My Love-Hate Affair with Marcona Almonds

food philosophy, Food orders Tel Aviv, food, comfort foodMartin MelaverJune 1, 2021Etzlenu: Soul Food, Tel Avivfood preparation, favorite foods, friends and family, vegan soul food, Philosophy of Food, southern culture, soul food Tel Aviv, southern cooking tel aviv

As I Lay Eating

Last Meal Wishes

comfort food, food, Food orders Tel Aviv, food philosophyMartin MelaverApril 17, 2021Etzlenu: Soul Food, Tel Avivfriends and family, food preparation, food memory, private chef, personal chef, Philosophy of Food, favorite foods, southern cooking tel aviv, soul food Tel Aviv, southern soul food, classic southern dishes

"Balled" Peanuts

A far cry from balling the Jack

American Peanuts? Really?

Here’s the rub: I have never seen this type of peanut for sale in the States

food philosophy, Food orders Tel Aviv, food, comfort foodMartin MelaverDecember 6, 2020Etzlenu: Soul Food, Tel Avivfriends and family, favorite foods, peanuts, private chef, personal chef, Philosophy of Food, southern cooking tel aviv, soul food Tel Aviv, southern soul food

When "Making Do" becomes "Making Better"

I think my mom would feel vindicated, like she had finally taught me a critical life lesson.

comfort food, food, Food orders Tel Aviv, food philosophyMartin MelaverSeptember 25, 2020Etzlenu: Soul Food, Tel Avivfood lore, food preparation, friends and family, favorite foods, private chef, personal chef, Philosophy of Food, spicy cuisine, southern cooking tel aviv, soul food Tel Aviv, southern soul food

Kitchen Sink Cooking

The taste of Brunswick Stew for me is hardcore childhood Savannah: in-your-face, unadulterated, good-to-the-last drop goodness.

Some Like It Hot

One of my absolute top frustrations about cooking soul food in Tel Aviv is that the vocabulary, not to mention the interest in and tolerance of all things spicy is VERY LIMITED.

Martin MelaverAugust 18, 2020Etzlenu: Soul Food, Tel Avivspicy cuisine, food truck dreams, food memory, food culture, food history, favorite foods, private chef, personal chef, Philosophy of Food, southern cooking tel aviv, summer cooking Tel Aviv, slow cooking, soul food Tel AvivComment

Good Timing: A Sensual Obsession

Let’s just say that when two desirable but wildly dissimilar things actually do converge, the fusion is nothing short of magical.

comfort food, food, Food orders Tel Aviv, food philosophyMartin MelaverAugust 2, 2020Etzlenu: Soul Food, Tel Avivseasonal cooking, favorite foods, healthy cooking, Philosophy of Food, private chef, personal chef, slow cooking, soul food Tel Aviv, southern soul food, southern cooking tel aviv

What the Hell is French About Y'all?

In the South, the typical fruit used in a French clafouti (a type of baked pancake) is adapted for a grape I only know from my part of the world: muscadine or scuppernong.