A Vegan in Israel

In July this year I went on a bit of an around the world trip for 9 weeks. My first stop was Israel. Interesting country. I spent 2 weeks there. By the end of the first week I was ready to get the hell out of there but I'm glad I stayed because I saw some amazing things.

But this is a food blog, not a holiday blog. So let's talk about the food because Israel is the Mecca for vegans. (Gosh, I hope that metaphor doesn't step on anyone's toes.) Falafel falafel falafel!

I think the first night we were there Ben took me to Hippo. And I had falafel! It was so delicious. I can't describe how much I miss the falafel and hummus in the Middle East.

I think the next best food memory was at the Farmer's Markets on the Tel Aviv wharf. They have lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and there is the Abagil stand where they sell Dancing Camel beer and freshly made hummus warm out of the pot topped with olive oil and herbs and served with warm pita. It was so delicious. Ben took me to the restaurant near the end of my trip where I ate more hummus and more pita. The pita over there is so fluffy and delicious. When we weren't eating out I was taking pita and hummus and fresh dates in my bag for lunch. Yum yum!

If you are worried about how pale I look I got very tanned after bathing in the Mediterranean Sea, Dead Sea and Red Sea. I left Israel rather tanned. This photo was from only my second or third day and I'd come out of winter in Brisbane and spending whole months locked in my office writing my thesis.

Another great place I ate at (twice, once in each of their two locations) was Buddha Burgers. They made delicious burgers and I would highly recommend anyone going. I think they have English menus. It's a shame I don't have any photos of me eating there (I conceived the idea for the blog at the end of my trip) but they were delicious!

My final, and rather fondest, memory of food in Israel was the watermelon icypoles! I found them first when we were waiting for the taxi at Rosh Hanikra and then after I raved about them to Ben's mum she went out and bought me a couple to have at home. She was such a sweetheart. Below is a picture of all three of us eating at Badolina; one of the "dairy" restaurants (dairy and meat can't be served in the same restaurant in most places in Israel due to Jewish law which is why veganism is quite common and why vegetarians find it so easy to find good restaurants in Israel). I missed my hair appointment the day before I left. I travelled around Europe with that haircut. Poor Europe.