Shakshuka, Labane, Cafe Hafuch: A Great Way to Start the Day

posted Monday, August 1, 2011 by Rebecca Brooks

When I visit Israel each meal is a delight of fresh breads, salads, cheeses, yogurt, meat and fish...then there are the creamy desserts, baklava and the freshest fruit you can imagine. Luckily there is so much hiking, biking, walking and swimming that I can afford to think about food 24/7. There were so many amazing meals but one of my favorites was breakfast at Rothmans in Lotem which is in the Northern Mountains of Israel.  As we walked up to the restaurant we pass pomegranate, lemon and olive trees. There was a fragrant smell of nana, rosemary and lemongrass from the garden to the side. Not only was the food out of this world, but the atmosphere was unparalleled.

Each table was different and the décor, warm and inviting.  We sat outside looking out onto a sprawling countryside at Israeli and Arab villages, fields of watermelon and olive trees and the beautiful colorful mountainside.

Pictures can't convey the beauty.  Here's a sampling of what was on the menu:

• Started with a cup of fresh fruit salad
• We each had a delicious cafe hafuch- which is Hebrew for upside down or basically an amazing latte
• Then they served a group of tiny bowls each filled with little delights to spread on homemade bread
• Fresh Tehina with cumin sprinkled on top
• Creamy cheese with black sesame on top
• Tzstiki w finely chopped cucumber + homemade za’atar
• Eggplant roasted with sesame, soy and lemon, lime, oranges
• Feta cheese sprinkled w za'atar and olive oil
• Labane balls w za’atar
• Sweet potatoes that were delightfully  sweet + tart - made with soy, mint, lemon, orange juice and honey
• Homemade Olive spread and pesto which was not pureed but chopped with garlic, lemon and olive oil
• Fresh Strawberry + Apple jams
• One of my fav dishes - Shakshuka made with fresh eggs from their farm and spices from garden.
• At the end of the meal they served a  creamy amazing middle eastern dessert made with sugar, milk, corn mill rose and water

Ready to visit Israel yet? What are your favorite Middle Eastern meals?