Food and views: take advantage of the weekend for a trip to Mate Yehuda

For three weekends, the old food event "Mate Yehuda Food Festival" will be held in Mate Yehuda. This year, due to the situation in Mate Yehuda, they chose to drop the word "festival" from the title and focus mainly on - "local food". As part of the event, which is being held for the 24th time, you can strengthen local businesses, reserve businesses and enjoy culinary connections with culinary people from the Western Negev.

For three weekends, from March 21 to April 6, food and travel enthusiasts will be able to come and meet the human, cultural and culinary diversity of the Greater Regional Council. Along the way, it is possible and desirable to strengthen the business of reservists and culinary people from the Western Negev, including: the vegan cheeses of "Shoni" that will be hosted at the "Bradley" bakery in Srigim, "Karamzina", the brewery from Talme Yaffe will be hosted at the brewery in Srigim, "Chocolate Cafe" from Megan will be hosted at "Ish Lechem" in Moshav Taoz and more. All this alongside the beautiful landscapes of the season after many rains fell in the area, almond blossoms, lupins, anemones, vineyards and wide green spaces.

At the same time as these connections, over 15 new places will open their doors at this year's events, among others, Hagit Daniel Melozit, who has an impressive culinary past from Paris and Brussels with "Roman in the Kingdom of Pastries" in collaboration with Giuliano Rush, a chef and painter specializing in Brazilian cooking, Shirley Moshe , the source picker who will prepare meals to pick in the field, a Turkish-Greek brunch at "Mayale's Garden" in Aviazer and new culinary gems in Ein Rafa, including JJ's kosher grill, which returned to the village from the United States and opened a new place just a few weeks ago , Adam's hamburger, and a vegetarian menu at "Caprasco".

And alongside them, the breweries of the region have been at the forefront for many years, including: a Georgian experience at Kedma Winery, Avi and Yael Rosenbaum who will serve the wonders of the Argentinian grill in Srigim, "Nora" - the harvest from a plantation that surprises with a crazy 8-course meal from nature, Aliya Gabay with lamb and meat stews Head of Moroccan cuisine, Oren Shmueli from the "Bradley" bakery in Srigim never ceases to surprise and this year will host the vegan cheese maker from Nir Oz "Shoni" as well as a Dutch baker who will come to bake with him, the wonders of the well-treated Jiben at "Caprasco" in Ein Rafa appearing in the knafe and fresh salads from the garden , Yemenite food at Rami's and Yaffa Aloni in the Beko'a, chef meals that combine a meeting with a winemaker with Avner Niv and Lori Lander from Zafririm Winery, Yaffa Aloni in Kuba pots from the Kurdish kitchen and the meat soup of Rami, her Yemeni husband, fine coffee and pastries in surprising combinations with the fine pastry chef, Michal Barnes in a cart The "My Child" cafe, Kuchini food workshops at the Eliyahu farm in Kfar Oriya and more.

On Fridays, as is the best tradition, there will be "tours between the pots". On the tour of the first weekend, you will meet Yael and Doron Regev from Moshav Gefen, local producers who specialize in sandwiches with sheep's cheese, fermented spreads, traditional Hungarian baking and everything fresh from the home garden. The second stop will be at Aliya Gabay, also from Gefen, where you will get a taste of a festive dish and sweets The tour will conclude at Mettler Winery in Agur with wine and beer. The second tour (29.3) will begin with a wine tasting and brunch at Kerem Barak, continue to Moshav Tzelafon where you will be welcomed by the Krauze family with the produce of their dairy and the produce of a Waty Atir project from the Eastern Negev that combines Kedma, tradition and sustainability and will end with a unique experience You will eat at the Eliyahu farm in Kfar Oriya. The third tour, which will take place on April 6, will begin at Caprasco, the cafe of Monder and Bashar in the village, a couple that grows everything themselves and offers a fresh Arabic culinary experience in front of a mountain view. Among the dishes offered there are wild zaatar kras and goat cheese, eggs on special leeks, pastries and pitas, and knafe with their unique recipe. From there you will continue to Yad Hashmona, there you will find the first cidery in Israel for a tasting tour in the visitor center of the new factory and finish it off with a visit to Juliano Rush, name and artist, who will host in his kibbutz home in Kiryat Anavim for an experience Brazilian with tastings of feijoada, parofa and caipirinia.

Tours "between the pots" will be held on Fridays, 22.3, 29.3, 6.4, between the hours of 9:30-14:00.Gathering and exiting the Mate Yehuda Regional Council parking lot.The cost of the tours: NIS 210 per participant.