A Fork And A Suitcase

We love staying in apartments while in Tel Aviv, and usually rent from Airbnb or a local agency.  I like the comfort of a home and the ability to cook, having more space, a balcony, and laundry facilities.  There is a certain amount of risk that is involved in renting an apartment based on photos submitted by the owner or reviews that might possibly be exaggerated, or downright fake.  During this, long-term stay in Tel Aviv, we faced the added risk of possibly renting an apartment that would have something wrong with it and being stuck in it for two months.  In order to avoid this type of a situation, I decided to rent two different apartments, each one for a period of four weeks.  The problem in the first apartment, a lovely modern place with a large balcony and partial view of Rothschild Boulevard, was apparent early on during our stay, but I tried to ignore it.  It was mold.  I could smell it, and I could see it.  The owner kept denying it and insisted that what I was smelling was

"What is your favorite restaurant in Tel Aviv?", a friend asked me recently.  I always found the word "favorite" a little tricky and limiting.   There are plenty of restaurants in Tel Aviv that offer something very specific that would deem it my favorite, like the decor, setting, their appetizers,  desserts, or a fun atmosphere that I keep returning for over and over.  I find it very difficult to pick that one special place, BUT, if I absolutely had to, it would be Mashya at the Mendeli Hotel. Why Mashya?  At first, the seemingly non-traditional setting, in the lobby of a boutique hotel, might appear as an odd location for a spectacular restaurant, but the beautiful wall of lush living greenery, the ceiling of skylights and panels that look like paper cutouts,  the open kitchen, and the inviting wooden bar with plenty of seating; all help to create a lovely dining experience. And the food, well, it is outstanding.  Mashya's specialty is Mediterranean cuisin