A Fork And A Suitcase

Azura, an eatery in the Machane Yechuda market was opened by Ezra, nicknamed "Azura" in 1952 after he emigrated from Turkish Kurdistan. These days, Azura, run by Ezra's nine children, has a cult-like status, and the crowds to prove it. Azura is not easy to find and your best bet is to enter it from the Iraqi part of the Machane Yechuda market.  It is almost impossible to find it from the street. The restaurant is located on a small square filled with older man playing backgammon and sipping tea, which just adds richness to the already wonderful atmosphere. The food is cooked slowly in these large pots over gas burners. The menu was so packed with delicacies, we had a difficult time choosing just a few dishes. We started our lunch with this wonderfully creamy hummus with warm mushrooms and onion, a combination which has always been my favorite. The tomato, cucumber, and onion salad came garnished with parsley and a healthy dose of ta...

We spent over an hour walking around the Machane Yehuda market in Jerusalem, and saw plenty of great opportunities to sit down for a nice lunch, we just couldn't agree on where.  So, we just kept walking, hoping to find a place that everyone in our group of four would like.  That's when we stumbled upon Ishtabach, a nice low-key eatery one street over from the market.  An amazing smell emanating from inside drew us in.  Oren Sasson-Levi, the chef and founder of Ishtabach recalls eating the shamburach made by his Kurdish grandmother when he was a child.  Interestingly, Oren fell into a coma a few years ago, and came up with the idea for Ishtabach during a long recovery period. The name means: "The man is a cook", also reminiscent of the word "yishtabach" - from the Kaddish prayer, meaning "May He be praised".   The decor is very rustic, warm and inviting, it feels like a perfect hang out place for young people.     ...

Considered one of the best restaurants in Jerusalem, and a heaven for foodies, Machneyuda is located in a cool neighborhood right next to the Machane Yehuda market.   This place is very popular, we booked our table about two weeks in advance.  This market-to-table restaurant uses the freshest ingredients to create delicious and authentic Mediterranean dishes.   The open kitchen is not only great for watching the chefs prepare the food; it also gives the restaurant a comforting and inviting feeling.   Machneyuda has a wonderfully relaxed vibe, the music is loud, the staff occasionally dances around, they do shots with diners and create a very warm and inviting atmosphere. This is the second floor of the restaurant  Tahini and bread. We scored this beautiful table nestled among the fresh produce and watched the chefs send people to get veggies from the bins throughout our lunch.  As I said, market-to-table....