyes were watering...this is a great way to clear out your sinuses (in case anyone was wondering). The tofu pouch was sweet, it provided a tasty contrast with the salty fish and pungent taste of the avocado. I just couldn't get enough of that yummy in my tummy sush, and we washed it down with some warm Sake.

I drank the Sake in honor of my mother, her favorite type of alcohol...it was the first time I've ever had it before, the rice based alcohol is not my drink of choice, but it was the perfect pair with the meal. Because my schedule has been different, somewhat off, I'm usually snacking throughout the day, and starving at meals. Yesterday though, I was able to really appreciate my food, I had the opportunity to eat slowly and really take in all the flavors. I can't explain how good this meal was, my only recommendation is if you're abroad in Israel, to try it, if you're sitting on your couch back in the states, get on a plane to Israel and head to Moon...but make sure you make a reservation first, they get crowded.

Iron Chef: Abroad

Greetings from halfway across the world. I know that all my devoted followers have missed my food blogging, so I am here with some happy news - here comes the first food blog post abroad in Israel! My living conditions are not amazing, therefore, it's been somewhat difficult to cook for myself. Although as many of you know, I LOVE to cook, so the challenging circumstances were just going to have to do. I figured that the easiest thing to make in small, tight, kitchenette quarters was of course, a stir-fry: otherwise known as my go-to meal, both home and abroad. With the help of a friend, we started to prepare: chopping green cabbage into thin strips, breaking apart the broccoli and cauliflower florets from their stems, slicing a small cube of tofu into little chunks and dicing/seeding a red juicy tomato. Tomato in a stir fry...say, what? Actually it was pretty delicious. We began by sautéing the broccoli and cauliflower, and then trying to be quick, I tossed in the strips of cabbage before I realized that the vegetables were overflowing...tight kitchen quarters: 1, chefs abroad: 0. Anyway, we let the florets steam and when they seemed to be cooked down, I added the cabbage, the pieces melted into the other vegetables we folded them over each other with the spatula. Tofu is one of my favorite sources of protein, and it's been hard to find it here - but with the hope that it would be good, we tossed it in. It was equally as delicious as the surprise tomato we threw into the stir-fry. The vegetables cooked down, the tofu was added, and some Teriyaki and Soy Sauce were drizzled over the mixture of ingredients, for flavor, along with some granulated Garlic powder. The tomatoes were the last addition, because they cook the quickest. Once all the separate parts were combined together, it was time to eat. The stir-fry was steaming hot (just the way I like it) and surprisingly, all the flavors were there. The tofu was firm, the vegetables were soft and delicate, cooked to perfection - with a touch of crunch from the cabbage. The tomato added a sweet flavor and the red color peaked out from the normal whites and greens. I would say the final product produced a win for chefs abroad, and especially because we came out with left-overs! I can't wait to prepare this meal again, with different additions as well as many others. Watch out TLVeats, I'm coming for ya...homecooked meals and all.

It's Cute to Eat Fruit

You know the saying, "eat your fruits and veggies", the one we were told at a young age, and for some are still told to today. Well lets think of how many of us actually did what we were told when we were younger... But what if you were told, "wear your fruits and veggies". In this case, lets skip the veggies but focus on the fruit. Have you ever wanted to wear your favorite fruit? I know I have, and now you can with the help of Fruitstrology! A newly launched community-based project turned business by two Temple University graduates. The girls behind the fruit believe in the power of sharing and doing good for the community of Philadelphia.
And here's how you can get involved. It starts with sharing 2 ways, (1) For every product sold, Fruitstrology donates a serving of fresh fruit to a child in Philadelphia, one for one. (2) What’s the strology behind Fruitstrology? Well, it’s what describes you. Each fruit has its own personality that expresses you. Whether you’re a Talkative Grape, Easygoing Banana or both, your purchase not only says you’re committed to supporting local childrens’ nutrition, it’s also a fun and creative way to say something about yourself. It’s simple, join, wear, share and make a difference. This is how we share the fruit we wear.
I think we can all relate to a specific fruit, I know I'm a "Charismatic Peach" and cannot wait to receive my tank in the mail! Check it out - www.fruitstrologyco.com and their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Fruitstrology. Stay fruity ya'll.

Om-loving it.

So it's been a while since I've been on the blog scene, but I'm back with a full fledged post that will be worth your while, because I know you've all been waiting for a new post by me. As my semester comes to a close at school, I am taking every advantage I have to go eat delicious food in the city of Philadelphia, which is just a subway ride away. Today, I ventured into the city around mid-morning and had the most amazing brunch ever. A friend and I decided on the Famous 4th Street Deli on S. 19th Street, a fairly new place, only about 4 years old, but the decor had an old world feel. We were seated and given appetizers of pickled cabbage salad with mini cucumbers and sliced carrots and spicy Dill pickles, needless to say, I was immediately in heaven. I ordered a veggie omelette with fruit on the side. 10 minutes later, our meals came out; little did I know that this omelette would be the full size of the entire plate with a small, fruit bowl on the side that looked minuscule compared to the enormous yellow, red, green and brown rectangular creation, that as I stared down at it, was staring up back at me. I took my smaller side plate, squeezed out some juicy red ketchup and golden brown mustard and cut my omelette in half. I dipped my first piece in the circle of condiments (I like to mix the ketchup and mustard because of the spicy sweet combination). The fluffy omelette melted in my mouth. The vegetables appeared bite by bite; the broccoli, white onions and green pepper provided me with a crunch that evened out the softer vegetables of tomatoes and mushrooms. For an extra hint of flavor, I sprinkled on some black pepper. I like my food with a kick. The fruit bowl on the side was a perfect taste of mellowness - the bursting red grapes and succulent cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew. Simply said, the taste and size of this meal was completely unreal.

The Quinoa Diaries

About a month ago I went to the grocery store and went straight to the "bulk foods" aisle, my favorite aisle. In the mood for something different, I picked up a plastic bag and filled it with yellow quinoa. I like quinoa a lot, but am always unsure of how to incorporate it into my meals, so I figured that this would be a good start...until I came home and put it on the top shelf of the pantry and never looked at it again until I moved into school where it ended up in my kitchen cabinet at school, waiting to be used. But, I have been craving it...just not really craving the idea of cooking it. Luckily for me, I didn't have to. Living so close to the city of Philadelphia, I jumped on the subway with a couple friends and we headed into Center City for dinner. We chose Steven Starr's Continental Mid-Town, a hip, funky restaurant on the corner of 18th and Chestnut in Rittenhouse Square. To my pleasant surprise, there was a Black Quinoa 'Tabbouleh' Salad that sounded delish. If you haven't already guessed, I ordered the salad. 15 minutes later, my salad came out in the shape of a round-layered volcano, I kid you not. The large salad was placed in front of me as my mouth watered and my eyes were amazed by the bright colors that peaked out the sides of the salad. The black quinoa made the white, green and red colors pop. I dug my fork into the massive round shape and uncovered the hidden ingredients - dark green leafy spinach, fresh mint, tiny crumbles of feta cheese and pieces of cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and halved olives. With an extra addition of creamy avocado to add in. The quiona was soft and mixed perfectly with the crunchy vegetables. The feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette dressing added a touch of sweetness to the salad, with the unique flavor of the avocado chunks that melted in my mouth. This meal was almost too good to be true, so I decided to save some of it for left-overs...which were deliciously eaten today. It is safe to say, my quinoa craving was definitely satisfied.

My Main Squeeze

As I was walking back from work to the train today, I found that I wanted a little pick-me-up. I toyed with the thought of getting something at the train (like a latte or a hot cup of tea) but decided against both of those boring choices, I was in the mood for something atypical from my usuals, a change of pace. Taking a different route back to Suburban station, I passed by "Animo: Juice and Burrito Bar" on the corner of 17th and Arch Street in Center City, Philadelphia. The fluorescent yellow tables outside and the buzz of people inside pulled me in. This place was hip and happening, a restaurant where your choices of food or drink are made to order. I began perusing the menu, which was a difficult task because everything sounded sooooooooo good. I narrowed it down to 3 juices, Glow (carrot, cantaloupe and orange), Spa Treatment (cucumber, apple, lemon & lime), or Ginger Snap (apple, ginger and lime). Ultimately, I decided on the Ginger Snap and anxiously awaited for my drink to be prepared. As I stood waiting on the side of the juice bar, my drink was brought out to me in a clear cup with a shimmering lime green color radiating through the plastic. I was blown away after my first sip, the freshness of the fruit was addicting. The tart acid of the lime juice blended with the tanginess of the green apple, both flavors freshly squeezed by hand into a juicer. As I continued to sip, the spice of the ginger appeared, mixing with the sugars from the fruit, providing a natural sweetness to my juice.