jaffa!

last night was spent in jaffa. first, a delicious dinner at dr shakshuka. i agree with the nytimes that:

with its long shared tables, great food and prices, happy customers, and helpful staff, this is one of the best ethnic restaurants in the country. shakshuka is a pan-fried casserole of poached eggs and spicy tomato sauce; dr shakshuka's many versions of this dish come from libya and have been the best in jaffa for two and a half generations.

the night's culinary adventures also included a stop at the aboulafia bakery. mmmh... aboulafia...

click the picture below for a great bbc video clip about the bakery.

said abulafia is the business development manager at the abulafia bakery - a jaffa institution, in business since 1879. muslims, christians and jews work side by side at the bakery and its customers are drawn from all parts of jaffa society.

the daily flea market in jaffa stays open all night on thursdays, and is transformed into

'pishpeshuk 2008,'an evening event, now in its third year organized by the tel aviv-jaffa municipality which has produced a charming local celebration where people come to enjoy musical performances in different styles, craft stalls, street theater, alternating art exhibitions, a yoga site, holistic treatments, seating areas and of course, all of the market shops offering furniture, clothing and food, in action until the dawn arrives.

there was a jazz funk band playing in one area, a juggling duo in another, 2 elvis impersonators, more musicians, and a great photo exhibit called רגעים של בית - feelings of home, showing israei politicians from david ben gurion and golda meir to shimon peres and ehud olmert at home, and interacting with their families.