Skillet Gnocchi with Chard and White Beans – An Easy Weeknight Meal

T in Tel Aviv is usually morally opposed to using anything vacuum packed. Having said that, I recently received the highly recommended Eating Well Magazine Newsletter which contained a recipe using “shelf-stable gnocchi”. I really don’t want to know how the gnocchi is prepared for a long shelf life but in this case I say: Use the shelf stable and not fresh gnocchi! The fresh will fall apart during the stirring portion of the recipe.

T in Tel Aviv’s variations are indicated in italics. This is family tested recipe. There were complaints about not being enough left for second helpings... even amongst the anti- bean fans.

Skillet Gnocchi with Chard and White Beans

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 16-ounce package shelf-stable gnocchi

1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup water

6 cups chopped chard leaves (about 1 small bunch) or spinach

1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes ( with Italian seasonings) – I only had an unseasoned can but added about a tablespoon of dried Italian herbs.

1 15-ounce can white beans, rinsed – I had dried white beans which took about an hour to cook - the beans MUST BE COOKED!!!

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper – I also added dash of salt.

1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add gnocchi and cook, stirring often, until plumped and starting to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

2. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and onion to the pan and cook, stirring, over medium heat, for 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and water. Cover and cook until the onion is soft, 4 to 6 minutes. Add chard (or spinach) and cook, stirring, until starting to wilt, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, beans and pepper (and salt) and bring to a simmer. Stir in the gnocchi and sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover and cook until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling, about 3 minutes. I did not cover the skillet and all was well.

Photographer Leora Cheshin at the Tova Osman Gallery, Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is a city of old and new. The new we see as glass and metal structures, the old as crumbling stone and disintegrating cement. These decaying walls have become the canvas of streets artists in Tel Aviv.


Jerusalem based commercial and artistic photographer Leora Cheshin has captured these images. Her work is currently on display at the Tova Osman Gallery in Tel Aviv. The exhibit entitled “Do not Disturb” opened February 13, 2009 and closes March 5, 2009.

Tova Osman Gallery: 100 Ben Yehuda St. Tel-Aviv - Tel: 972-3-522-7687

Homeless in Tel Aviv

For the past three weeks T in Tel Aviv’s garbage can has not been returned to its designated place after garbage collection on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Although the can has been carefully placed along the wall in the parking area, it was not returned to our very accessible “garbage room”. Numerous calls to the Tel Aviv Municipality “help line” have resulted only in frustration because time after time it seemed that my complaints weren’t trickling down to the guy responsible for the return of the garbage can.

Yesterday morning on return from my early morning swim, I noticed that the homeless woman who has been living in the yard of an abandoned building on our street was rolling a garbage can down the street. By the time I had parked my car she had reached the garbage can of our neighbor. Standing behind the door of our lobby I watched as she crossed the street and rolled our garbage can….to the parking area!

Later in the day I approached the woman as she was washing her hands and face under the faucet of one of my neighbors. After introducing myself I explained that I appreciated her taking care of returning our garbage can in the mornings but not knowing that she was the one moving the garbage can I had complained to the Municipality about it not being put its proper place. I further explained that there is a white door to the garbage room that is visible from our driveway and that I’d appreciate it that if she’d like to continue putting the garbage away that she put it in the room. She told me that it isn’t her job and something about taxes and not getting paid…. I thanked her and she thanked me and we went our separate ways.

I phoned the Tel Aviv Municipality “help line” and spoke with Hila who has been wonderful about calling three times to a week to get an update on our garbage can problem. She told me that this was a “first” for her and she hoped that from now on our garbage can would be put in its proper place.

As of 2008 there were an estimated 2000-2500 homeless (living on the streets) people in Israel of which half were in Tel Aviv.

Elections in Israel – Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Fortunately election day is almost here and gone. The airwaves are filled with interviews that are redundant and sound like what they are: sound bites. There are a limited number of billboards in Tel Aviv so election posters are hard to find. Here are a few that T in Tel Aviv spotted around town with literal translations: (left to right)

"10.2.09 - A different kind of Prime Minister. Kadima." (Tzipi Livni)
"Strong on the economy. Strong on defense. The Likud." (Bibi Netanyahu)
"In the moment of truth Barak. The Labor Party." (Ehud Barak)

And some “negative” billboards:

"Weak on defense. It’s too big for her. (paid for by the Likud party)"
"More Meretz. Less Bibi-Lieberman. (paid for by the Meretz party)"

And for the fun of it:

New Parking Lot in Tel Aviv

As Joni Mitchell wrote in her song “Big Yellow Taxi”:

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot.

If you’ve searched for parking in Tel Aviv you can appreciate this exciting news! The old bus terminal on Arlozoroff has been torn down and the entire space paved for use as a parking lot! That means LOTS of parking for beach days, shopping, dining and other visits to Tel Aviv.

The parking lot is located on Arlozoroff between Dizengoff and Ben Yehuda. 25 shekels will buy you parking until 8:00 a.m.

Once you’ve parked your car you’ll probably be starving. T in Tel Aviv recommends the conveniently located Café Batya. A one minute walk east of the parking lot this Tel Aviv institution serves up Eastern European Jewish cuisine – chicken soup, chopped liver, schnitzel and other delicacies. The place is packed on Saturdays for lunch but during the week you shouldn’t have a problem finding a table. Café Batya – 197 Dizengoff (corner Arlozoroff) – 03-522-1335