jram1224's Profile
Wine Bar in Rosh Pina and other recommendations for Galilee (Israel)
Just returned from 10 days in Israel and we spent most of our time in the Galilee (North-East). A few culinary highlights for anyone heading there:
Lower Galilee
1) Herb Farm on Mt. Gilboa--one of the nicer restaurants in the region with great food and even better view. "Rustic" farmhouse setting with a lot of the food grown on site. We had a delicious salad with unusual ingredients (nuts, dried fruit), a tomato soup with pastry top, and crepes with chicken liver. Main courses were less interesting-- various types of chicken and mushroom ravioli (homemade!) Dessert was the best-- several small chocolate treats. Suggest that you make a reservation and go at dusk to get the full view.
2) Restaurant Nimer (Misadah Nimer-neon sign only in Hebrew)--this is a casual place next to a gas station at the Golani Junction. We passed through here twice and stopped for dinner both times at this Arab restaurant (i.e., no alcohol!) Great food with 20+ types of salads/spreads to choose from (including standards like hummus and falafel) and great grilled pita. The kebabs were also delicious- pargeet (young chicken) was our favorite. Complementary coffee and baklava at the end of the meal was great!
Upper Galilee
1) Panahtenaia -- we stumbled across this wine bar (i.e., not in any guide books!) on our way to Rosh Pina from Tzafat. It is in Rosh Pina off the main road (not sure of the name) but not in old Rosh Pina, which is up on the hill. It looks like a wine store from the front but in the back there are two tasting rooms. The owner (Ofir Maman) was there and chatted with us for over an hour... We tasted two different Israeli wines (though he offers wines from all over the world) and it was a great end to our day. He also offered a lot of suggestions for which wineries were worth the visit. To get more specific directions, the number is 077-6623355.
2) Choclolata -- cute cafe with homemade truffles in old Rosh Pina next to the synagogue. We took some truffles to go since we weren't in need of refueling but wish we had time to sit given the great ambiance.
We did head to the coast one day and had a great dinner at Alma in Zichron Ya'akov. This town was really charming, with lots of cute shops and restaurants along the main pedestrian street. Wish we had been staying closer by so that we could have tried more places there!
Great New Restaurant in Redmond
We happened to stumble upon a new restaurant in Redmond, OR last night-- Chloe, which is located in the complex with Fred Meyer's on SW Veterans. It is in the strip of stores and restaurants near the back of the complex. It has been open for a month and the food was excellent as well as reasonably priced (appetizers were $5-$10 and entrees were $15-$20; total for 4 with drinks and dessert was just under $100). The staff were very friendly and attentive.
Food was Continental cuisine/NW... We had a ahi appetizer and an asparagus appetizer, both very flavorful. Delicious homemade tomato-basil soup with blue cheese and a crouton. There were other great salad options, which could be main courses. Entrees included various pastas with fresh seafood, a vegetable and polenta stack, and other meat options. Our dessert was bananas sauteed in rum with vanilla ice cream.
It was the best meal we've had on our trip so far. Highly recommended!
