Friday at the Carmel Market, Tel Aviv

The Carmel Market is the most popular market in Tel Aviv.

A neighborhood called Kerem HaTeimanim - The Vineyard of the Yemenites, started its own market called "HaKerem" - The Vineyard, in the early 1920's. With the help of Arthur Rupin, a Zionist leader, a group of Russian immigrants began to turn the small neighborhood into a bustling commercial center. Meir Dizengoff and the Tel Aviv municipality encouraged the growth of the market and eventually changed its name to Shuk HaCarmel - Carmel Market.

Local Arab farmers opened a competing market nearby which became a source of tensions among the local populations in downtown Tel Aviv for decades. There were incidents of violence between Arabs and Jews well into the 1930's and even during the Israel's War of Independence. Arab snipers, positioned at the nearby Hassan Bey Mosque, would shoot at Jews shopping at the Carmel Market.

The market rose to great prominence during Israel's austerity period of the 1950's. It was the best and most direct source of local, fresh produce.

I have had the daily pleasure of shopping at the Carmel Market, or at least walking through it just to be surrounded by its beauty and that special hustle and bustle. Fridays at the market, however, are so much more wonderful, hectic and loud. The frenzied atmosphere is infectious in a really great way.

On Fridays, it seems that the colors of the fruits and vegetables are just a touch brighter

The flowers, which are sold on Thursdays and Fridays, are giving some life to the gray sidewalks.

The butchers are busy.

The scents of grilled meats and vegetables are a tad stronger

and the voices of the vendors beckoning shoppers to their stalls are louder than usual

There are crowds,

There is traffic in the Carmel Market neighborhood,

but, the wonderful smell of freshly baked challah is in the air, and that makes it all better.

My favorite bakery at the market is Lehamim

Their challah is delicious.

For those who don't feel like cooking, there is a great place with really tasty prepared foods. Each Friday I would see crowds of people fill containers with cooked meats and sides.

Stuffed beets!

Shopping is done, now I have to cook.

Carmel Market closes in the early afternoon on Fridays. It remains closed all Saturday. For more info about the Carmel Market check my older post.

Joanna

Comments

Bordier Butter - The Best Butter in France

France is in the midst of a butter shortage! Due to a decrease in milk production and a substantial demand for French pastries all over the world (mainly China and the Middle East), the price of butter has increased by 60% in one year. The French are stocking up and thus creating shortages. French newspapers are publishing articles titled "A guide to cooking without butter". So, with hopes that the shortages are temporary, here is my ode to the best butter in the world. I'm not kidding. The. Best. Butter. In. The. World. Mr. Bordier, a grandson and a son of cheese mongers, became a butter artisan in 1985. He acquired a creamery originally founded in 1927. The supreme taste of the Bordier butter was first recognized by a chef from the Plaza Athenee while vacationing in Brittany, a beautiful region in northwestern France. Bordier is the lone butter master to still use the old method of kneading the butter according to the 19th century t...

Dallal Restaurant, Tel Aviv

Dallal is located in the heart of Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv's oldest district and the first Jewish neighborhood outside of the old port city of Jaffa. It was built as a suburb in 1887 and is now a very trendy area full of cafes, boutiques, and restaurants. I have been buying breads, cakes and croissants at the Dallal Bakery for a few years now, but this was my first time dining at their restaurant on the corner of Shabazi Street. Dallal takes up a good chunk of the block since it was built on the ruins of three restored houses next to the Suzanne Dallal Cultural Center. There are a few sitting options while dining at Dallal: outside in the small garden-like area, in the enclosed courtyard with a view of the sky, and inside the restaurant which feels like old time Paris. Dallal is a perfect place for a fun lunch with friends, or a romantic dinner with your sweetheart. There are two lunch options at Dallal: 78 ILS for two appetizers and bread...

Hakosem, Tel Aviv

If you Google: Best shawarma in Tel Aviv, the name Hakosem is bound to pop up close to the top of any list. It is very easy to find decent shawarma and falafel in Tel Aviv, but we wanted to try what is considered to be one of the best. Hakosem located in a nice residential neighborhood is a food stand with plenty of tables and chairs set up on the sidewalk. They serve superb shawarma, falafel, sabich, shakshuka, shnitzel, and veggies. The line is pretty constant throughout the day, but it moves fast. Free falafel balls are gifted to the hungry customers to keep them happy while they wait. I found the place to be very clean. Freshly chopped veggies are continuously brought in from the kitchen in the back. My husband could not resist the shawarma in lafa. It was quite lar...

A Fork And A Suitcase

Search This Blog