Israel in a Box serves up diverse flavours as part of the JCCGV's Festival of Israeli Culture, June 4 to 6
The food-focused event of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver’s 18th annual fest showcases the breadth of cultural influences in Israeli cuisine
Food Therapy is among the local food businesses participating in the Festival of Israeli Culture’s Israel in a Box event.
Israel in a Box runs June 4 to 6 as part of the JCCGV’s Festival of Israeli Culture.
FOOD ENTHUSIASTS FIND that one of the best ways to come to a deeper understanding of diverse cultures is through the meals people make. The Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver’s Festival of Israeli Culture is all about showcasing multi-ethnicity, with Israel in a Box being a culinary focus of the fest’s 18th annual edition.
Running June 4 to 6, Israel in a Box highlights Israeli food from various local restaurants for pick up or delivery.
“Israel is a land of immigrants with food from all over the world—Europe, Yemen, Iraq…” Ayelet Cohen, JCCGV’s Israeli and Jewish culture coordinator, tells Stir. “When people think about Israeli food, they might think of falafel or shawarma, but it’s not only that; there’s so much more to it. This is a way for people to discover the diversity of Israel and to support small local businesses.”
Among the participating ventures is Nava Creative Kosher Cuisine, a kosher catering company and café. It’s offering an Israeli Mezze Dinner ($42). On the mezze platter are spicy carrots with lemon and harissa, roasted cauliflower with sumac, beets with fresh mint, pomegranate bulgur tabouli, falafel and green tahini, and hummus and pita. Then there’s a choice of Salmon Chraime (North African spiced tomato and pepper stew with basmati rice pilaf); Imam Bayaldi (stuffed eggplant with tomatoes, peppers, raisins, and mint-halva brownie); or Sabich Plate (with roasted eggplant, hard-boiled egg, pickled beets, spicy pickles, and more).
Ofra’s Kitchen, which makes vegetarian and vegan Middle Eastern and Israeli cuisine, is serving up falafel pita with lafa (a flatbread of Iraqi origin), malabi (a Persian milk pudding), and pop ($15) and Greek Shakshuka (with malabi and pop, $19).
Jedda’s makes authentic Yemeni food from scratch. On the menu for its Shavot Couple Box ($60) are Kubane (pull-apart pastry filled with three kinds of cheese, purified butter, spinach, and onion), olives Ziva (pastry with cheese and green olives), roasted-eggplant Ziva, eggs with spicy sauce and grated tomato sauce, and crumble cheesecake.
Meet2Eat food truck and catering is also taking part; so are Chickpea, which specializes in plant-based comfort food, and Food Therapy, which offers deli-style plant-based food delivery.
More information is at JCCGV.
Nava Creative Kosher Cuisine is serving its Israeli Mezze Dinner for Israel in a Box.
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