All posts tagged: #cuisine

great reviews so far …

Published by Ruth Nieman

Published just over a month ago by Flavoured Books, The Galilean Kitchen is already being well received online, through articles and book reviews in The Jerusalem Post and Hadassah magazine. The focus of each article is on the cultural flavours that ooze out of the kitchens where Ruth Nieman, author of the cookbook, spent a year gleaning how to replicate these Arabic dishes, using authentic spice blends and fresh, seasonal, local produce. “There are no cookbooks in these kitchens” Ruth tells both interviewers, “all the recipes are handed down through the generations and by adding a touch more za’atar, a pinch of baharat or an extra clove of garlic or two, the recipe becomes each cooks own”. Ruth then painstakingly deciphered the ‘handfuls’ into cups, grams or tablespoons and puts pen to paper, allowing the reader to create these delicious Middle Eastern recipes from the Druze, Muslim, Christian and Bedouin communities, in the comfort of their own kitchen. Red Magazine has now published on line Amira’s Cauliflower Sinye from the cookbook as part of ‘Veganuary’ with social media feeds, trending about …

Chicken, Potato & Garlic Soup from The Galilean Kitchen

Published by Ruth Nieman

Warm up this winter with a hearty chicken, potato and garlic soup, from The Galilean Kitchen. This fragrant soup, laced with medicinal spices and deep flavours of garlic and lemon juice, is a firm favourite from Nawal’s kitchen, where ‘shorba’ the Arabic name for soup is easy to make and deliciously satisfying to eat on a cold day. Nawal’s Shorba (chicken, potato & garlic soup) for basic broth 2 chicken breasts, chopped into large cubes 1 piece of ginger, peeled & sliced 3 –4 bayleaves 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 11/2 litres cold water 1 teaspoon salt for chicken, potato & garlic soup 2 large potatoes, peeled & cubed 6 garlic cloves, minced or crushed 3 lemons, juiced 11/2 tablespoons flour, mixed with 250mls water 1/2 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon baharat 1 teaspoon black pepper place the chicken cubes, ginger, bayleaves, cardamom, salt & water in a saucepan & boil for 20-30 minutes to create flavour add the potato cubes, lower the heat & simmer for a further 15 minutes mix the flour & water into a paste …

The Galilean Kitchen … a cookbook with a difference

Published by Ruth Nieman

This time last year, the groves of the Galilee began their annual production of organic olive oil and I started writing this beautiful cookbook, The Galilean Kitchen. It has been a year in the making (involving lots of writing and LOTS of tasting) and it is with great excitement, I am proud to announce, that it is now ready to bring you the best of this lush region’s dishes, full of cultural flavours. A cookbook with a difference, The Galilean Kitchen is full of recipes for family meals, using Middle Eastern staples, vegetables and spices, with each page containing tips and easy to find ingredients to cook these dishes in your own kitchen. It tells the stories of the women who have parted with their family recipes, as well as the regions seasonal produce. First edition copies are now available to order here, and you can look forward to cooking from an untapped cuisine that is waiting to be unleashed into every kitchen and at the same time read about the culinary cultures of the …

dedicated to the humble chickpea….

Published by Ruth Nieman

May 13th is marked on the calendar as International Hummous Day, a whole day dedicated to the humble chickpea. A popular dip throughout Israel and the Middle East, hummous has recently been elevated to becoming one of Israel’s ‘national foods’, appearing on menus in restaurants and cafe’s throughout the country. Chickpeas are legumes and rich in nutrients. They are considered to be a popular source of vitamins and minerals in the diet of both vegetarians and vegans. It popularity follows the dietary laws of Kashrut and therefore hummous can be eaten with both meat and milk meals. Hummous is directly translated from the Arabic meaning ‘chickpeas’ a staple ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine dating back to ancient times, although widely used in stews and tagines, rather than as a cold dip. Hummous in it’s simplest form is made from cooked, mashed chickpeas and combined with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, crushed garlic and salt, however, many combinations of spices can be added for extra flavour with cumin, coriander or smoked paprika being the most popular and garnishes including whole chickpeas, pinenuts, flat leaf parsley or paprika. Other versions include using …

it’s a wonderful, culinary world out there…..

Published by Ruth Nieman

I have two passions in life….food and Israel….but not necessarily in that order… Israel Good Food Guide is my way of combining my enthusiasm for both and giving you a taste of the eclectic cuisine of Israel, through news, reviews and delicious pictures of plates of art. With tips on where to buy and eat wonderful produce, both on and off the beaten track, great recipes to try and recommendations for experiencing the coffee culture, culinary tours and workshops, you will see for yourself how exciting the food of Israel really is. I will introduce you to great restaurants as well as the inspirational chefs and creators of exquisite food, so join me in meeting the ‘foodies’ of this wonderful, diverse culinary world.

food culture in the galilee…..

Published by Ruth Nieman

Israel has an eclectic population with diverse cultures; however food is a culture that can be experienced by all. Israel’s northern region is a beautiful mountainous range, separated and known as the upper and lower Galilee. A lush land full of food that has matured from small beginnings into the fruit bearing trees, vines, wild herbs and edible flowers synonymous with the area and grown, foraged and picked by the locals for its freshness, taste and nutritional value. A world apart from the culinary capital of Tel Aviv where highly acclaimed chefs produce gourmet food as works of art on the plate, the food from the north is rustic, homely and cooked straight from the ground. Galileat, the brainchild of an Australian chef, Paul Nirens, who moved to the north of Israel over 30 years ago. Paul trained in one of Israel’s leading culinary schools before managing commercial kitchens in a competitive profession. Whilst selling locally crafted gourmet foods, he found an opportunity in the untapped market of intercultural activities in the Galilee, through food. …

About Ruth….

Published by Ruth Nieman

I am a passionate foodie, I spend my time between Israel and London, writing, photographing and eating great Middle Eastern food. Inspired from working in the kitchens of Kibbutz Amiad, in northern Israel over 30 years ago, I returned to London to complete a Diploma in Food and Wine at Leiths Cookery School, with the sole aim of setting up a catering company, providing fresh, exciting food for all occasions and baking delicious cakes!! I set up Israel Good Food Guide to showcase the very best of Israel’s cuisine, through write-ups of restaurants and innovative young chef, cafes, food tours and markets as well all the latest food news from Tel Aviv to the Galilee, accompanied by beautiful photographs taken on my travels. I am a foodie with a distinction, having gained a diploma in food journalism in 2016, and have embarked on writing a cookbook, The Galilean Kitchen, showcasing the food of the region. My food meanderings in both Israel and London are never far away from Twitter, so follow my culinary expeditions or get in touch …

eclectic chefs, cultures & cuisines…..

Published by Ruth Nieman

Tel Aviv, the culinary capital of Israel is full of gastronomic diversity, due to the wanderings and innovative discoveries made by Israel’s hungry young chefs, as explored in Ruth Nieman’s latest article, published today on The Culture Trip. Exploring this eclectic group of chefs through their travels to Michelin starred establishments throughout Europe and the Far East and back to the vibrant metropolis of Tel Aviv, the array of assorted tastes and flavours can be found in their restaurants. Taste the authenticity of the individual chef’s styles in Abraxas North, Taizu, Raphael, Tapas Ahad Ha’Am or Nanuchka, where the unique style of Georgian cuisine, where meat is known to be the key ingredient, has been turned into a Vegan haven, where tofu, soya and legumes stand proud….. http://theculturetrip.com/middle-east/israel/articles/tel-avivs-eclectic-chefs-cultures-and-cuisines

a haven for all foodie’s…..

Published by Ruth Nieman

Inside the 140 year old former German Templar colony in Tel Aviv is the recently opened Sarona Market, Israel’s largest indoor market and a haven for all foodies. The 8,700 square metres of renovated building houses 89 food businesses, attracting the culinary elite with boutique restaurants, bars, cafes and specialty food shops, open seven days a week. The inspiration for Sarona came from many of the world’s wonderful food markets including London’s Borough Market, Spain’s La Boqueria and America’s Chelsea Market, attracting chefs, food lovers and tourists alike. Sarona is packed with local produce, as well as cheeses, pasta and patisserie from France and Italy, celebrating the modern cuisine of Israel. Celebrity chefs including Yisrael Aharoni and Segev Moshe have opened branches of their highly acclaimed Japanese and seafood restaurants here in Sarona, pleasing the locals and tourists alike with their food. Basher’s Fromagerie, the world famous French patisserie Fauchon and Israel’s own Tasting Room are too showcasing their culinary artistry, in a market in Tel Aviv that never sleeps….

burnt down facing the sea….מול ים

Published by Ruth Nieman

Anyone hoping to visit the highly acclaimed seafood restaurant Mul Yam, in the beautiful Tel Aviv Port over the summer will be sorely disappointed, due to last night’s fire that saw the restaurant burn to the ground, from a short circuited freezer. Mul Yam was found in 1995 by Shalom Maharovsky, an importer of fine wines and seafood. In this stunning location and with the help of chef Yoram Nitzan, Mul Yam is considered to be an elite dining experience, commanding high prices for top quality cuisine through its use of the freshest ingredients, often airlifting it’s fish straight from ports around the world. Only a couple of months ago, it celebrated it’s 20th birthday, with tasting menu of outstanding quality and beauty, trying to attract a younger clientele who otherwise may not afford its prices. Having had knock backs before, we only hope that Mul Yam can get back on its feet in the very near future and will return with the quality, finesse and beauty of the acclaimed restaurant it is known for.