Tomer Tal (from left) and Avi Zak, George and John restaurant and Drisco Hotel, 50 Best ceremony 2023/San Pellegrino
The high words and normalizing ambitions of the Fifty Best ceremony gave way to the massive regional noises of the war in Gaza, but the prestigious list that is published today (Tuesday) nevertheless tries to pour a little sanity and taste into the abundant food world of the Middle East and Africa, while skipping - somewhat awkwardly , but probably necessary - over the very high political hurdles now.
Tears, dramas and an Israeli brawl of course: the great secrets of Fifty Best
and with the list, also blue-white good news.
How happy we are to have these now.
Especially now: six local restaurants entered the 2024 ranking, maintaining the beautiful Israeli presence in it (although they also raised a few question marks, naturally).
The Israeli presence is maintained.
The full ranking for 2024/Fifty Best (50 Best)
Raz Rahab's OCD restaurant is the top Israeli in the ranking, in 10th place, and Tomer Tal's George and John reached 20th place.
The Nomi restaurant from Kfar Monesh provides the refreshing spirit in the list, with a new entry at the 25th place and a rare appearance for a non-Tel Aviv restaurant - although it has not yet returned from the closing of the war, and at least for now it operates in a bakery-morning format only.
Right after it is the Animar restaurant led by Hillel Tavkoli, while Motti Titman's Malago and Melbar maintains its presence on the list, in 34th place.
Shiral Berger's OPA, which was marked last year as the fifty best promise of the year, holds its place with an entry in the 43rd place, sealing the appearance of "our" restaurants in the ranking.
"Every morning I come to the kitchen to innovate, to improve, to create a better culinary experience and to bring guests a journey of flavors they have never experienced before," responded Tal, "rankings like the 50 best are a welcome byproduct of this effort, an international reminder and appreciation that is always nice to receive I also remember and remind my team - this is a rewarding part of the journey, but not the goal for which we get up in the morning."
Tomer Tal
For life, for what we deserve, and for them: my grandfather escaped from the Nazis, we are here to stay
To the full article
At the Israeli top.
Raz Rahav in OCD/Chaim Yosef
For the third year, the regional restaurant ranking surveyed notable food destinations in the countries of the Middle East and Africa, including Marrakesh, Beirut, Dubai (which holds no less than the first four places on the list) and Cairo (fifth place).
At its core, it reflects the most successful culinary experiences collected from voters - hundreds of local experts who remain anonymous - but is not indifferent to what is happening around.
Outside the restaurant, and in the political-political field of course.
In a ceremony held
last year
in Abu Dhabi, the George and John restaurant came in 6th place, while OCD came in 14th place, while at the same time receiving a commendation for its sustainability capabilities and efforts.
Restaurant a reached the 24th place, Animar by Hillel Tavkoli won the 32nd place, Motti Titman's Malgo and Melbar restaurant received the 40th place and the Basta on the outskirts of the Carmel Market sealed the impressive Israeli presence in the 48th place.
These six restaurants joined an early Israeli celebration, which won the OPA restaurant led by Shiral Berger the "One To Watch" award before the ceremony.
About two years ago
, six Israeli restaurants were selected for the prestigious list - Melgo and Melbar, the Ashdod Pescado of Yehi Zino, Animar, the Besta, George and John and OCD, which reached third place.
"When we reached the last ten," said Rahav after the ceremony, "I started crying from excitement. It's not just entering the list of the fifty best restaurants. It's entering the ten best."
Steady, tall, proud.
Tomer Tal, last year/San Pellegrino
The political-political status now led to the postponement of the ceremony, and finally to its cancellation, at least as a festive format that aspires to exist in a normative zone.
This schedule also created the anomaly that is Nomi, failing to "track" in real time her current status.
Israeli restaurants that were pushed off the list - a by Yuval Ben Naria and the Besta - and new restaurants that aspired to be integrated into it surely have additional questions of their own.
Like the entire Israeli food world, George and John also closed its doors on October 7, gathered into itself and operated only to benefit soldiers and fighters, wounded and evacuees.
Tal himself described in a special column for Walla!
I'm eating the bumps that accompanied the reopening, the hard feelings and the many question marks that surrounded him and his friends.
"Every morning, or actually every minute, the head thinks about those who were left behind, those who sacrificed their lives for us, about our dear country that has been entangled with itself for a long time," he wrote, "the thoughts are unbearably difficult and do not give rest, but they also provide for me the The strength to get back on my feet and go back to thinking about food, thinking about pleasure, about this momentary pleasure that I might be able to give to my guests."
He expressed hope "to forget difficult thoughts and bad mood" and aimed to "perhaps put a smile on the faces" of the guests.
"Then, and with the belief that I can contribute something small, I will go on a journey again. Me, the workers, and the farmers. To them I will turn. They and nature know what is right now. Life goes on, the memories remain, the wounds heal and the soul longs for better days, for peace and normality, for what really is We deserve it," he signed.
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George and John
OCD