A few months before my first visit to Rotterdam (2015), an arquitectonic landmark in the city had just opened. It was MarktHalle. An exciting discovery especially due to its purpose: besides its impressive building housing two hundred apartments, it is also a vibrant food market. It is the largest covered market in Holland.
Colors, aromas and sounds all mixed and as varied as possible. Entering this market leaves anyone open-mouthed and dazzled by its vast cultural and gastronomic richness. It is one of the largest markets in the entire Middle East and, of course, the largest in Jerusalem. Israel has wonderful markets, but Mahane Yehuda has an incomparable level.
For those who like to eat, the trip to Israel is a treat for the eye, stomach and soul. First, almost everything you see before eating is very colorful, has a lot of personality with intoxicating aromas. Second, because everything has a lot of reference in Arab roots, which I particularly think is "the mother" of all kitchens in the world (just think about the Persian civilization, among others).
Just like in Brazil, the cuisine in Tel Aviv is going through a moment of great visibility and evolution. Food there is fashionable and much better today than it was a few years ago. People go out to eat more, spend more money, chefs become celebrities, food markets are a meeting place, street food has become cool.
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One of the most interesting ways to get to know the local food is visiting food markets and street fairs: a tip that would seem obvious, if it was not for the conceptual change that these types of food centers have been going through.