the israel culinary trip - The Temple Emanu

MARCH
23
TO
AP
RI
L
1,
20
17
C
I P M A R H 2 0 TO 2
3
-T R
RE
|P
THE
ISRAEL
CULINARY
TRIP
TA S T E H I S TO RY I N T H E M A K I N G
A culinary revolution
is taking place
in Israel
In just thirty years, Israel has gone from having no fine
dining to boasting a world-renowned food scene. But
what is Israeli cuisine? To answer this question we are
going straight to the source: Israel!
Defining exactly what Israeli cuisine is might be a
conundrum, but the nation’s emerging chefs and food
purveyors are right now making history with a unique
culinary voice — and the table is set for you.
Over the course of our 10-day Israel trip, we will dine at
top restaurants, learn from and cook with master chefs,
sample special tasting menus, tour local farms and
vintners, taste-tour marketplaces plus see many of Israel’s
historic sites. We will meet with the people who make up
each link in the Israeli food supply chain—from farm to
market to preparation to table—whose combined work
and passion create this unique fare.
As we move around the country, we will be enjoying
luxury accommodations and service in Israel’s finest
hotels. Our schedule also includes ample time for relaxing
and exploring on your own.
Get a taste of it!
Ein Chud
The Eucalyptus
Chef Moshe Basson
Machneyuda
Chef Assaf Granit
Mike & Sharon’s Bistro
Chef Mike Hammerschlag
Muscat
Chef Roy Dekel
HaBasta
Rosmary
HaSalon
Shishko
Chef Maoz Aonim
Chef Eyal Shani
RESTAURANTS
& CHEFS
Azura
Chef Amir Halfon
Chef Tal Chotiner
Street Fare
Culinary Highlights
Include: •• Cooking and baking classes with renowned chefs
•• Wine tasting with Adam Montefiore,
“The Ambassador of Israeli Wine”
•• Halva and tahini factory tours
•• Meat-smoking workshop with Chef Mike
Hammerschlag
•• Tasting tours of Sarona, Machane Yehuda
and Carmel Markets
•• Chocolate workshop
•• Organic goat-cheese farm
•• Vineyards and whiskey distilleries sampling
•• Prepare your own spiced oil workshop
•• Cooking workshop with Erez Komarovsky,
the first contemporary baker to introduce
artisanal bread to Israel
Other Highlights: •• Mediterranean boat tour
•• Double-decker bus tour
•• Camel ride experience
•• Tower of David night spectacular
•• Hot-air balloon ride (optional)
Register at EmanuelSkirballNYC.org/israel or 212.507.9580
Tel Aviv
Dates & Pricing
Culinary Trip
March 23 to April 1, 2017
Jerusalem
$5750 per person (double occupancy)
$1750 per person (single occupancy supplement)
Pre-Trip Experience
(for first-time visitors)
March 20 to March 23, 2017
$1350 per person (double occupancy)
$375 per person (single occupancy supplement)
ACCOMMODATIONS
This trip will sell out. We recommend registering
ASAP to guarantee your space.
A $1,000 deposit per person is due upon registration
with the balance due by December 15, 2016.
Register at
EmanuelSkirballNYC.org/israel
or call 212.507.9580
Karel Greenberg, Chair | karel.greenberg@gmail.com
Galilee
Negev
Royal Beach
Hotel
Price Includes •• VIP service at Ben Gurion airport
•• All accommodations (5-star hotels)
•• 10 full days with a private, licensed tour guide
•• All special activities, restaurants, tastings, admission
fees and programs as per itinerary
•• Luxurious, WiFi-equipped bus for the entire trip
•• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners at Israel’s finest
Mamilla
Hotel
restaurants (and some street food!), alcohol and tips
included
•• An exclusive Temple Emanu-El Skirball Center bag
Not Included
•• Airfare to/from Israel
•• Travel insurance (recommended). To purchase
please contact Michelle Cheslow at 732.325.1124
or: michelle@affinityexcursions.com
•• Tips for guide and driver (optional)
•• Hot-air balloon experience (optional)
Mitzpe Hayamim
Spa Hotel
Note that some of the activities rely on local hosts,
suppliers or sites and are subject to change.
Minimum age for participation is 21.
Cancellations
By January 1, 2017 | All fees minus $500 per person
will be refunded
Beresheet
Hotel
By January 23, 2017 | 50% of all fees will be refunded
No refunds after January 23, 2017
ITINERARY
Wednesday | March 22
E N RO U T E
Depart New York airport (flight not included
in the price of trip).
Our program begins on Thursday, March 23, 2017
at 5:00 PM in Tel Aviv and concludes at 6:00 PM on
April 1; there are many flights after midnight.
Although you may choose any air carrier, we have
arranged a group flight on:
March 22 | Delta flight 468 Departing JFK at 10:47 PM Arriving Tel Aviv at 3:30 PM (on March 23) April 2 | Delta flight 469
Departing Tel Aviv at 12:30 AM Arriving JFK at 5:19 AM (on April 2) For further assistance or other flight reservations,
please contact Michelle Cheslow at 732.325.1124
or: michelle@affinityexcursions.com
Thursday | March 23
Arrival
Friday | March 24
Tel Aviv
W E LCOM E TO I S R A E L
T H E I S R A E L I F R I DAY
Our representative will greet you at Ben Gurion
International Airport and guide you through VIP
passport control and to our bus.
Double-decker Bus Tour for a panoramic view of
Tel Aviv & Jaffa. {LUNCH} Sarona | A Templar colony, established in 1871
by devout Christians who came from Germany.
Not long ago, a masterpiece of renovation and
preservation of the colony was completed, resulting
in Israel’s largest indoor food market.
Tasting Room | A trendy bar and wine store will host us
and our opening speaker – a food critic/ local chef, who
will try to answer this ongoing question: “Is there
an Israeli cuisine?”
{DINNER} HaBasta | A tiny restaurant and wine bar, just
a clutch of round tables in an alley off Carmel Market,
draws its inspiration from the market’s fresh offerings.
{OVERNIGHT} Royal Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv
A tasting tour of Milk and Honey, the first whiskey
distillery in Israel.
{LUNCH} Enjoy a Friday tradition as you stroll down
Carmel Market. Experience the colors, scents and flavors
of the busiest place in Tel Aviv.
Shabbat Services at Beit Daniel Center for Progressive
Judaism, where traditional Jewish values and heritage
are celebrated.
{DINNER} Shabbat Dinner Experience
{OVERNIGHT} Royal Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv
Saturday | March 25
Tel Aviv
Sunday | March 26
Galilee
S H A B BAT I N T E L AV I V
S E SA M E S E E D S
A walk through the neighborhoods of Tel Aviv.
Bread workshop with Uri Scheft of the award-winning
Breads (Lehamim) Bakery in Tel Aviv & NYC
{LUNCH} Shishko Bulgarian Bar | Serving genuine
Bulgarian dishes in tapas style.
Private Cooking Class in an exclusive fashion
photography studio.
Jaffa old city and port | Walking through the
cobblestone alleys, we will find ourselves at Jaffa’s
exquisite port and boardwalk.
Mediterranean Boat Tour
{DINNER} HaSalon | Owner Eyal Shani is a chef, artist,
poet and entrepreneur. Here, at his flagship restaurant,
you will enjoy a tasting-menu, engaging all five senses.
{OVERNIGHT} Royal Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv
{LUNCH} Falafel Dvora, Pardes Chana | A street-side
falafel kiosk world famous for their freshly baked pita.
Halva and Tahini factory, Nazareth | Tahini (a beloved
Middle Eastern condiment) and halva (a popular sweet
confection) are both sesame-seed based. We will tour
the factory with explanation on preparations and
production along with tastings.
Safed | The center of Kabbalah since the 16th century, it
is home to a mixture of Hasidic Jews and artists. We will
tour the labyrinth of cobbled alleys and taste Kadosh
cheese and homemade sfinge (North African dessert).
{DINNER & OVERNIGHT} Mitzpe Hayamim Spa Hotel,
Galilee | Overlooking the magnificent Golan Heights and
the Sea of Galilee. The gourmet chef restaurant Muscat
is a center of attraction for culinary enthusiasts with
dishes that are fashioned from fresh produce collected
daily from the fields and orchards.
Monday | March 27
Galilee
Tuesday | March 28
Jerusalem
GALILEE CUISINE
J E R U SA L E M M I X
Relax, indulge and enjoy the facilities.
Machane Yehuda Market tasting tour | Enjoy the
hustle and bustle with all the rich fragrances, colors and
sounds this market has to offer.
{LUNCH} Cooking workshop with Chef Erez
Komarovsky at his home in Moshav Matat | A full day
workshop with a lovely Galilean atmosphere, excellent
food and good wine.
Mount Meron observatory spot: from here, we view all
three northern borders of Israel. We will learn about the
region’s edible plants and herbs.
{DINNER} Ein Chud | An Arab restaurant serving
traditional food and authentic dishes that are prepared
daily from the freshest ingredients.
{OVERNIGHT} Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem
{LUNCH} Azura | This particular eatery was reportedly a
regular meeting spot for the underground leaders of the
Yishuv and remains a favored joint with the country’s
influential elite.
City of David | Tour of the city beneath, the biblical city
of King David founded 3,000 years ago.
Leisure time.
{DINNER} Machneyuda | In what is considered the
best restaurant in Jerusalem and possibly the country,
celebrity chef Assaf Granit pays homage to the city’s
colors and cacophony in his elegant dishes.
{OVERNIGHT} Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem
Wednesday | March 29
Jerusalem
Thursday | March 30
Negev
SW E E T & DA I RY
S O U T H WA R D B O U N D
Ein Karem chocolate workshop: Create and make your
own pralines.
Shai Seltzer’s goat farm: In the mountains surrounding
Jerusalem, Shai built and founded his own goat
farm after winning cheese exhibition awards. Meet
this unique individual who prepares his cheese in a
2,000-year-old cave.
{LUNCH} Hands-on cookout Israeli style | We will cook
our own meal in an outdoor kitchen setup, with raw
cooking ingredients.
Leisure time.
The Night Spectacular: Tower of David Light Show
The walls of the Citadel serve as a stage for a nightime
show that is a celebration of sight and sound, telling the
story of Jerusalem.
{DINNER} The Eucalyptus | Utilizing his schooling
in agriculture and passion for studying ancient
script, Chef Moshe Basson has incorporated into the
restaurant’s kosher menu many dishes that are a modern
interpretation of biblical cuisine.
{OVERNIGHT} Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem
Hot-air balloon at sunrise flying over the desert
($280 per person) - optional.
Meat-smoking workshop with Chef Mike
Hammerschlag.
{LUNCH} Mike & Sharon’s Bistro where one is
enveloped in a warm, hospitable setting of walls painted
in warm African colors, African wood mask carvings and
a menu that boasts authentic South African favorites.
Ovdat | We will tour this ancient city named after a
Nabatean king.
Cocktail Reception overlooking the Ramon Crater.
{DINNER & OVERNIGHT} Beresheet Hotel, Negev
Maintaining a dialog with the surrounding desert,
allowing its essence to penetrate every corner, and
excels in its attention to even the smallest detail. The
hotel’s main restaurant serves healthy, delicious food
made with local raw materials that are produced on
farms neighboring the hotel, bringing with them the
fragrances of the desert.
Friday | March 31
Negev
Saturday | April 1
Departure
AG R I C U LT U R E I N T H E D E S E RT
WINE AND FRIENDS
Shirat HaMidbar | Prepare your own spiced oil at this
unique organic farm, amid medicinal herb plants, spices,
Moroccan argan trees, grape vines and colorful orchards.
Relax, indulge and enjoy the facilities or an easy hike in
Makhtesh Ramon. The spectacular views and the peace
and quiet of the desert merge into one harmonious picture
of total beauty of this unique geological phenomenon.
Kadesh Barne’a | Here in this arid desert community, a
miracle of agriculture takes place with cherry tomatoes.
Meet local farmers and discuss the accomplishment
achieved with state-of-the-art technology.
Avi Arzuni’s farm | Using ancient Nabatean agricultural
techniques, Avi has managed to grow a variety of fruits
and vegetables year-round relying solely on unexpected
flash floods.
{LUNCH} A Bedouin Tent Experience.
Camel riding through magnificent desert landscape.
{DINNER} Beresheet Hotel
Lecture and wine tasting with Adam Montefiore,
“The Ambassador of Israeli Wine” .
{OVERNIGHT} Beresheet Hotel, Negev
Nana Farm winery | Outside of Mitzpe Ramon, acres of
grapevines have been planted to create a sea of green in
the middle of the desert. We will walk through the vines
and taste the wines of this special vineyard.
{LUNCH} Majda | A hidden gem of a restaurant in a
picturesque spot a few miles west of Jerusalem where an
earnest Jewish-Arab couple makes fresh food straight from
their garden. The menu draws on both Jewish and Arab
influences to become a uniquely new yet familiar concept.
Closing Program.
Group transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport.
for first-time visitors
EARLY TRIP
{optional}
Monday | March 20
E N RO U T E
Tuesday | March 21
Arrival
Jerusalem
W E LCOM E TO I S R A E L
Our representative will greet you at Ben Gurion
International Airport and guide you through VIP
passport control and to our bus.
Depart New York airport (flight not
included in the price of trip).
Our program begins on Tuesday, March
21, 2017 at 5:00 PM in Jerusalem and
concludes at 6:00 PM on April 1; there are
many flights after midnight.
Local Monuments
Drive through valleys and hills, and arrive in Jerusalem,
located nearly 2,500 feet above sea level.
Israel Museum | The largest cultural institution in the
State of Israel, it is ranked among the world’s leading art
and archaeology museums.
Although you may choose any air carrier,
we have arranged a group flight on:
A visit to the Kotel, the Western Wall.
March 20 - Delta flight 468 Departing JFK at 10:47 PM Arriving Tel Aviv at 3:30 PM (on March 21) Lunch and dinner included
April 2 - Delta flight 469
Departing Tel Aviv at 12:30 AM Arriving JFK at 5:19 AM (on April 2) For further assistance or other flight
reservations, please contact Michelle
Cheslow at 732.325.1124
or: michelle@affinityexcursions.com
Register at
EmanuelSkirballNYC.org/israel
or call 212.507.9580
{OVERNIGHT} King David Hotel, Jerusalem
Wednesday | March 22
Masada
Ein Gedi
Thursday | March 23
Dead Sea
Jerusalem
Tel Aviv
F ROM 2,5 00 F E E T TO -1,410
A N C I E N T C I T Y, MO D E R N T I M E S
St. George Monastery viewpoint | We will stop along
the way in Wadi Qelt and marvel at the cliff-hanging
complex inhabited by monks since the 6th century.
Tour the Old City of Jerusalem
Masada | Masada is located on the eastern edge of
the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. Ancient
fortress built on an isolated rock plateau, where King
Herod the Great built a royal citadel; it was the last post
of the Zealots at the time: the Great Revolt against the
Romans was staged here.
Explore the City of Gold and see the Jewish Quarter
through its narrow alleys and limestone walls. Continue
to the Western Wall Tunnels, an underground system of
manmade tunnels, which pass under the buildings of
the Muslim Quarter and serve as the continuation of the
Western Wall.
Ein Gedi | Off the Dead Sea shore, Ein Gedi is blessed
with two continually flowing fresh water streams. We will
go on a short hike through the streams, which include a
number of waterfalls and swimming areas.
Visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to the victims
of the Holocaust.
Dead Sea | The lowest place on earth. Float in the
nutrient-rich waters.
{OVERNIGHT} King David Hotel, Jerusalem
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Ramparts tour | Climb the walls of the city and get a
rare view of the Old City from atop.
Join the rest of the group for our Culinary Trip!
{OVERNIGHT} Royal Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included