Where are we going?
In the middle of a small shady pine grove at the entrance to Kibbutz Ramot Menashe, where a pleasant breeze constantly blows, lies the "Mitlush" food track. Among the tree trunks surrounding it were scattered tables with checkered tablecloths, hammocks and mats. They watch the sunset on the green hills that characterize the Carmel area and the avocado groves of the old kibbutz. "Teva's Cafe," reads a small sign bearing the name of the place, which opens every week anew from Thursday to Saturday. "The grove on the outskirts of Ramot Menashe where we are located looks out, basically, over the 'old spot' from which the kibbutz began," explains Meital Anavi, who founded the food track and lives in the community. She adds: "Today there are no houses here, but this is where its first founders came."
Teva's Cafe // Photo: Hila Dudal
What do we eat?
Through a glass showcase, elaborate sandwiches, quiches, salads, cakes and various pastries are displayed and offered to visitors, but the highlight of the place is actually the coffee. The couple who own the Food Track, Meital and Uri Anavi, carefully selected the quality coffee blend from which the drink is prepared, which is composed of one hundred percent Arabica beans from different countries around the world.
Pastries, quiches and cookies, photo: Ziv Barak
So in Mitlush you won't find an omelet sandwich - not that God forbid we underestimate a dish that recently conquered the network and even the radio - the dairy sandwiches served here come in interesting combinations. Among other things, we tasted a sourdough bread sandwich with rich beef Gouda cheese and sweet sherry jam, accompanied by arugula leaves, lettuce and cherry tomatoes. We also tried a Camembert sandwich served with sourdough bread. It also had onion jam, butter, beets, basil and lettuce. Our vegan friends also enjoyed dishes like a rich salad of black lentils and quinoa or an antipasti sandwich that included zucchini, sweet potatoes, eggplant, mushrooms and roasted peppers. It also had basil leaves, dried tomatoes that gave a sweet sour castor and tahini that wet and balanced the dish.
"We make sure to bring the cheeses from a regional boutique dairy called 'Ein Hashofet.' The sandwiches are made of sourdough breads and everything arrives fresh on the same day," explains Anavi, who assembled the special sandwiches after experimenting at home. She herself created the spreads and jams combined with them. "It was important for us to also provide a vegan solution and a solution for those who avoid gluten because we knew that there was a large crowd that was thirsty for it, especially in the area," she adds. "That's why we always have options – gluten-free cake, sandwich and quiche."
Sandwich with Gouda or Camembert?, Photo: Ziv Barak
Where to travel?
The area where the Food Truck is located has a variety of attractions and hiking trails. Among other things, you can reach the Nahal Hashofet Nature Reserve, see the waterfalls and walk alongside the flowing water. Visit the Ulmus Spring, one of the charming corners located not far from Kibbutz Ramat Hashofet. If you come here specifically during the winter season, when outside of the Food Truck you take care of an indoor seating area, know that in the Cyclamen Forest Reserve near nearby Kibbutz Gilad there is an impressive bloom and a hike on the hill is especially recommended.
Hammocks outside the track, photo: Ziv Barak
Travel diary:
"It was a dream of mine for many years," says Anavi, who is a physiotherapist by profession and owns a private clinic, and says: "I always loved visiting all kinds of interesting cafes, I was attracted to those that have a 'section' and I was always interested in special tastes. For years I wanted to have something like that too."
How do you reach such a point in nature and decide that it is here?
"The area we're in has lovely blooms during a certain season and one day I just said to my husband: 'I really want us to try.' During the Corona period, we saw all the Food Trax open, but I was in the midst of a master's degree and it didn't work. Towards the end of my degree, I had already begun the process of setting up the wagon."
Coming from all over the country, photo: Ziv Barak
Anavi opened the place during Chol Hamoed Pesach last year with a great love of speaking and good intuition, but without any prior experience in the field. "It was a jump into the deep water. At first it was difficult, but slowly we learned to operate it. At first we didn't even know what a building strip was (a strip on which the orders are hung) so we didn't have one. One day someone, who used to have a coffee shop, regretted a building line 'successfully' and brought it to me. Things built slowly and gradually."
Dream come true?
"Today people come to us from all over the country, which is overwhelming. We really like to ask people where they came from and what they do, get to know our guests. Our amazing employees, most of them from the community, too. It was created from a fun and pleasant place that we are very proud of and also work very hard to keep it going."
Meital Anavi in Mittelush, Photo: Ziv Barak
The fields, Ramot Menashe, at the entrance to the kibbutz.
Thursday 7:30-18:00, Friday and Saturday 7:30-14:00
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