In view of the national and urban mood, one would have expected that the culinary industry would level off and enter a depression, but surprisingly the restaurant business is more vigorous than ever. Unlike high-tech which is making its way out to more reformed countries, in culinary it seems that trust in Israel is preserved. Another proof to a series of proofs: Cafe Martini, a new Italian bar-bistro opened in the city center. The new place is signed by the DNA Concept Israel group that owns Miss Kô in Paris, a combination of a cocktail bar and an Asian restaurant based on a fictional character – “a young Eurasian who loves art and pleasure, curiosity and parties. She has no face, and her tattooed body is an open book about her life.” . Fortunately, in the Israeli version this conceptual fuss is spared us, and instead Cafe Martini relies on personalities with impressive resumes: chef Idan Peretz (Le Shouk, Poppina) who is reinforced by chef Yona Sassoon (Luca Velino, Topolino) and mixologist Mor Corral (223).
Martini and pizza, just what you need right now (photo by Megan Maimon)
According to the news to the media, Cafe Martini wants to bring the entertainment experience of Rome to Tel Aviv. The Israeli-international architect Sa’ar Zafarir, who designed, among other things, Assaf Granit’s Lotte restaurant at the Gali Kinneret Hotel, created an interior space already designed for an Italian aperitif from the 1960s and an exterior area simulating an Italian garden with lemon trees and a lemonade cart. The menu is based on traditional Italian cuisine with the addition of “Israeli-Mediterranean touches that sharpen the rich flavors we all know”. At this point, every skilled foodie must be rolling their eyes, but this is where Yona Sasson comes into the picture, and you can trust her: in the years when she owned the “Topolino” restaurant in Jerusalem with her partner Maurice Gini, Sasson specialized in classic Italian cuisine without shortcuts. In their Tel Aviv incarnation, the “Luca Valino” restaurant focused on the connection between Sicilian cuisine and North African cuisine, Tunisian cuisine in particular. Tortellini pacailla with homemade white and sumac is now served at Cafe Martini alongside artichoke and truffle gratin, spaghetti Cacho a Pepe and pizza with creamy stracciatella and balsamic cheese that represent Italian cuisine at its best, devoid of micro leaves and edible flowers. The desserts prepared by the French pastry chef Rebecca Amo align with classic Italy, for example a lemon tart with limoncello cream and profiterole filled with vanilla ice cream in chocolate sauce.
Chef Idan Peretz. Cafe Martini (photo by Megan Maimon)
The bar at Cafe Martini also receives serious attention thanks to mixologist Coral Moore, owner of the cocktail brand “Macho Quattro”. At the heart of a menu based on “classics from around the world, with Moore’s personal touch and Caffe Martini” are no less than 11 versions of the martini recorded throughout history. For example: Martinez from 1880, the first drink in which gin and vermouth appeared together and which is considered the ancestor of the classic martini; Vesper invented by the writer Ian Fleming in “Casino Royale”, James Bond’s first adventure in 1953 (three years later, in “Diamonds Forever” he will coin the eternal catchphrase Shaken, not stirred) and more. In the Espresso Cafe Martini cocktail, the local version of the legendary drink, Coral rum is mixed with Xaviage infusion, fresh espresso and date honey. And if all this sounds disconnected from reality and escapist, this is exactly the purpose that a coffee martini offers: to knock your head off with spent alcohol and fill your stomach with comforting carbohydrates to deal with the disgusting reality. The Italians also had difficult governments.
Dizengoff 130, Sunday-Thursday and Saturday 18:00-midnight, Friday closed, 077-9386465