Onward Intern Take 1: The Tel Aviv Beach Eats Scene

My friends and family have been asking me consistently “What are you up to!” Almost every single day. And I understand, I’m thousands of miles away in the vibrant city of Tel Aviv, with an incredible internship and apartment all thanks to the program I’m on, called Onward. But those who really know me know exactly what I’ve been up to during my time in Israel. Eating. A lot. And beaching of course. But put them together and I am in pure bliss. So I thought I’d start a series of my favorite places to eat while I beach in the beautiful city of Tel Aviv! 

 If you’re like me, nothing will make you hungrier than the lingering flavor of salt water that coats your mouth after a swim in the Mediterranean. And if you’re looking for a fast-casual meal during your beach day but don’t want to drop a ton of money or run into the pretentious crowd that can be found in some of the beachfront spots of Tel Aviv then Banana Beach cafe is the place for you! Their menu has a long list of options but steers clear of anything too fancy or expensive. The menu consists of classic Israeli beach food such as sandwiches, falafel, hummus, labneh, and of course watermelon with feta! 

My personal favorite things to order are the chili chicken wings (which are weirdly small but maybe that’s just because I’m American), fried cauliflower drizzled with tahina, hummus with multiple sides of pita (they only give you two pieces and when you ask for more you are charged for the extra which is annoying but necessary) and to cleanse the palate at the end of the meal, the watermelon with feta.

 I personally like to take each component (besides the watermelon) and create the perfect pocket of pita love. I rip the top of the pita off and give it a hefty dunk in the hummus to hold me over as I assemble. I don't know about you but nothing makes me more ravenous than a long day at the beach. Then I plop two generous spoonfuls of hummus, making sure to get a good ratio of the roasted chickpeas and the actual hummus, and spread it along the lining of the pita. Then I stuff with the cauliflower making sure to spoon the residual olive oil that sits at the bottom of the bowl in there too.

 Now this is where I may lose you but trust me!!! Tear, with your hands or mouth depending on your level of comfortability on eating like an animal in public, the meat of the chicken wing off the bone and shove it into the pita as well. If you're not interested in getting your hands dirty (you’re lame) then you can do a double bite maneuver where you take one bite of the pita sandwich and then a bite of the chicken wing. And just when you think you have no more room for dessert, order the watermelon with feta! It is the perfect combination of savory and sweet and the salty flavor of the feta complements the sweet and juicy watermelon perfectly! Even my dad who has announced his hatred for feta for as long as I can remember enjoyed the combination! Something about the feta in Israel has a more mild flavor and creamier texture than the super tangy crumbled feta I am used to in the States. 

Now resume your Tel Aviv beach day! Nothing feels better than a fully, satisfied belly and the sun on your skin. Stay tuned for the rest of my recommendations here on Hasod’s website!

-Xoxo from Tel Aviv

Abi <3