A World-Famous Chef in Israel and the best hamburger in the world – found in Israel!

As a private tour guide in Israel, I meet people from all walks of life: doctors, lawyers, business people and authors.

These last ten days, I had the honor to guide Ms. Joanne Weir, host of PBS cooking show and author of 17 cookbooks.  Joanne also arranges culinary tours to Italy, Spain and even Morocco.

Now she is visiting Israel.  And she loves it.

“The best hamburger I’ve ever had,” quips Chef Weir.

Her husband, Mr. Joseph Ehrlich, and two very good friends, accompanied Joanne to Israel.

Immediately, Joanne was “hungry” to taste all the great eats we have here: humus, falafel, schwarma (roast chicken or lamb akin to Greek gyros) and other delicacies.

When on the Golan Heights, we ate at the famous “Meat Shos” restaurant.  Joanne thought this might be the best hamburger she has ever had.  Not just in Israel, anywhere!  I have to admit that Golan Heights free-range beef is indeed very, very tasty.

I took the party to Akko (Acre) where we had humus at the El Bashar restaurant.  All agreed it was great.

Later in the week, we hit Jerusalem.

From the buffet breakfast at the legendary King David Hotel, to a humus joint on the Via Dolorosa in the Old City, there were smiles and more smiles on everyone’s faces.

I suggested several restaurants for Joanne, husband and friends to try, but the Machne -Yuda restaurant next to the open air market, the Wine Bar across the street, owned by the same owners was their favorite.  Mona Restaurant in the Givat Ram neighborhood was also a winner.

I saw Joanne Weir happiest at the Flam Winery located in the Judean Foothills, not far from where David kicked Goliath’s butt.

Owner and California-trained winemaker Israel Flam had the right audience (the group hailed from San Francisco).  When he extolled the new wave of California wine making he was preaching to the choir.

All the wines we tasted were first rate.  So much so, that when Barack Obama dines in Jerusalem this week, he’ll be drinking a Flam white  and red.

Betay’avone!