The ISRAELI CULINARY TOUR-7 days/6 nights
ISRAEL COOKING VACATION
Seven days cooking tour through the eclectic, colorful cuisine of this interesting Mediterranean and Middle Eastern country. Israel is a home to many different ethnic originated cuisines. Spices and flavors from different continents, climates and cultures, came to meet in this small country. From the local Druze and Arab kitchen to the modern cutting edge of Tel Aviv chef scenery, from the Galilee world of herbal cuisine to the traditional Jerusalemite kitchen, from the coastal Mediterranean fish dishes to inland cuisine.
Every ethnic group that arrived in this country, brought with it it's own tastes, and they all meet right here!
Professional chefs and cooks, will combine a celebration of tastes and scents, to be remembered for life.
Day 1 - Arrival and opening dinner.
Arrival in Tel Aviv, via Ben Gurion International Airport. Check in at the hotel, located centrally in Tel Aviv, within walking distance from Tel Aviv’s famous beaches and vital city center. After we are set in our hotel, and have a short rest, we will embark on a dinner, and meeting with one of the Tel Aviv`s hippest young restaurant and chef. This will be an introduction to Tel Aviv city, young and vibrant food scene, as well as an introduction to each other.
Day 2 - Mediterranean cooking work-shop and tour of the "Carmel market"
Right after breakfast at the hotel, we will proceed to the colorful and exciting "Carmel Market", offering fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. This busy market is a place, where the sound of the food stand tenders, can only be subdued by the rich scents of Mediterranean herbs. From basil to mint, trough fresh just harvested thyme,
coriander, parsley, and sage- as the famous Simon and Garfunkel song comes to life- are filling the air. Followed by a cooking class, with one of our chefs, bringing the scents and flavors in to the work -shop kitchen.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Old city of Jaffa. We will drive to Old Jaffa, just south of Tel Aviv, which has been restored, as an artists' quarter. Enjoy a walk, through its quaint cobblestone alleys, stopping at the galleries and shops. Next is free time, to walk around Tel Aviv- check the beach front and enjoy the town.
Day 3 - Caesarea, Druze village Osafia, Akko Galilee
Drive via the coastal highway to Caesarea. Visit the ancient Roman Theater, Herod`s Great Palace, Byzantine and Crusader city, and the Aqueduct – all of them serve as a back-drop to the Book of Acts; Cornelius was the first gentile to become a Christian and St. Paul was imprisoned for two years here, before he sailed to Rome. Drive to Mt. Carmel, to the Druze village of Osafia. We will tour the market of Osafia, and feel the Druze culture. Next we embark on our Druze cooking class. We will experience, one of the most unique cuisines in the world, and it will all take place in a genuine Druze family house, where we will feast on our own hand making.
After lunch we continue to Accre. Visit this town with it's beautiful market, where Napoleon, Crusaders, Marko Polo and many others, have visited, conquered and lost. Visit the monumental structures built by the Crusaders. Walk along the old harbor, then we will eat our dinner, at one of the finest local restaurants. Continue to check in to our hotel. In the evening, our road will lead us in to the Galilee, where we shall visit one of the boutique wineries, that are flourishing in Israel, and we will taste the great wine.
Day 4 - Galilee, cheese, and Arab kitchen, Haifa bay
Right after breakfast – that will be as everything here- a Galilean with the special herbs, and freshness of the Region. Next we will have our Arabian- Galilee cooking class, with the authentic Arab cuisine. We will be introduced, to a variety of tastes and textures, available in such a geographically delicate area.
In the afternoon we will visit and try on, some of the spectacular cheese makers of the region. From goat cheese through dairies, we will taste and view, some of the most interesting tasty cheeses, made nowadays in Israel.
Drive through Haifa. View spectacular Baha’i gardens, from top of Mount Carmel, and continue to Jerusalem, for our last but not least, part of the trip.
Arrive at the hotel for dinner and rest, after our busy day.
Day 5 - Magic of Jerusalem
Drive to Mount of Olives. View ancient and modern Jerusalem from top of Mount of Olives. Visit Pater Noster Monastery, and walk down the "Palm Sunday Road". Then proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane, and to the Church of All Nations.
Enter the Old City via the Dung gate, and visit the Western wall, which is part of the Temple Mount, and which constitutes the focal point, of the Jewish religion after the Second Temple was destroyed.
Walk to Via Dolorosa - the Way of the Cross, which is a series of lanes in the Old City, that according to Christian tradition, was the route that took Jesus, from Pilate's judgment hall to Golgotha. There are 14 Stations along Via Dolorosa, each station commemorating an event, along Jesus route to crucifixion. We will follow this route, passing through the colorful bazaars and ancient streets, to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Visit Jesus tomb and the Golgotha.
Lunch in one of the Old city authentic restaurants
In the afternoon, we will explore an Old City market, one of the world’s oldest markets. Roam the alleys, walk through its gates, smell the scents so typical to such an old city - three thousand years of food and wine at our feet.
We will dine at a classical Jerusalem restaurant, where cooking backed by centuries of tradition, meet with modern time to create a celebration of taste, smell and sights.
After dinner, you will have the time to walk, through the Ben-Yehuda pedestrian street, the exquisite Mammilla street, and enjoy the breath of the Old city by night.
Day 6 - Ein Karem and the Judean Mountains., Machane Yehuda, cooking class
After breakfast, we will visit Ein Karem - the birth place of John the Baptist, which is a beautiful section of the city. There are many fine restaurants, for connoisseurs and quaint guest rooms, offering relaxing hospitality in authentic surroundings. Artists inspired by Ein Karem’s beauty, have settled here to paint and display their works to the public. We will enjoy our lunch in Ein Karem.
In the afternoon we will visit Machne Yehuda market, where we will shop and have a taste of Israel's most lively and colorful market, where orthodox ultra religious Jews, shop side by side with secular people. We will have a chance to see, the many new restaurants just flourishing, in coexistence with market stands and home utilities.
We will take our full baskets, to the last cooking class- one that will combine the tastes, colors, textures and experiences, to a feast of a good- by dinner.
Free evening to check the cities many pubs, and other magic places.
Day 7 - Bethlehem tour, Fare well.
After breakfast drive to Bethlehem, the birthplace of King David and Jesus. Visit Manger Square, Church of the Nativity and continue to Beit Sahur, to visit Shepherds' Field. We will drive back to Bethlehem, and meet with the Palestinian chef, in order to take our last cooking class, with the talented Palestinian chef, who will show us how to prepare special Palestinian dishes. After the Farewell lunch in Bethlehem, we will drive to Ben Gurion International airport, for the departure home.
Bon Voyage
