Tel Aviv is one of my favourite cities in the world, if not the favourite and although there are an abundance of reasons why, food is one of the first ones I say. I am very lucky indeed to have a friend in someone who works in the industry and so every time I visit he takes me to a restaurant more impressive than the last and will always get the best table, the best waiter and the best service in the house.
This most recent visit, he got to take me to his own restaurant. So there was a lot riding on it - I didn't want to be disappointed by not only a new restaurant but the one he owned.
From Tel Aviv you can just about see Kalamata's white exterior perched on the hill in Jaffa. As you approach the courtyard it sits on, it looks quaint and lovely but doesn't have the overshadowing presence you think it might when looking it at from the city. Until you walk inside that is - and sit by the window and see what is beyond - perhaps the most stunning and breathtaking view there could be of the green and blue sea below and Tel Aviv beyond.
The inside of the restaurant is actually quaint and lovely but in the most untiring way - there is nothing trite at all about the white washed walls, exposed brickwork and simple wooden blue furniture. It is unfussy and elegant.
The menu is the same - short and simple but a rather exquisite selection of ingredients split into "greengrocers", "butchers" and "from the port". Everything on the menu just sounds so fresh and clean and appealing, I just wanted to dig in and try everything right away. We started with some very warm and crispy bread that came lovingly wrapped up in some newspaper along with some olives, firey tomato salsa and an artichoke puree - just gorgeous.
None of the dishes are too large so are great for sharing and of course that meant I could gorge on lots of them. We started with a ceviche done Arab style, which basically means its a bit like tabouleh with the fish mixed with cous cous, onions, tomatoes and lots and lots of coriander. It had just the right amount of zing with all the onions and lime and it tasted superb.
With the ceviche came a plate of burnt Roman artichokes. These were just divine - rich and earthy on a bed of warm roasted aubergine and tomato sauce and some creme fraiche to top them off. Artichokes bring back massive memories for me and actually the first time I ever tried one was in Israel, when I was very little and I have to say that they are probably my favourite food. These were done beautifully though.
Next up, calamari stuffed with bulgar wheat and raisins. I have to admit, this would not have been a dish I would have chosen but I'm so pleased we got it as it was another excellent dish. I had never eaten calamari like that and wasn't even aware it could be stuffed so was a good lesson for me. It tasted great and the stuffing made it ever so sweet.
Even the mozzarella salad with radishes and cherry tomatoes was great. Such a simple dish that any old person can rustle up but just look at it. It looks so enticing and creamy and delicious and it was.
We ended our run of outstanding dishes with a lamb souvlaki which almost fell off the awesome sword skewer it came on as the meat was so ridiculously soft.
There are a couple of lovely desserts on the menu and a very good cocktail menu too. I can't stress enough how wonderful and relaxed and warm and stunning and delightful Kalamata restaurant is. Only a few weeks before Shimon Perez, the President of Israel had lunch there and apparently told the chef it was one of the best meals he had ever tasted. Enough said really.
Many restaurants and bars have a very short shelf like in Tel Aviv - they spring up like orthodox babies. But this is not one of them. Kalamata is here to stay and I wish it ands its owners a long life of good fortune.