Israel – a Kosher Culinary Adventure
9 days, 8 nights
Monday; Tel –Aviv – Welcome to the new Israeli Cuisine
We will arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and will be met by an Ophir Tours representative, who will assist us with our luggage, escort us through customs and help us with our transfer to Tel Aviv where we will check-in to our hotel.
· We will spend the afternoon at the Tel Aviv Port, stroll along the beautiful boardwalk and visit "Shuk Hanamal", Israel's first covered food market. http://shukhanamal.co.il/?page_id=1114 (closed on Sundays)
· Welcome Dinner in one of the port's Kosher restaurant: Bariba /Badolina
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Tuesday; Tel Aviv –Israeli food
· After breakfast, we start our day with a visit to the White City learn about Tel Aviv's Bauhaus tradition and learn about it's café's culture in a fascinating exhibition at the Shalom Mayer Tower http://www.migdalshalom.co.il/eng/ext_coff.html
· We will continue our visit at the Carmel Market, a colorful middle –eastern open market and enjoy a Falafel Lunch which is Israel's Famous Fast Food, by the end of the day , you will know how to eat a falafel.
· Next we’ll enjoy a walking tour of Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv’s new hip neighborhood where the intellectual elite lived during Israel’s early days. If you will need a coffee break, we recommend "Chataim Metokim" which is in Hebrew "Sweet Sins", a boutique pastry- shop on the Neve Tzedek's main street.
· After a short afternoon break at the hotel we will end the day at the Azrieli Towers with a short film about the founding of the city and observatory.
· We will stay on top for dinner at 2C restaurant, located on the top floor of the Tower.
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Wednesday; Wine & more on our way up North
· After breakfast, we will leave Tel Aviv and travel north, we will visit the Tishbi Winery visitor's center for a Valrohana Chocolate & Tishbi wine tasting. http://www.tishbi.com/
· We will continue for a visit of the ancient city of Caesarea, built by Herod, once the seat of Roman rule. View the excavated Roman Theater, with its acoustic and theatrical sound, which was used for many performances throughout the centuries. A new audio-visual presentation brings to life the times of the Romans who controlled these shores 2,000 years ago. Today, it draws major venue attractions, for concerts and festivals. We will walk through the excavated fortress and view the aqueduct, once used for conveying water to the city.
· Then we will drive to Zichron Yaacov and have lunch at the Carmel Winery Bistro, which is part of the Carmel Wine & Culture Center. After lunch we will enjoy a specialist wine tasting in one of the designated rooms, and visit the barrel room and Rothschild’s historic underground cellars. http://www.carmelwines.co.il/en/center_for_wine_culture.aspx
· Cheerfully we will head to Bayit Bagalil Botique hotel. http://www.bayit-bagalil.co.il/?p_code=13
· Dinner at the hotel is included.
Overnight in Upper Galilee
Thursday; Acre & Matat – Galilee cooking
· After Breakfast we will drive to Acre where we will meet one of Israel's leading Chef's Erez Komarovsky, Erez will guide us through the unique Fishermen's port and the old Acre market and will introduce us to it's hidden pearls.
· After the visit we will drive with Erez to his house in Matat, where he will host us for a cooking workshop. Erez will cook the products that we bought earlier, we will visit his organic garden and at the end of the workshop, we will enjoy a fresh meal in his garden. http://www.erez-komarovsky.co.il/
· If time permits (after our visit to the market) we will have a drink in Malka Beer center, a boutique local brewery.
· Free afternoon in Bayit Bagalil
Overnight in Upper Galilee.
Friday; Golan and Road to Jerusalem
· First we will take an exciting 4x4 jeep ride tour of the Golan Heights, enjoying its physical beauty with its scenic hills, and learn the strategic importance and history of the land.
· Visit the Golan Olive Oil Mill for a tour and tasting. This major agricultural center combines modern technology with one Israel’s oldest industries. Lunch will be included at the Mill.
· Then we’ll visit the Golan Heights Winery, one of the most advanced wineries in Israel. Chateau Golan combines traditional winemaking knowledge with cutting-edge wine related technologies
· We’ll ascend up the Judean Mountains and upon arriving in Jerusalem, we will go to Mt. Scopus which overlooks the Old City.
· Check in and Shabat dinner included at the hotel in Jerusalem
· After dinner we will go for a Hesidic Tish in Meah Shearim
Overnight in Jerusalem
Saturday; Jerusalem Shabat
· Free Shabbat, lunch at the hotel is included.
Overnight in Jerusalem
Sunday; Judean Mountains "Route du Vin"
· After breakfast, we will visit the Israel Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are exhibited,and view the Model of Jerusalem, as it used to look in the 2nd Temple period.
· Drive to the Judean Mountain and start the Wine –route tour with a visit to Domaine Du Castel Winery. We will continue for a visit of Shai Selzer Cheese & Goat - unique goat farm on the slopes of mount Eitan. Followed by a visit to Mony winery and finish with a last toast at Tzora winery.
· Evening dinner in Jerusalem and at night we’ll enter into Migdal David to see the world famous Sound and Light Show which displays the history of the city of Jerusalem along the ancient stones
Overnight in Jerusalem
Monday; Jerusalem – the real thing
· Our culinary tour will not be completed without a visit to Machne – Yehuda, Jerusalem's famous market.
· We will be guided through the market by Tali Fridman a young Israeli Chef, after we will finish our shopping, we will cook lunch together with Tali at her Atelier – a charming restaurant, located at the heart of the market.
· We will return to the hotel free afternoon.
· Our farewell dinner will be in the Rooftop Brasserie of the Mamilla Hotel with a breathtaking view of the old city.
Overnight in Jerusalem
Tuesday; Departure
· After breakfast depart for the Ben Gurion International Airport for our flight back to the UK with Everlasting memories of the taste of Israel