So Christmas is just round t’corner, and the Holy Land is gearing itself up for a right royal shindig. Or maybe not. And while we debate whether or not Israel really knows what Christmas is all about, just where is a man supposed to get his hands on some decent mince pies?
The annual quest to find some of those tasty little desserts that us Brits down in huge, sickening amounts at Christmas (and also put out for Santa, as they’ve also apparently become his favorite, with that glass of milk or whiskey as a faithful partner), never gets any easier in Israel.
OK, if you sign up for one of the many hotel or tourist pub Christmas dinner packages, you might be sinking your teeth into a mincey morsel, but for those of us not dining out…?
Oh yes, I’ve been sent this way and that and scoured the streets of Tel Aviv and its surrounding suburbs, but never really turned up trumps. Apparently there is a small bakery halfway up Jabotinsky Street in Ramat Gan (a few minutes from the center of Tel Aviv) that bakes a fresh batch in December, but when I turned up the place was closed…while the famed Tiv Taam supermarkets, that’ll sell you everything bacon they can throw at you and have a few Christmas bits and bobs, have yet to put a pack of mince pies on their shelves. At least not in my neighborhood.
UPDATE: Try the Pie Man in Israel (otherwise known as Idan) for some great mince pies! Not quite the same as “back home” but still a festive treat! He also makes some cracking chicken pies, well worth a try.
My family back home have often been the saviors, and yes, I’m counting on them again this year…and if not, I might just have to sink my teeth into a YouTube session.
So the mission continues.
And for anybody in Israel already, if you spot a packet of mince pies on your supermarket shelves or come across something mincemeat-ish in your local, don’t forget to let us know!
