August 12, 2012

The world’s most famous chefs — including Anthony Bourdain, David Chang, Anita Lo, Lidia Bastianich and Yotam Ottolenghi, among others – were recently asked by Newsweek to help compile the “finest, oddest, most memorable dining hotspots” around the globe. Tel Aviv’s Habasta and Abraxas North are on the prestigious global list of 101 Best Places to Eat in the World.

Abraxas North is headed by the eccentric master chef Eyal Shani. British chef Yotam Ottolenghi writes in Newsweek that lamb chops are the specialty here but at the same time “recommended the whole baked cauliflower.”

The Habasta restaurant, near Carmel Market, is “simple and utilitarian” in Ottolenghi’s words. He recommends “the pizza with white truffles.”

Israel’s culinary arts are regularly awarded top honors by international food magazines.

“Every ‘best of’ list is bound to have its shortcomings and readers may notice a lot of major restaurant players missing from the list. There’s no particular methodology for designating these the best places to eat in the world; it’s a collection of restaurants that this group of chefs might spend their money at,” the magazine reports.