Conde Nast Traveler magazine's prestigious list of "207 of the Greatest Restaurants in the World" put Israel on the culinary map this week by recommending five of the country's most popular venues, including two in Jerusalem and one in the Arab city of Umm al-Fahm. The list is part of the magazine's October issue, published online on Tuesday. It was compiled based on the recommendations of "those who eat, cook, and travel for a living." According to the magazine, "a network of chefs, food writers and most-in-the-know travelers" provided their "impassioned guidance," which was later cross-referenced by others. "There's no shortage of food-focused Instagram feeds that will direct you to the tastiest avocado toast in cities like Paris, London, New York, L.A., hell, even Charleston. But when you're faced with the make-or-break travel dilemma of where to eat in Hong Kong, Mendoza, Dakar -- destinations where trustworthy recommendations are harder to come by but all the more vital -- you have one shot to get it right," the magazine said. Israel was represented by five restaurants, a number disproportionately high considering its size. By comparison, France, whose population is almost ten-times larger, saw only 20 of its restaurants make the cut. The Israeli restaurants were listed in no particular order. Machneyuda is a well-known establishment in Jerusalem, located in an open-air market bearing the same name. The magazine's Peter Jon Lindberg described it as a "joyfully chaotic spot just off the Machane Yehuda market, using fresh Israeli-grown ingredients." The other Jerusalem restaurant that made the list was Studio Arcadia. "It's a glass-enclosed dining room atop an olive tree-covered hill outside the city. The food is simple but extraordinary," the magazine lauded. Studio Arcadia chef Ezra Kedem took to Facebook on Wednesday to celebrate the occasion, writing, "It's a great honor to be chosen next to extraordinary chefs and restaurants around the world." Muscat Restaurant, in the northern town of Rosh Pina, was also recommended by the magazine. Israeli-American chef Michael Solomonov said the restaurant "is the kind of place that raises its own lamb and picks fresh produce at 2 p.m., then serves it at 7 p.m." Surprisingly, only one Tel Aviv restaurant made the list: Tzfon Abraxas, run by Eyal Shani, who is a celebrity chef in Israel. "Sit at the counter and eat whatever the chef is preparing that day. If they have the baked chraime [a spicy Sephardic fish dish] with tomato and tahini, order it," wrote Alon Shaya, who is an Israeli chef at several establishments in New Orleans. Elbabor, in the Arab city of Umm al-Fahm in northern Israel, was chosen for its "outstanding Palestinian food." Chef Michael Solomonov wrote that "the Kebab Elbabor brings me to tears every time." Another three Israeli-run restaurants made it into the list as well: Shani's Miznon restaurant in Paris; Alon Shaya's restaurant Shaya in New Orleans, and Michael Solomonov's Zahav restaurant in Philadelphia.
