Jerusalem Village: A Shabbat Come True
Last Friday I experienced something that I never thought would happen to me so early in life- a private chef came to my house and cooked an entire Shabbat meal for me and 10 guests. Is this a joke? No. This is reality, people.
Thanks to Jerusalem Village, an organization based in Jerusalem that helps young people connect to each other through interesting events and groups, I was able to invite 4 friends and 6 strangers into my house for a night of food, drinks and many laughs. The concept behind it is to get new “olim” (immigrants) and native Israelis to meet over a shared Shabbat experience in an intimate atmosphere.
When I heard this- I jumped on the offer. Jerusalem Village provides the ingredients, the chef, and even a portable kosher kitchen- great for me since the kitchen I have now isn’t kosher and I always want to invite my more religious friends, but can’t. Thursday night the food was delivered, and early Friday morning we got to cooking. For 6 hours. Naturally, we started drinking early.
the menu for the evening- drum roll please…
The Menu:
- Beet Root Soup
- Stuffed Grape Leaves
- Fennel and Pear Salad
- Sprouts Salad
- Sea Bass Patties in a Spicy Pepper Sauce
- Homemade CousCous
- Red lentil + Pumpkin curry
And while I’m looking forward to hearing from Orit Bon Apetite (the chef who graciously came over and planned an exquisite meal) about the specific recipes, I can’t actually speak to them right now as I was strictly the sous chef. It was so nice not having to worry, but just be a helping hand. And so while I can now roll grape leaves like a mother fucker, I can’t really say what the exact recipe is- yet.
In the meantime, here’s a classic recipe for an Israeli night cap, or as one Israeli guest described it as: Israeli water!
Arak Recipe
- Take a whiskey glass and pop in one large ice cube
- Pour one shot of arak (anise liquor)
- Garnish with a mint sprig
Viola- you’re now Israeli!
**If you or someone you know is looking for an unforgettable experience, I would highly recommend both Jerusalem Village as well as Orit Bon Apetite for a more private or intimate occasion. Seriously people, she makes miracles happen in the kitchen.
