Today we wrap up Jaunted contributor Sedona's culinary trek through Tel Aviv. Don't worry, she is still hitting the gym to work it all off! We hope her recommendations have inspired your tastebuds.

Try Turkish in Tel Aviv? It sounded like a tongue twister to us, but we jumped on the opportunity to sit down to the swankiest version of Kosher Turkish food in town at Pasha. One of a two-restaurant chain (the other, original branch is in Jerusalem), Pasha is decked out in Asian decor, but serves authentic Turkish dishes. It's family style, so sit back and down kebobs of all kinds mixed with rices, soups, dips, and veggies that continue to keep coming. The eggplant dip is deliciously smoky and the koftes (meat dumplings) were spiced and perfectly shaped.

]]> sedona 2009-05-01T08:46:47-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/26/214626/007

Jaunted contributor Sedona recently spent a week in Tel Aviv, and happily ate her way through the city so she could share her picks with you.

We're major fans of visiting open-air markets while traveling, and Tel Aviv's got one of the best: The Carmel Market, at the intersection of Allenby, Nahalat Binyamin, King George and Sheinkin Streets. Make sure you set aside ample time to stroll through the hundreds of stalls where you can pick up everything from sunhats to nuts to nougats to spices, fruits, coffee and more.

Skip the "Clothing Only" section at the start (unless you are looking for overpriced Levi's) and walk towards Sheinkin Street for a great path through all the food stands. The Mediterranean produce is amazing and cheap and vendors are happy to comply with taste-testing for potential buyers.

We scored ourselves some delish burekas (traditional breakfast bites with filling) and fresh strawberries to take to the beach later. ]]> sedona 2009-04-28T13:26:46-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/26/20249/0495

Jaunted contributor Sedona recently spent a week in Tel Aviv, which is throwing itself a year-long fiesta in honor of its 100th birthday. She headed to the Holyland expecting seven days of hummus, pita and falafel but she left pleasantly surprised by the city's fabulous food scene. This week she's filling us in on her favorite picks, none of which involve chickpeas.

Benjamin Siegel Bistro & Bar is neatly tucked into the Opera Tower (above) on Tel Aviv's famous beachfront promenade and it's a great alternative to the fast-food shacks and stands along the water. And yes, it was named for the famous Las Vegas mobster, Bugsy Siegel. (Something to do with the desert, say the owners.)

The decor is on the Baroque side with plenty of twinkly crystals and interesting knickknacks to keep it from being too dark. Also, the atmosphere's more on the elegant side, so don't wander in with sandy flip-flops.

Prices aren't cheap (around $20 for an entree) but the daily fish specials are worth it, prepped to order with a Mediterranean bent (usually a special sauce or dip). We say get there early and watch the sunset with a signature cocktail. Later on, a DJ will spin some tunes giving you the best of the both worlds.

The restaurant is open Sunday-Thursday from 12:30pm to 1am, Fridays from 9:30am to 2am and Saturdays from 9:30am to 1am.

Related Stories:
· Benjamin Siegel [Official Site]
· Where Does Bar Refaeli Dine When She's Home in Tel Aviv? [Jaunted]
· The secrets of a successful bar [Jerusalem Post] [Photo: hanneorla]]]> sedona 2009-04-27T13:01:45-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/10/11338/0483

Can't swing a trip to Paris for the Spring? Jaunted Embed Shira Lazar gives us a tour of her home town of Montreal, a much cheaper but just as authentic French experience.

Yesterday we told you about one of the two treats you must have when visiting Montreal. That was poutine. Today, we are going to teach you about goodness of Montreal bagels.

Montreal bagels are made completely different than any other bagel in the world. They are hand-rolled, thinner, boiled, dipped in honey water and put in a fire oven the old-fashioned way.

They are also addictive! We paid a visit to Mount Royal Bagel Factory on Lucerne to get a sneak (bagel) peek of how their amazing bagels are made. Actually, anyone can see how they are made, as it is done pretty much right in front of you behind the counter.

We might have a bias since we grew up in Montreal, but we've lived in other big cities and we can say these bagels really are the best in the world.

Insider Tip: Another great classic bagel brand to try is St. Viateur which has three shops in Montreal.

Related Stories:
· Jaunted's Springtime in Montreal [Jaunted]]]> shiralazar 2009-04-10T13:50:55-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/9/132841/5031 Can't swing a trip to Paris for the Spring? Jaunted Embed Shira Lazar gives us a tour of her home town of Montreal, a much cheaper but just as authentic French experience.

Don’t come to Montreal on a diet and with a closed mind. Two signature foods you can’t leave the city without trying are Montreal Bagels and Poutine. Today, we're talking Poutine. We'll save the bagels for later.

Poutine is not exactly the healthiest choice you can make when visiting Montreal but it's an experience to say the least: French fries, melted cheese and gravy. C'est le Paradis!

The oldest and most famous joint in town is La Banquise, which has been serving up to 26 choices of poutine for nearly 40 years. Sample it during the day or indulge late-night after a long night of drinking. It's open until 3am!

Watch the video as we go back into the kitchen of La Banquise to watch them make our poutine goodness. ]]> shiralazar 2009-04-09T17:15:30-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/8/112515/6092 Can't swing a trip to Paris for the Spring? Jaunted Embed Shira Lazar gives us a tour of her home town of Montreal, a much cheaper but just as authentic French experience.

We grew up shopping by day and party hopping by night on St. Laurent, known for its fun boutiques and supperclubs. Globe and BuonaNotte might not have five-star chefs, but the American/Italian dinners are pretty good and as the night continues, locals start dancing on chairs and tables until 3AM.

If you’re hungry again after that, there are a ton of late-night pizza and schwarma spots along the street too. For more of the pub/bar scene, walk to the closed cobblestone street of Prince Arthur.

But if you want a foodie experience to remember, then you must continue north on St. Laurent you’ll also find one of Montreal’s most famous deli’s Schwartz’s. Open from 8am to midnight on weekdays and weekends until 2:30am, Schwartz’s is the oldest deli in Canada (it opened in 1928), a true historic landmark. Nothing has changed since the place opened and all the ingredients are fresh and free of preservatives. Plus, their smoked meat is smoked daily. Trust us, your stomach and tastebuds will be eternally grateful.

Watch as Shira's takes a bite out of their famous smoked meat sandwich and interviews a waiter who’s worked there for 7 years.

Can't swing a trip to Paris for the Spring? Jaunted Embed Shira Lazar gives us a tour of her home town of Montreal, a much cheaper but just as authentic French experience.

We stopped by L’Orignal, a “chalet chic” resto on industry night Monday, where they offered $4 vodka and had an oyster chucker right at the bar.

The owners of L’Orignal also have another hot resto/lounge in the area called Garde Manger. It’s a the hip dining destination, where you can order seafood platters and bbq ribs while wining and listening to funky tunes. We’re told the waiting staff are hot too. BTW- that seems to be actually a Montreal norm.
L'Oringal: 479, Saint-Alexis/Garde Manger: 408 St-François-Xavier ]]> shiralazar 2009-04-07T18:12:32-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/