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Israeli street food – the magnificent and humble boureka

The square shape of the bourekas tells us that they are filled with a potato filling One does not have to spend a long time in Israel to get your first introduction to a boureka. These savory stuffed pastries are everywhere You'll find them for breakfast in hotel dining halls, in countless bakeries and coffee shops, on picnics and even at restaurants that only serve bourekas. They are often eaten in Israeli homes as part of a 'light' or diary meal in the evenings. (Most households in Israel usually serve the large cooked meal at lunchtime.) More often than not, bourekas are also an integral part of the wonderful Friday or Shabbat brunch table. To be really honest however, you basically eat a boureka whenever you encounter one. They are that irresistible. If you stop to grab a quick coffee at a coffee shop, the comforting smell of the bourekas will convince you to upgrade to a 'café ve'ma afe' (coffee + pastry). Wandering through street markets, the sight of fres
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What is the connection between pomegranates and the Jewish New Year?




Another year and another Jewish New Year, or rather Rosh haShana (the head of the year).
And again we see pomegranates ALL over the place! I mean like...EveryWhere!
  • There are pomegranates on the greeting cards we send each other for Rosh haShana
  • There are heaps of pomegranates in the supermarkets
  • There are pomegranate recipes in every single newspaper and magazine
  • There are pomegranates, real and decorative ones, on the table during the Rosh haShana meals. As a matter of fact, pomegranate seeds are one of food stuffs that have a special blessing.
  • The juice guys on the street corners are selling more pomegranate juice than ever
  • The are even pomegranates growing like crazy all over Israel. They are practically 'dripping' from their trees.

So what is the story with all these pomegranates all over the place?
Well, the story is two-fold:
1. Jews eat pomegranates during Rosh haShana to a sign that people's good deeds should be as plentiful as the  seeds of a pomegranate.
 
There are 613 good deeds that Jews should do and legend has it that this is the exact number of pomegranate seeds found in a pomegranate. 

And no, I have not counted all the seeds in one pomegranate.But I would like hear from you if you have! I am really curious to know if this is really true :)

Trees are filled with pomegranates during Rosh Hashana in Israel.
2. Pomegranates are now in season in Israel. And it is pretty obvious that the fruit that are in season will be in the supermarkets and growing in the trees and will be eaten with relish and all that.

But let's put point 1 and point 2 together and think a bit about it.... The pomegranates are in season in Israel at the exact time period when Rosh haShana is celebrated and the Jewish people has a special prayer for them.

There are many such connections between Judaism and the land of Israel, but I particularly like this one. Maybe it is because the pomegranate seeds are so beautiful and jewel-like or because they grow so plentiful on their trees. 

But it is probably because they are sweet and healthy and and a beautiful symbol for the hope of a wonderful Rosh haShana.

Happy 5774 everyone!





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Israeli street food – the magnificent and humble boureka

The square shape of the bourekas tells us that they are filled with a potato filling One does not have to spend a long time in Israel to get your first introduction to a boureka. These savory stuffed pastries are everywhere You'll find them for breakfast in hotel dining halls, in countless bakeries and coffee shops, on picnics and even at restaurants that only serve bourekas. They are often eaten in Israeli homes as part of a 'light' or diary meal in the evenings. (Most households in Israel usually serve the large cooked meal at lunchtime.) More often than not, bourekas are also an integral part of the wonderful Friday or Shabbat brunch table. To be really honest however, you basically eat a boureka whenever you encounter one. They are that irresistible. If you stop to grab a quick coffee at a coffee shop, the comforting smell of the bourekas will convince you to upgrade to a 'café ve'ma afe' (coffee + pastry). Wandering through street markets, the sight of fres
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