Living the sweet life, Israeli-style

David Lebovitz loved the hummous and crunchy pickles on his recent trip to the land (photo credit: Liron Almog/Flash 90)

Sometimes it takes a newcomer to remind you just how wonderful the food can be here.

Sure, there are times when one gets bored with the cafe menus and their usual litany of Israeli breakfasts, cheese toast sandwiches, enormous salads and molten chocolate desserts. Or when you seek a dark green zucchini, but can only find the light green kind that aren’t quite as crisp and flavorful.

But when I read food blogger David Lebovitz’s recent posting about his trip to Israel — courtesy of Kinetis, a non-profit group that brings bloggers on various subjects to Israel — I felt reignited about the local fare, and immediately wanted to get out and ‘wipe up’ some hummous with pita at Abu Shukri in the Old City.

Lebovitz, a cookbook author, is probably best known for his food blog, “living the sweet life in Paris.” He was joined by other food bloggers, including local Sarah Melamed, who has great photos about her experience, particularly those of a baker making dough for mutabak, a sweet, stuffed pastry.