A taste of Israel, in London and Jerusalem
This autumn, two food festivals will put the focus on the rich culinary history of Israel

Jerusalem, like London, has long been a meeting place of cultures and cuisines - and this autumn the two cities will trade recipes and talent at a pair of food festivals.
The London Restaurant Festival consists of more than 70 events, 250 tasting menus and ten “top cuisines”, including a starring role for the food of Jerusalem.
Israeli chef Moshiko Gamlieli will make a guest appearance for one night only at Mortimer House, where he will be cooking a five-course tasting menu on 22 October.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Special menus will also be offered at The Palomar in Soho (below), which will serve up a “feast of modern Jerusalem” on 21 October, and Scully, the first restaurant of Yotam Ottolenghi protege and former Nopi head chef Ramael Scully. He promises “an explosion of Israeli flavours” on 16 October.
If tickets are in short supply - and on past form they will sell out quickly - you might consider a trip to OpenRestaurants Jerusalem the following month.
From 19 November it will offer more than 100 culinary events, from market tours to master-classes. And while homegrown favourites such as hummus and shawarma may be the principal attraction for visitors, Jerusalem’s restaurant culture has lines of influence reaching throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
One of the most appealing features of the festival is the “taste train”, a journey along the city’s light rail system between Damascus Gate and Machane Yehuda Market (below), which allows you to hop on and off, making the most of the restaurants and food stalls at each station in between.
Packages including the taste train and one of a selection of food tours, covering the old city, its falafel-makers or its delicatessens, are available for €30. For a more immersive experience, a €195 ticket includes a cooking class with chef and slow-food enthusiast Moshe Basson, an evening of Israeli wine and tapas at the Mamila hotel, snacks at a pita bar and challa bread for the sabbath.
The London Restaurant Festival takes place at restaurants across the city throughout October. OpenRestaurants Jerusalem runs from 19 to 23 November
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Recreation or addiction? Military base slot machines rake in millions.
Under the Radar There are several thousand slot machines on military bases
-
How is AI reshaping the economy?
Today's Big Question Big Tech is now 'propping up the US economy'
-
'Discriminating against DACA students'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Critics' choice: Delights from the African diaspora
Feature Mahari in Chicago, Kabawa in New York City and Elmina in Washington, D.C.
-
Friendship: 'bromance' comedy starring Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson
The Week Recommends 'Lampooning and embracing' middle-aged male loneliness, this film is 'enjoyable and funny'
-
The 2025 James Beard Award winners
Feature Featuring a casually elegant restaurant, recipes nearly lost to war, and more
-
Bangkok: the new 'international capital of fine dining'
The Week Recommends Six Bangkok restaurants rank among the world's best
-
Summer in Seattle: Outdoor dining like nowhere else
Feature Featuring a patio with a waterfront view, a beer garden, and more
-
Marfa, Texas: Big skies, fine art, and great eating
Feature A cozy neighborhood spot, a James Beard semifinalists, and more
-
The battle to be named the world's oldest restaurant
Under The Radar Two Madrid restaurants dispute the historical record but could both of their claims be cooked?
-
Critics' choice: Restaurants that write their own rules
Feature A low-light dining experience, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, and Hawaiian cuisine with a twist