A Culinary Delight - The Produce Market

For most people coming to Jerusalem it means spending as much time as possible in or around the Old City. And no wonder. It is with the walls of the Old City that the places sacred to three major monotheistic religions are found.

But for the jerusalemites it is much more than that. In fact, most jerusalemites only go to the Old City as an attraction or out of devotion to visit the Western Wall. To them Jerusalem is the modern city, and one of the places that personifies the modern city is the open air produce market, Mahane Yehuda, also known as the "shuk" (the Market).

Mahane Yehuda market is close to the heart of modern Jerusalem, a mere five minutes walk from the bustling main streets of Jaffa Road, King George Street and the pedestrian street Ben Yehuda. It was founded in 1928, when that part of the city was almost considered its outskirts

To visit Jerusalem produce market on the right day is a culinary delight and an invasion of all one's senses, hearing, seeing, smelling, even touching. No one can visit there without touching some of the incredible array of products on sale.

The market consists of two main streets with many small alleys connecting the two and even going off the two. They are all worth exploring. The stalls offer everything needed for the palate, every kind of vegetable and fruits in their season (and some of them are in season the whole year, due to the totally modern Israeli agriculture).

Fresh and frozen meat and fish are also for sale, as well as fresh bread of any kind straight out of the oven. You want cakes, cookies of every kind and variety, including baklava, you can buy it here.

There are delicatessens offering ready made salads such as humous and tehina, and many others; cheeses of every variety; smoked and marinated herrings to suit every taste; cold cut salamis and pastramis and other smoked luncheon meats and your pickles.

But how are you to make the fool taste good without your herbs and spices? And while you are eating, you will need something to drink - soda or maybe wine or beer.

You cannot avoid the shops selling dried fruits of every kind, nuts and almonds, roasted sunflower seeds and other seeds for quick snacking. The vendors of homemade halva will offer you a taste, whether you buy or not.

But you can also buy all of the paraphernalia that is needed to make all of this into delicious homemade food. And should you make a mess while cooking or eating, you may also have bought, whatever is needed to clean up.

Should you get hungry or thirsty while visiting and shopping, a number of eating places either in the market itself or in one of the side streets adjoining the market. One of the favorite foods to eat in Mahane Yehuda market as well as throughout Israel is falafel, the Middle Easter fast food. Or you may want to enjoy a full meal of excellent Middle Easter food, or maybe just sit in one of the coffee shops and enjoy a moment of quite, while bustling shoppers move past.

Refreshing fresh juices of various kinds can also be bought, mainly from the famous Israeli oranges, but also pomegranate juice in season is very popular.

The market is open every day, except Shabbat (Saturday). The best days to visit is Wednesday afternoon through Friday. These are the days when Jerusalemites come for their weekly produce and grocery shopping. The noise level rises in the later afternoon, and especially Friday from noon and till closing time.

The vendors don't want to be left with too many fresh products over the Shabbat, and so they begin to compete with each other on how low they can take their prices. This is done as loudly as possible, each vendor shouting out the name of the product and its new price.

Incomplete Visit to Jerusalem

To visit Mahane Yehuda is a culinary delight. But it is also the place where you can meet the true Israeli, and where you can get a feel of the energy and vibration not just of Jerusalem, but of Israel as a whole.

A visit to Jerusalem is incomplete without a visit to the Mahane Yehuda Produce Market.

As your palate was stimulated, stimulate mine by leaving your impressions and comments.

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