Press Reports

Press Reports

"At Home in Safed" by Lydia Weitzman - Jerusalem Post, 7 May 1999

The magic begins as you leave your vehicle and begin walking through the narrow cobbled walkways of the Artists' Colony in Safed. Access is via a wrought iron gate into a small vine-covered stone courtyard. Welcome to the home of Ronen and Genine Bar-El, where home hospitality takes on a whole new dimension, where you can enjoy strictly kosher gourmet vegetarian cuisine, immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of Safed and even take in a lecture on Jewish mysticism.

Home is a beautiful, historic, vaulted 150 year old Arab house, lovingly restored to its full splendor by the Bar-Els. Once home to the famous writer Binyamin Tammuz and later the painter Hannah Levi, this is now the setting of a novel culinary experience.

All the necessary ingredients for success are right there. A gourmet chef with years of experience in top restaurants in Israel, London, Tokyo and the U.S. An enchanting, intimate venue bursting with character and history. A warm personal welcome from the maitre d' and last, but not least, delicious vegetarian cuisine. "Everyone loves the experience of eating in the chef's home, especially with all this architectural and interest," continues Genine animatedly with a sweep of her arm.

And much of the magic is provided by the Bar-Els themselves, a fascinating couple who generate genuine warmth, love and hospitality to all who enter their home. "We offer the personal touch, we find that our guests want to know how we built our home and our lives in this mystical city."

All meals are served buffet-style in the large entertaining area in the house and weather permitting, in the covered courtyards. In addition to a tempting bread corner with home-made herb butter and cheeses, there are at least 10 different salads, three main and two side dishes from which to choose. Using the freshest local ingredients and home-grown herbs, Ronen offers such delights as a Balkan eggplant moussaka with soy minced meat, and Pomme Anna, a divine layered creation of potatoes and sweet potatoes baked in a cream sauce. The spinach lasagna is another firm favorite and, although Ronen is a strict vegetarian, he also serves one fish dish, using salmon, Nile perch or fresh tuna steaks.

The salad buffet is a riot of color, with dishes such as beet salad with almonds, a cherry tomato salad with goat cheese and basil, a tri-color pasta salad in a Galilee sauce and wild mushrooms in a cream dressing. A far cry from the standard pickled salads served in many local restaurants. If you still have enough room after the main buffet, there is the dessert table, often laid out in the courtyard - tiramisu to die for, chocolate mousse, cheese cake and more, accompanied by fresh coffee and a selection of herbal teas. Guests can choose a menu of unlimited beverages plus Israeli wines.

For groups wanting an added dimension, the Bar-Els can offer a selection of after-dinner speakers, talking on topics such as Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah and science and healing, mysticism and art, local history and folklore etc.

"The Rabbinic Traveller: Vacationing in Tsfat" by William C. Berk CCAR (Central Conf. of American Rabbis) Newsletter

This summer I took my study trip to Tsfat for an unforgettable day. We spent an entire day studying and touring this remarkable city. The highlight of the day was our lunch at the home of Genine and Ronen Bar-El. This is a beautiful couple who have renovated a 150-year old house and turned it into a place of magic, great warmth and love. Rony is agroumet chef. He prepared a gourmet vegetarian lunch for us which was unbelievable. After lunch, we heard kabbalistic artist David Freedman and then studied with a wonderful teacher of Jewish mysticism. Genine and Rony have begun to open the homes to tourists. They have great connections with artists and scholars. I commend their home to you. It makes a perfect day in Tsfat. Genine can offer a guided tour through the Artists' Colony, taking you into the studios and homes of the artists. The food is not to be believed. The ambience is full of wonder. It makes a perfect day in the holy city of Tsfat. Genine and Rony are fabulous hosts.. I plan on talking all future tours there.

"With designs on the Palate" by Rita Poley - The Jewish Exponent 7 January 1999

For a dining experience to truly merit inclusion in a top 10 travel memory list, it must offer more than just one more great meal. To achieve that gustatory distinction, I advise that you and a group of friends do as I did, and make a culinary pilgrimage to the ancient and mystical city of Safed to the home of Ronen and Genine Bar-El.

Chef Bar-El, a native Israeli, graduated from the Tadmor Culinary Institute in Tel Aviv and spent several years working with top chefs in Europe, Asia and the U.S. His wife, Genine, currently director of projects for the Artists' Colony of Safed, immigrated to Israel from New York in 1991. Surprisingly the couple met in India, a country they love for both its culture and its cuisine. What brought them to Safed is their mutually shared deep admiration for Safed as the historical center of kabbalistic Judaism in Israel, and their equally shared love of the artistic vibrancy of life in this beautiful mountain town.

Their challenge was to find a way to build a business that would allow them to combine their love for the area with their love for gourmet vegetarian cuisine, and also allow visitors an opportunity to see the city through their eyes…. The group I accompanied, the Conference of the Center for Jewish Art of Hebrew University, was hosted by Genine and Ronen in the Bible Museum for a meal that revived more than our taste buds. Go and enjoy!

Kudos from Guests

"Now that the El Caballero Country Club Mission has returned to Los Angeles, I wanted to leet you know what a spectacular evening we had at your home. This was certainly a highlight of the Mission. The experience began when Genine met our bus, gave us an introduction to Safed and your home. The entire group appreciated Genine's vivacious style and warm sense of humor. Your home is beautiful, warm and inviting. Ronen prepared a delicious and appealing meal - from the fresh breads to the incredible desserts - everything was wonderful!

You are excellent hosts. You create such an intimate and warm environment. As one participant described it - "it was a feast for all the senses." I would strongly encourage other groups to include this as part of their Israel itinerary. It is a unique, interesting, exciting and delicious experience. Thank you very much for your hospitality and warmth." - David R. Levy, Campaign Director, The Jewish Federation Valley Alliance

"I would like to thank you for organizing the Shabbat dinner for the ADL Civil Rights Mission. The guests, the delicious food, and the special atmosphere of Safed made the evening a highlight. The only problem that aorse was that no other cakes that followed were as good as Roni's! In a word, an unforgettable experience. We look forward to many visits in the futures. - Phyllis Gerably, Director of Missions

A beautiful home, wonderful food and gracious hosts. Think how many people would want to be in your shoes. Thank you - Kenneth Cole

An experience I will remember for a lifetime! - Samantha Goldberg, UJA Singles Mission

We will always think of your warm and wonderful house as our "home" in Israel. Thank you so much for welcoming us so grandly to Tsfat. - Simon Aronin, Cong. Bet Am Shalom

Your home is so beautiful, it looks like the corner of a Better Homes & Garden Magazine. The food and hospitality match the beauty and warmth of your home. Thank you. - Lisa Levy, American Jewish Committee Staff Mission


	Press Reports "At Home in Safed" by Lydia Weitzman - Jerusalem Post, 7 May 1999 The magic begins as you leave your vehicle and begin walking through the narrow cobbled walkways of the Artists' Colony in Safed. Access is via a wrought iron gate into a small vine-covered stone courtyard. Welcome to the home of Ronen and Genine Bar-El, where home hospitality takes on a whole new dimension, where you can enjoy strictly kosher gourmet vegetarian cuisine, immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of Safed and even take in a lecture on Jewish mysticism. Home is a beautiful, historic, vaulted 150 year old Arab house, lovingly restored to its full splendor by the Bar-Els. Once home to the famous writer Binyamin Tammuz and later the painter Hannah Levi, this is now the setting of a novel culinary experience. All the necessary ingredients for success are right there. A gourmet chef with years of experience in top restaurants in Israel, London, Tokyo and the U.S. An enchanting, intimate venue bursting with character and history. A warm personal welcome from the maitre d' and last, but not least, delicious vegetarian cuisine. "Everyone loves the experience of eating in the chef's home, especially with all this architectural and interest," continues Genine animatedly with a sweep of her arm. And much of the magic is provided by the Bar-Els themselves, a fascinating couple who generate genuine warmth, love and hospitality to all who enter their home. "We offer the personal touch, we find that our guests want to know how we built our home and our lives in this mystical city." All meals are served buffet-style in the large entertaining area in the house and weather permitting, in the covered courtyards. In addition to a tempting bread corner with home-made herb butter and cheeses, there are at least 10 different salads, three main and two side dishes from which to choose. Using the freshest local ingredients and home-grown herbs, Ronen offers such delights as a Balkan eggplant moussaka with soy minced meat, and Pomme Anna, a divine layered creation of potatoes and sweet potatoes baked in a cream sauce. The spinach lasagna is another firm favorite and, although Ronen is a strict vegetarian, he also serves one fish dish, using salmon, Nile perch or fresh tuna steaks. The salad buffet is a riot of color, with dishes such as beet salad with almonds, a cherry tomato salad with goat cheese and basil, a tri-color pasta salad in a Galilee sauce and wild mushrooms in a cream dressing. A far cry from the standard pickled salads served in many local restaurants. If you still have enough room after the main buffet, there is the dessert table, often laid out in the courtyard - tiramisu to die for, chocolate mousse, cheese cake and more, accompanied by fresh coffee and a selection of herbal teas. Guests can choose a menu of unlimited beverages plus Israeli wines. For groups wanting an added dimension, the Bar-Els can offer a selection of after-dinner speakers, talking on topics such as Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah and science and healing, mysticism and art, local history and folklore etc. "The Rabbinic Traveller: Vacationing in Tsfat" by William C. Berk CCAR (Central Conf. of American Rabbis) Newsletter This summer I took my study trip to Tsfat for an unforgettable day. We spent an entire day studying and touring this remarkable city. The highlight of the day was our lunch at the home of Genine and Ronen Bar-El. This is a beautiful couple who have renovated a 150-year old house and turned it into a place of magic, great warmth and love. Rony is agroumet chef. He prepared a gourmet vegetarian lunch for us which was unbelievable. After lunch, we heard kabbalistic artist David Freedman and then studied with a wonderful teacher of Jewish mysticism. Genine and Rony have begun to open the homes to tourists. They have great connections with artists and scholars. I commend their home to you. It makes a perfect day in Tsfat. Genine can offer a guided tour through the Artists' Colony, taking you into the studios and homes of the artists. The food is not to be believed. The ambience is full of wonder. It makes a perfect day in the holy city of Tsfat. Genine and Rony are fabulous hosts.. I plan on talking all future tours there. "With designs on the Palate" by Rita Poley - The Jewish Exponent 7 January 1999 For a dining experience to truly merit inclusion in a top 10 travel memory list, it must offer more than just one more great meal. To achieve that gustatory distinction, I advise that you and a group of friends do as I did, and make a culinary pilgrimage to the ancient and mystical city of Safed to the home of Ronen and Genine Bar-El. Chef Bar-El, a native Israeli, graduated from the Tadmor Culinary Institute in Tel Aviv and spent several years working with top chefs in Europe, Asia and the U.S. His wife, Genine, currently director of projects for the Artists' Colony of Safed, immigrated to Israel from New York in 1991. Surprisingly the couple met in India, a country they love for both its culture and its cuisine. What brought them to Safed is their mutually shared deep admiration for Safed as the historical center of kabbalistic Judaism in Israel, and their equally shared love of the artistic vibrancy of life in this beautiful mountain town. Their challenge was to find a way to build a business that would allow them to combine their love for the area with their love for gourmet vegetarian cuisine, and also allow visitors an opportunity to see the city through their eyes…. The group I accompanied, the Conference of the Center for Jewish Art of Hebrew University, was hosted by Genine and Ronen in the Bible Museum for a meal that revived more than our taste buds. Go and enjoy! Kudos from Guests "Now that the El Caballero Country Club Mission has returned to Los Angeles, I wanted to leet you know what a spectacular evening we had at your home. This was certainly a highlight of the Mission. The experience began when Genine met our bus, gave us an introduction to Safed and your home. The entire group appreciated Genine's vivacious style and warm sense of humor. Your home is beautiful, warm and inviting. Ronen prepared a delicious and appealing meal - from the fresh breads to the incredible desserts - everything was wonderful! You are excellent hosts. You create such an intimate and warm environment. As one participant described it - "it was a feast for all the senses." I would strongly encourage other groups to include this as part of their Israel itinerary. It is a unique, interesting, exciting and delicious experience. Thank you very much for your hospitality and warmth." - David R. Levy, Campaign Director, The Jewish Federation Valley Alliance "I would like to thank you for organizing the Shabbat dinner for the ADL Civil Rights Mission. The guests, the delicious food, and the special atmosphere of Safed made the evening a highlight. The only problem that aorse was that no other cakes that followed were as good as Roni's! In a word, an unforgettable experience. We look forward to many visits in the futures. - Phyllis Gerably, Director of Missions A beautiful home, wonderful food and gracious hosts. Think how many people would want to be in your shoes. Thank you - Kenneth Cole An experience I will remember for a lifetime! - Samantha Goldberg, UJA Singles Mission We will always think of your warm and wonderful house as our "home" in Israel. Thank you so much for welcoming us so grandly to Tsfat. - Simon Aronin, Cong. Bet Am Shalom Your home is so beautiful, it looks like the corner of a Better Homes & Garden Magazine. The food and hospitality match the beauty and warmth of your home. Thank you. - Lisa Levy, American Jewish Committee Staff Mission