The South on the tip of our tongue: Wolt's special peek to Gaza Envelope culinary world

Today (22.07) a special press tour went out following the launch of the Wolt delivery platform for the first time in Sderot, Netivot, and about 30 of the localities in the area, including the Kfar Gaza and Bari kibbutzim, starting on 15.07.

The tour began in Sderot, with the first stop being Or Shukron's "Oryosss" cafe. A Kibbutz Erez resident, Shukron will participate in the soon-to-be-released new season of "Mischakei HaChef" ("Chefs' Games"). 

"I am 35 years old, Mother of two daughters, ages 5 and 8, and live in Kibbutz Erez," Shukron said, describing her journey as both an army officer, and later as a culinary student. "I started traveling to study under the most reputed pastry chefs abroad and participating in courses around the world." This was when she decided to end her military career and instead opened a cafe in Kibbutz Erez during a pandemic. "It was financial suicide that somehow turned into immediate success," she said.

"After the cafe in Kibbutz Erez opened, customers from Sderot asked me to open a new Kosher location in the city," she goes on to explain "That's why I decided to open a fully Kosher branch in Sderot that's closed on Saturdays." The new location opened two months before the war began, located in what became the deadliest area in Sderot on October 7, next to the infamous police station.

"I was home that day," she recalls "and we went into our safe room thinking it would end quickly, it didn't occur to us that it would become this serious." After a short while Shukron and her partner received a message from the kibbutz's security team telling them to lock all the doors and windows.

"We weren't surprised at first – this was the regular protocol for terrorist infiltration, but then we realized that the head of our local council was murdered, and we received the videos of the terrorists driving in the heart of Sderot. I started hearing noises of machine guns in my neighborhood," Shukron recounted. 30 terrorists tried to enter the kibbutz that day, but only two managed to get inside. 

Next was 48-year-old Netivot native David Lugasi's "La Pastaria" – a Mediterranean-Italian restaurant. "My restaurant is one of the oldest in Netivot, we have been here for 15 years," said Lugasi and later told us that during the first weeks of the war, not being able to sit at home, he would cook for the soldiers stationed in the surrounding area. 

Across the road is the "Benny Kahlon Shawarma" run by 39-year-old Sivan Kahlon and her younger sister. The place opened about three years ago after a conflict between her father and uncle. Kahlon recounted the business' financial difficulties brought by October 7 "all our checks were bad during those days" she said. 

Next was "Zigdon" run by 19-year-old Zigdon, the third generation to run his family restaurant, which has been operating for 60 years since his grandfather opened the place. This was the first falafel in Netivot, now they sell homemade Tunisian dishes.

Their menu includes Burik, Fricassee sandwiches, and their famous Tunisian meatballs. "I know Walt well, and when I heard that they were coming to our area it was clear to me that I wanted this cooperation," he said.Our last stop for the day was Kfar Maimon, at " HaBikta " –  a burger food truck that specializes in handmade, kosher hamburgers. Avishai Schlesinger, a 21-year-old soldier still in active duty, opened the place about three years ago.

"We're rebuilding every day here in the Otef (The Gaza Envelope)," Schlesinger exclaimed. "Wolt's platform will help us make them accessible to more customers. I call on everyone to visit us, support us, and revive this wonderful region of the country, which we will never give up on."