Wine Expo in Tel Aviv

The 3rd International Wine Expo will take place at the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds from the 9th – 11th of February 2010. The exhibition is organized by the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds, The Israeli Wine Magazine and The Grape Man Wine Center.

The exhibition is open to professionals from around the world– importers and exporters, foreign buyers, the press and investors – with an emphasis on the Israeli wine industry. The exhibition will be open to the general public (18 years and older ONLY) on the 10th and 11th (Wednesday and Thursday) from 16:00 – 22:00. Tastings of 10 wines + a wine glass are included in the entrance price of 60 NIS per person. To purchase discounted tickets in advance (49NIS) click here.

A number of workshops are also offered but require advance registration.

Exhibitors include Vitkin Winery, Dalton Winery, Jacob's Cheese Farm, Sea Horse Wines, and Bashir Fromagerie.

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Artichokes at the Tel Aviv Farmer’s Market

T in Tel Aviv took a stroll over to Tel Aviv's Farmer’s Market last Friday and bought THE most beautiful artichokes and the "Meshek Shel Noam" stall. This is the height of the artichoke season in Israel and the artichokes are huge and tasty. At 10 NIS for 4 artichokes they are also a deal!

According to the California Artichoke Advisory Board virtually 100 percent of all artichokes grown in the U.S. come from California. As commodities go, when compared to items like corn, wheat and rice, artichokes are a minor crop. Total crop value for the 2007-2008 crop year was more than $50 million. Average production for the past 5 years has been over 4 million cartons.

Ha Meshek Shel Noam from Moshav Nir Banim (south of Kiryat Malachi) has some great recipes in Hebrew. During the month of February Noam is offering an artichoke based Saturday brunch. Reservations are a must. Contact Noam - 054-227-8637.

Ocean Mist Farms located in Castroville, California (artichoke capital of the world) has a website that offers over 100 recipes that use artichokes.

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Coming to Tel Aviv ......

Elton John, Santana, Paul Anka and maybe Bob Dylan

Elton John will return to Israel for one concert on June 17th at the Ramat Gan Stadium. The concert is sponsored by Bank Discount which is investing about $1 million in the event. Bank Discount customers will be offered tickets at special prices. 15,000 tickets will be sold for seats on the grass and another 32,000 seats will be offered in the gallery. Bank customers will pay between 200NIS - 900 NIS ($68-$245) per ticket while regular tickets will go on sale to the general public for 350NIS - 1,000NIS ($95 -$272). Tickets for bank customer go on sale February 9th and on the 13th to the general public.

June will be a good month for good music in Israel as Carlos Santana performs at Jaffa’s Bloomfield Stadium for one night, June 3rd. Tickets, which range in price from 290 to 1250 NIS, are available from Castel at 972 3 6045000

Paul Anka is coming back May 29th ! He was just in Israel a few months ago and I guess the audience begged for more. Tickets through Castel.


There's a rumor that Bob Dylan will be in Israel May 27th. Unconfirmed at this point. And...the young Tel Avivian is excited that Metallica is coming to Ramat Gan Stadium on the 21st of May.

Water Sheer - Providing Drinking Water in Haiti - You Can Help!

One of the most difficult challenges in Haiti is the lack of potable drinking water. The Israeli company Water Sheer has developed products that allow the purification of almost all sources of water. These portable systems can supply 1,000-7,000 liters drinkable water!

Chairman of Water Sheer Ron Shani and CEO Yossie Sandsk have joined with the Israeli Foreign Ministry to raise funds from the high tech sector (and anyone else of course) to send these portable systems to Haiti.

$1,000 can create 30,000 liters of purified water which in turn can provide water for 15,000 people per day. As a “bonus” each company that contributes $1,000 can have their logo placed on the purification unit. The Foreign Ministry is taking care of all of the logistics while Water Sheer is supplying the units at cost.

To make a contribution please contact Yossie Sandak at Water Sheer on his cell phone – 972-50-541-1200 or by email - yossie@watersheer.com .

TuttiFoodie

T in Tel Aviv can’t remember how she got to TuttiFoodie…or how TuttfiFoodie got to T in Tel Aviv. Self described as “omnivores, carnivores, chocovores, bacon-vores, vegetarians, vegans, and people who laugh in the face of the suffix “vore” it's clear that they love to eat and imbibe!

They care about the environment and therefore the sources of what they eat and drink are important. But they are human so they eat “Fluff” from to time time. Sound familiar???


A recent post on TuttifFoodie that caught my eye – Bee’s Knees about Bee Kind, a one-of-a-kind beekeeping and honey boutique in Sebastopol, California. And….There’s finally a place for single foodies to meet one another – TuttiePersonals:


M, 28, stubbornly sticking to comfort foods, seeks same. zoomba1@live.com


I love trying out new recipes—from classic brisket to steamy pho—and I need a tester (male)! A sous chef would be icing on the cake. Or maybe you can build a fire or catch a trout? I live in the North Georgia mountains near a running stream. notajap15@gmail.com


Is Julia Child your hero? Michael Pollen your favorite author? Enjoy sipping your way through local vineyards? Energized by an afternoon at a farmers' market? Sweet spicy Italian (F, 37) seeking joyful, sustainable relationship (M) in the MA/CT/NY tri-state area. warmspirits2@hotmail.com

How to Help Haiti from Israel

Magen David Adom's delegation left this morning for Haiti where they will join the Norwiegan Red Cross field hospital.

In Israel donations for Haiti can be transferred to:

Magen David Adome Trumot Lakaribim
Bank Discount, Branch 151
Yad Eliyahu, Tel Aviv
Account No. 17926

Donations to the Zaka International Rescue Unit delegation to Haiti (ZAKA is the Hebrew acronym for Disaster Victim Identification):

ZAKA Unit Haiti Fund account:

Zaka-International
Bank of Jerusalem
Branch No. 30
18 Keren HayesodSt, Jerusalem
Account No. 300060134
Swift Code: JERSILIT

How You Can Help Haiti

The following organizations are accepting donations. Please check the individual websites for more information.

American Red Cross

CARE

AmeriCares
Action Against Hunger
International Medical Corps.The IRC

Save the Children

Samaritan's PurseSalvation Army

Unicef

Doctors without Borders

William J. Clinton Foundation

Israel’s Foreign Ministry is able to collect contributions in Israel through “Haigud L’Avarat Digitali” - Account No. 50909, Branch No. 690, Bank Hapoalim. More information is available on 02-659-4222.

"Chef Tochal" - Special 79 NIS menu!

Through the 20th of January you can enjoy a meal at 90 of Israel’s better known restaurants for 79 NIS per person.

In Tel Aviv restaurants offering the special menu include (menus are in Hebrew!):

Birthday Angels – Because Every Child Deserves A Birthday Party

In Israel the nightly news isn’t always a pleasure to watch. This past weekend however there was a short piece about Ruthie Sobel Luttenberg’s organization – Birthday Angels. It was my feel good moment of the week.

New Jersey born, Ruthie came to Israel some 30 years ago full of idealism full of idealism. She had formed Rich Rach, a company that produces birthday parties for kids from families who could afford entertainers and all the “stuff” that makes a party fun for kids. Fifteen years later she realized that there were many Israeli children who could not afford to celebrate their birthdays with a true kid’s birthday party. And so, Birthday Angels was formed.

Ruthie explained to me that she produces party kits (each one costing $36) which are sent with volunteers who organize the party. Various mentoring organizations are partnered with Birthday Angels including The Perach Tutorial Program and The Department for Social Involvement at Tel Aviv University. This year Birthday Angels expects to put on 7,000 birthday parties for children!!! A new kit will soon be available for ages 3-7.





Contributions to Birthday Angels can be made in Israel and in the U.S. via Israel Toremet Ltd. and in the UK via My Israel. The Birthday Angels website also suggest various ways that organizations or individuals can help raise funds for this very worthy project.