Israeli Cuisine Awards: Who is the best restaurant in the country?

In a special ceremony that took place last night, and marked a month of culinary events on the subject of Israeli cuisine, awards were presented in a variety of categories, so who was chosen as the best restaurant?

Who is the best chef and who has won the Special Lifetime Achievement Award?

All the answers inside

Yael Laor

08/12/2021

Wednesday, 08 December 2021, 09:00 Updated: 09:10

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Chef Shalom Kadosh receives the Lifetime Achievement Award (Photo: Eyal Marilos)

Last night, the Israeli Cuisine Awards ceremony was held, sponsored by American Express, which signed a month full of culinary events around the country, with the best chefs, restaurants and food people in Israel. At the ceremony, the first of its kind, which is set to become an annual tradition, awards were presented in a variety of culinary categories.

Even before the election of the judging panel, it was decided to award the Inspiration Award for Lifetime Achievement to Chef Shalom Kadosh. Remember, Kadosh, 73, was seriously injured in an attack at a gas station, on the eve of his daughter's wedding several months ago, and after a lengthy rehabilitation process, he honored the ceremony last night in his presence, and looked very excited about the class. The award can be sanctified, as someone who left a special mark on Israeli cuisine and created a new and distinctive language that promotes Israeli cuisine.

Another award from the festival's management was given to the Tzohar training program - a "special award" for outstanding contribution to the development and strengthening of Israeli kitchen institutions and businesses in the past year.

In the past year, there has been a significant increase in the number of businesses that hold a "Tzohar" certificate and today more than 10% of kosher restaurants in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv hold an alternative certificate - among them many restaurants that did not previously hold an "official" kosher certificate.

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To the full article

Rotenberg Restaurant - the best restaurant (Photo: Afik Gabay)

The outstanding restaurant of Israeli cuisine - Rotenberg

The award for the outstanding restaurant award of Israeli cuisine was chosen by the judging panel for the Rotenberg restaurant. Rotenberg, located in Kibbutz Gesher, in the Valley of the Springs, by Izhar and Hila Sahar, has been occupying a place of honor in Israeli cuisine for years, thanks to its extraordinary connection to the land and the local area. In recent months, the Sahar couple have decided to slightly change the concept of the place, and now they only offer a closed tasting menu (instead of choosing from the menu), which should provide a more complete experience.

Among the reasons for awarding the prize "Rotenberg Restaurant has been an extraordinary point since day one. First thanks to the remote location - at the old bridge conservation site in the Beit She'an Valley, close to the border fence with Jordan, at least two hours drive from any major city in Israel. When the couple's wife Hila and chef Yizhar Sahar entered the restaurant, the culinary line also began to become special and different - the two began a long-term study of Giladi cuisine - the one that has characterized the route of the restaurant for centuries, based solely on local ingredients and techniques. Unique in cooking, fermenting and preserving and even restoring ancient recipes. At the same time, the two began cultivating a community of local producers, who provide the restaurant with almost all its needs - from raw materials to cutlery and decor items. Only - this out of a desire to maximize for diners as much as possible the connection between the restaurant and its surroundings.Under the auspices of the Sahar couple, the Rotenberg restaurant has become one of the few places in the country that fulfills, in effect, the ideal vision of a rural chef restaurant - a restaurant that is a destination for special travel, a magnet for food lovers and curious alike. A restaurant that stretches and expands almost every day the boundaries of the new Israeli cuisine and does so while maintaining a close connection with the regional culinary traditions. "

Raz Rahav, the outstanding chef (Photo: Haim Yosef)

The outstanding chef of Israeli cuisine - Raz Rahav

The title of Outstanding Chef of Israeli Cuisine was given to the young chef Raz Rahav, who is behind the OCD restaurant.

Among the reasons for awarding the prize to Rahav was "The fact that only about two months ago he celebrated his 30th birthday was supposed to make Raz Rahav a natural candidate for the promising chef title of Israeli cuisine. However, the five years since he opened OCD restaurant in Tel Aviv Despite the apparent innate reluctance of the Israeli diner to closed tasting menus, the restaurant is extremely popular and currently does not accept orders for the first half of 2022. In addition, OCD is the only restaurant in Israel included in the latest list of recommendations of the prestigious OAD restaurant rating. Rahav's food is difficult to define in one degree, but can perhaps be described as a progressive Israeli. The perfect melting pot Rahav outlines a unique way not only in the kitchen but also in the concept of service he instills in his restaurant,And which strives for the accuracy and professionalism of leading 'Fine Dining' restaurants in the world - from the familiarity of each diner by name to the provision of the personal menu signed at the end of the evening. Despite two very difficult years in the field of restaurants Beyond his main restaurant, he will soon open a wine and food bar in the Lewinsky Market area as well as a private bakery. "

The Promising Chef of Israeli Cuisine - Aviad Peled and Uri Steinberg (Wild)

The winners of the Promising Chef Award of Israeli cuisine are chefs Aviad Peled and Uri Steinberg, who are behind Wild Restaurant.

Among the reasons for the award "The two young chefs and professionals, Hotel Montefiore executives, who for the first time head their own restaurant, managed in a short time to turn" Wild "into one of the most interesting restaurants in the city. "About two names worth following."

Dushpara soup at Hanan Margilan, the outstanding culinary institution (Photo: Dana Meirzon)

The outstanding culinary institution - Hanan Margilan

The Bukharan Hapoalim restaurant, which has long since become a stronghold of Tel Aviv foodies, is honored with the title of "Outstanding Culinary Institution."

Among the reasons for the award is "Hanan Margilan is a restaurant that takes two basic ingredients - meat and dough - and produces an infinity of traditional delicacies from the Uzbek-Bukharian cuisine - tiny doshfra sachets in soup, steamed manti, fried chiborki and baked gooseberries, rice dishes like "Stir and humiliate, Lagman soup with handmade noodles and of course an excellent charcoal grill. All of these combined with a drinks menu based mainly on vodka make Margillan one of the most unique and beloved restaurants in Israel."

The Magician, Outstanding Street Food (Photo: Yaron Brenner)

The outstanding street food of Israeli cuisine - the magician

The non-"magician" is Ariel Rosenthal, who won the Outstanding Street Food Award of Israeli cuisine.

Among the reasons for the award "It is doubtful if there are other stalls that have left such a significant mark in the history of Israeli street food as" The Magician ". Almost two decades have passed since Ariel Rosenthal opened his stall, and since then the place A street in Israel. Every detail in "Magician" is one in which thought and precision have been invested - from the frequency of grinding the chickpeas to the location of the speakers, from the masterful process of frying the eggplant to the seasoning of the rice - everything here seems tired until you taste it .

Alter Restaurant (Photo: Shelly Yael Schleier)

The outstanding new restaurant of Israeli cuisine - Alter

The Alter restaurant, which was opened this year in Ramat Hasharon by chef Anar Ben Rafael (formerly Munar, Igra Rama, Agra B'Meshek), won the title of the new restaurant of Israeli cuisine.

This is what my father Efrati wrote about her during his visit there, very recently.

Among the reasons for awarding the prize "Alter is the last stage in the evolution of the talented chef Ben Ben Rafael Foreman, who for years has been sharpening his faith in" Pharm to Table "and using only local raw materials. "Vegetable and next to it modestly renovated a personal and charming restaurant, a special place, where you can sit and eat beets and kohlrabi, and walk straight to the open kitchen and the local wine treasures wall, where unusual dishes are born, most of which are picked in the morning in the nearby garden.

Daria Restaurant The Outstanding Hachshara Restaurant (Photo: Ohad Keb)

The outstanding kosher restaurant - Daria

Chef Hillel Tuvkali's kosher apartment restaurant won the title of Outstanding Kosher Restaurant.

Avi Efrati also visited it a few weeks ago, and was pleasantly surprised.

Among the reasons for the award "If you ask Hillel Tuvkoli, the chef of" Daria ", there is a chance that he will say that his restaurant does not belong to the Israeli cuisine awards at all. But what could be more Israeli than collecting inspiration Incredibly accurate and distilling what exceptional dishes are? Tvokoli does all this and more under kosher restrictions in the new restaurant. About six months ago at the Hilton Hotel, it's the place that makes us forget everything we thought we knew about kosher chef restaurants in hotels.

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Excellence Award in Documenting Israeli Cuisine (Social Media) - Dr. Nof Atamna

Dr. Nof Atmana, who won a Master Chef seven years ago, has in recent years become one of the most prominent women in Israeli cuisine, and a loyal representative of Palestinian-Shami cuisine, especially on social media. We have long recommended you to follow her on Instagram.

Among the reasons for the award "The precedent victory in" Master Chef "about seven years ago brought Dr. Nof Atamna extraordinary popularity and exposure.

Atamana chooses to harness this popularity every day for the benefit of those who do not receive enough credit and recognition.

In every story, in every post and in every interview, Atamana and reminds us all of the traditional techniques and tastes of the local Palestinian-Shami-Ottoman cuisine - the one on which a very significant portion of the new Israeli cuisine rests.

The nearly 150,000 followers that Atamna has on Instagram, the many food culture events she has created and the many students she has put up in workshops and cooking schools - all testify that her unique voice has the power to highlight conflicts on the one hand, but fight and connect as only food knows - on the other.

And for that she deserves all the praise and reward. "

Afaim Farm - Excellence Award for an Israeli farmer (Photo: Noam Moskowitz)

Excellence Award for an Israeli farmer - Afaim Farm

The Day Winon brothers Afaim, and their partners Golan Max and Ran Peleg, who are behind the esteemed Afaim farm, for sustainable plots, won an excellence award for an Israeli farmer.

Among the reasons for the "Afaim Farm Award for Sustainable Agriculture" is the pioneers of organic farming in the country, and was established in 2008.

The farm currently has three herds of goats, a dairy, a dairy farm and a chicken coop that produce organic free-range eggs in the Arava.

In addition, the farm has planted a vineyard and orchard in the Ella Valley that includes heritage trees with fruit varieties that are in danger of extinction.

Along with expanding the economy's activities, with the establishment of shops and cafes, its founders continue to take every aspect of their activities lightly: from collaborations with farmers and colleagues in the production of olive oils to ensuring fair employment conditions and community activity supported by the farm's association.

From organic grazing to goat herding throughout the year to manual production of the farm's finest cheeses which are available in every sandwich sold in their stores and national delivery service.

Since its establishment, the Afaim Farm has served as a model farm that hosts farmers from all over the world who want to learn about sustainable agriculture. "

The usual Yuval (Job), Julius Distillery (Photo: Anatoly Michaelo)

Winner of the Excellence Award in the field of wine, beer and alcohol production - Julius Distillery

"Distillery, founded by Yuval (job) standard in 2008 is the first distillery Hartiznlit country.

Since the grappa distilled first regular old cowshed in Kibbutz Beit Haemek, has become a magnificent business distillery produces ten distillates, including seasonal, based on grape oil cake (Grappa) ", Fruit distillates (schnapps) and botanical drinks (gin and bitters).

Solved boutique (Photo: Elad Barami)

Excellence Award for an Israeli Artisan Manufacturer - Solved Boutique

"The vineyards of the resolved press in Sde Moshe were planted in 1976 by Tova and Shmuel Tamir, one of the founders of the moshav. "He is one of the few who currently produces Nabali olive oil in Israel. Along with plowing his own independent furrow in the family olive oil tradition, he produces natural honey and a series of artisan spreads, and maintains a constructive dialogue with Israeli chefs to make Israeli olive oil culture accessible to the general public."

More awards given:

The outstanding project to promote Israeli cuisine - Heritage Seeds.

The outstanding innovation project of Israeli cuisine - Redifine Meat.

Excellence in documenting Israeli cuisine (book, film, series) - we're on the napkin, here 11.

The festival's entrepreneurs, Nirit Weiss and David Kishka concluded: "After a year and a half full of uncertainty, conflicts and difficulties in the field of restaurants, we are proud that we managed to raise the discourse about the diverse world full of colors and flavors of Israeli cuisine. "The list of proud winners of the 'Israeli Kitchen Excellence Awards' is just the beginning of a path that has not yet been properly paved for the recognition of our cuisine as an inspiring culture, economy, tourism and society."

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