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Lifestyle I Food

Emek Yizrael’s culinary scene is thriving, with bucolic little cafés, quality steakhouses, and top-notch eateries dotting the enchanting valley. Head over there this season to admire its blossoming landscapes and gastronomical charms / By Sharon Ben-David 5 great restaurants to check out in Emek Yizrael

Rancho Menis A coffee truck in the countryside The story of Rancho Menis begins 45 years ago, when Danny Menis, an Argentine who made Aliyah, founded a horse-riding school in lovely, pastoral Moshav Tzippori. His son Doron has followed in his father’s horse-riding footsteps and teaches Olympic English riding and therapeutic riding at the ranch. Wishing to raise awareness about the riding school’s many sports and educational activities, he opened a coffee truck hoping to draw in more people to the area – and that he did. Indeed, while children take part in their “baby Gaucho” classes, their parents while away the time enjoying the truck’s delicious coffee, sandwiches, pastries, quiches, salads, toasts, and more. After coffee, it’s always a great idea to visit the nearby Tzippori National Park, where ancient Roman mosaics and vestiges of an ancient synagogue have been uncovered. ranchom.co.il

Temerlin Quality steakhouse

This lovely countryside steakhouse is nestled in the lush green fields of Moshav Nahalal, Israel’s first workers’ cooperative agricultural settlement. 100 years ago, the Tamir family (formerly Temerlin), established their farm here, gradually specializing in cattle rearing. Temerlin, the family restaurant, has been operating for three years now, specializing in Black Angus beef. Carnivores from all over the country have been flocking over to get a taste of the exceptional Temerlin steaks, kebabs, ara’is, and many more meaty delights, served aside vegetable sides made with seasonal ingredients. There’s a deli inside the restaurant itself, where you can buy cuts of meat and charcuterie, as well as bottles of wine, sauces, and spices. There’s a bakery as well, that sells sandwiches, cakes, quiches, and bread, with kubaneh, jahnun, and focaccia added to the menu on Saturdays – i.e., everything you need for the ultimate weekend picnic. @_temerlin

26 ATMOSPHERE FEBRUARY 2025

Photos: courtesy of the restaurants