Baklavas, Halvas and more… Sweet finds in Tel Aviv

Here’s all I could savor in my short and sweet trip to Tel Aviv.

My favorite find was the halva made of sesame tahini paste that is flavored with vanilla, chocolate and more… The best one I had was at the Renaissance Hotel.

– the halva at The Renaissance

-the breakfast spread at The Renaissance with baklavas, pastry with sweet poppy seed filling, Bourekas (puff pastry with potato or cheese filling), breads and more…

More halvas…

-slabs and slabs of halva

-food market/food court

Thanks to colleagues for introducing me to more sweets…

–Soufgaiyah (from Shemo bakery)- the deep fried donut like delight

– Malabi – a milk based pudding with rose syrup and pistachios 

Yaffa Knafeh in Jaffa @ Olei Zion St 24, Tel Aviv-Yafo famous for their kanafehs and baklavas

-Baklava and Kanafeh 

-Baklava ice cream sandwich – never knew this existed until the day I tasted it.

– Kanafeh is a traditional Middle Eastern dessert made with shredded filo pastry,[3] or alternatively fine semolina dough, soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup, and typically layered with cheese, or with other ingredients such as clotted cream or nuts, depending on the region. (source: Wikipedia)

Turkish coffee and Egyptian tea

–Turkish coffee is made with finely ground coffee beans without filtering it. Spices like cardamom, and cloves are also added in some.

-Egyptian tea served in a dainty tea glass

Abulafia Bakery, Jaffa at Yefet St 7, Tel Aviv-Yafo

-the massive bourekas and other pastries

Fresh fruit juices and Yogurt 

-Streets are lined with a lot of fresh fruit juice  and yogurt stores.

-and the huge pomegranates 

Ice Creams and Gelatos

Otello Gelato at Dizengoff St 165, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

-dark chocolate and pistachio gelato

 

-Savoring the ice cream by the sidewalk under the warm light

Anita’s at Shabazi St

Shabazi Street in Neve Tzedek is a cool neighborhood with galleries, cafes, art stores and friendly four legged felines.

A trip to a grocery store is a must in every new city I visit and here’s one from Tel Aviv.

And so is a trip to the market – The Carmel Market

These four legged friends not only watch over the market activities, they are all over the city! Another blog exclusive on them soon.

On the non-sweet category, I remember the Sabich (the pita bread pocket sandwich with Amba sauce (mango sauce), the potato bourekas, a generous doze of falafels, pita and hummus, the roasted cauliflower(at Miznon), Shakshouka (egg and tomato breakfast dish) and all the bread and fresh fruits (persimmon, pomegranates and more)

And, vegetarians and vegans, fear not, plenty of delicious options to savor in the city!