Comfort (Food) Zone

Churros and ice cream

Place: Ruhama, Ganei Tal

When: Thursday, midday

Environment: The Ruhama coffee cart/food truck is located in an area that you would think was over-saturated with coffee carts, as two others are parked within a span of a few hundred meters on the way to Ruhama. Ruhama is located adjacent to (but not in) a nursery, and right next to an ancient wine press. The seating area is among olive trees strung with lights, around wooden and concrete picnic tables nestled under the shade of the trees. The place was pretty well attended, if not full, with families, couples, and friends sitting at computers. Some music played from speakers, though not too loud. The relative tranquility was occasionally interrupted by fighter jets overhead. The menu included various salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and even some fried junk food (think: chips and guacamole, cheese fries, fried cauliflower).

My Order: Mushroom pizza (NIS 52); small cappuccino (NIS 12); churros with ice cream and dulce de leche (NIS 32).

The low-down: The cappuccino was served immediately and was very pale. The taste matched the look: Weak on coffee, heavy on milk. The crust of the pizza (which came out next) was surprisingly (and pleasantly) firm and chewy. The cheese was somewhat salty and nothing special. The mushrooms were fresh and added a needed layer of flavor. There was also a hint of truffle, as promised by the menu. The churros came out crispy and warm on the outside, with a healthy dusting of sugar and cinnamon. The inside was maybe a bit chewier than ideal, but still pretty good. They were served with a container of dulce de leche and a cup of vanilla soft serve ice cream. The ice cream was surprising in its heavy (artificial) vanilla flavor. It was good, but cold on the teeth when juxtaposed to the warm churros.

Mushroom pizza

Who else was there: A fashionable mom wearing a black muscle tank top and a pleated, black and white plaid skirt that hit a bit above the knee, reminiscent of her youth in the nineties. She a good few inches of bangles around her wrist, and chunky, white platform sandals on her feet. Her short dyed blonde hair was up in a half-ponytail, and black sunglasses completed the look. Her daughter had on a cropped olive-green t-shirt and denim daisy dukes. Her long brown hair was loose, and she had on flat, somewhat sporty sandals.

The two of them were out for a last hurrah before school started up the following week. They ordered pizza, which was not characteristic, as they tend to eat very healthy. But they didn’t finish it, because there’s a limit to how unhealthy they were willing to go. They did decide to take it home, though, rather than toss it. Maybe the woman’s husband would want some later when he was home from work. This outing was also unusual in that it involved leaving the polished, air-conditioned interiors the pair prefer to inhabit (unless there’s a swimming pool and luxurious deck involved). Every now and then, they like to mix it up and bond over the experience.