EL AL | Atmosphere

Lifestyle I Food

These times of war have brought on a wave of solidarity and creativity in the Israeli culinary world. Partners of reservist soldiers saved the family business, the owner of a wine bar in the displaced North partnered up with deli owners in Jaffa, and an employee made sure his bosses’ restaurant would stay afloat while they were fighting on the frontlines - here are 5 recommendations of great places to grab a bite with added value / By Sharon Ben David 5 restaurants with added value

Azuly Bar I Photo: courtsey of the bar

Azuly Bar, Tel Aviv Cocktails and fancy vittles On October 7 th , brothers Guy, Yahav, and Shimi Azulay received the order to join their units as reservists. They closed up the bar they manage together in Tel Aviv’s Masaryk square and hurried off to their stations. The doors of the bar remained shut for two whole months, and questions arose about its survival. But the brothers’ partners, Shaked Zeytun, Dana Bennett, and Moriya Azulay decided to band together and reopen the bar. When the Israeli press got word of this inspiring story, people came in droves to support these brave women who saved the family business. The brothers have since been discharged and are back at work. Why not stop by for a yummy cocktail and a bite to eat – the artichoke a la plancha with corned beef-Moroccan bread is delicious, as is the schnitzel challah sandwich with fried eggplant, served on Fridays. Masaryk 16, Tel Aviv, Azuly-bar

Alma, Jaffa Wine and artisan cheese Alma I Photo: Bar Cohen

On the morning of the October attacks, partners Elisheva Engelberg and Moran Aharon were in their kitchen in Kibbutz Nitzanim, not far from the Gaza Strip. They rushed to the safe room with their two-year old daughters and waited there for eight hours. Their Jaffa wine bar remained closed for four months, until they met Filip Gitnik, the owner of Metula bar “Umtala”, which has

been closed since October 7 th . They partnered up to create a boutique deli in Old Jaffa that sells artisan wine and cheese, where people can have a glass of something delicious and grab a bite to eat, or take a bottle and an assortment of cheeses to enjoy on the nearby beach. Kikar Kedumim 9, Jaffa, @alma_deli_ jaffa

34 ATMOSPHERE APRIL 2024