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Labneh and Loquats

by Leah Koenig · April 27th, 2007
CSA/Tuv Ha'Aretz, Community Agriculture, Farming, Israel

This morning I arrived in Israel via a red-eye flight for the Arava Institute Hazon Israel Ride.  It’s my first time visiting the country, which means everyone I mentioned my trip to gave me a lengthy list of things I absolutely ”must” do and see.  For the most part I’ve taken these suggestions with a grain of salt – I’m happy to be here, and not terribly anxious to see absolutely everything in this first trip.  But when it comes to food, I’m taking all the advice I can get.  Jcarrot Blogger, Phyllis Bieri, painted tales about the superbly fresh hummus, creamy labneh, and green falafel balls that are equal-parts fluffy, and crisp. 

I’ve only been here a few, jet-lagged hours.  But this morning – moments after getting off my flight – I was picked up at the airport by Tuv Ha’Aretz farmer, Yigal Deustcher, and taken to Chava V’Adam Farm for a tour.  A few highlights:

- Sweet loquats eaten directly off the tree, with seeds the color of tiger’s eye

- Orange nasturtiums that left a spicy bite in the back of my mouth

- Harvesting purple carrots, hypercolor turnips, and sprawling heads of lettuce to bring to my Shabbat hosts

The falafel will have to wait, but what a way to kiss the holy land’s soil.

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5 Responses to “Labneh and Loquats”

  1. Rachel Says:
    April 27th, 2007 at 11:17 am

    Oh, I miss loquats! They grow wild all over San Antonio, Texas, where I was born and reared. I ate them by the basketfull when I was a kid. I miss them terribly, living here in New England. Much as I love my adopted home of western Massachusetts, loquats make me nostalgic for what used to be home.

    (Much of south Texas looks a lot like Israel, actually. But that’s another story…)

    Have a good trip.

  2. Anna Stevenson Says:
    April 27th, 2007 at 11:31 am

    Wow. that sounds like the most amazing way to arrive in Israel. Yum!!!
    But – how do you know what color tiger’s eyes are? :-)

  3. Eric Schulmiller Says:
    April 28th, 2007 at 7:40 am

    Hey, Leah!

    I’m not sure what your itinerary will be in Israel, but here’s my short list of “must eats” throughout the country (keeping in mind that some of these places may no longer exist since the last time I was there):

    -The giant chocolate rugalach from Marzipan in the Jerusalem shuk – they’re THAT good.

    -Iced coffee in Tel Aviv – it’s pretty hardcore on your arteries, but it’s the best you’ll ever taste.

    -The fresh mixed juices at The Green Onion (aka Spring Onion) in Eilat (their pasta is also amazing – I hope it’s still there).

    -Back to Jerusalem – the carrot soup at T’mol Shilshom, and the killer hot chocolate and waffles at Babet’s Feast on Emek Refai’m.

    OK, that’s it for now. Also, as a general comment about Israeli cuisine – you gotta love a country where french fries are used as a condiment. B’tei Avon!!

  4. Leah Koenig Says:
    April 28th, 2007 at 2:21 pm

    Rachel – I totally know what you mean about missing foods from home. I used to pick fresh mulberry’s in my backyard in suburban Chicago. I’m sure there are mulberry’s on the East Coast, but I haven’t yet seen them in Brooklyn.

    Anna – Tiger’s eye is a stone, as well as a part of a real tiger :) (google it – it’s a gorgeous color!)

    Eric – thanks for this list! It all sounds amazing, and I’ll try to hit up some of the Jerusalem and Eilat (the Ride’s start and finish lines) places on the way.

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