Fridge Voyeurism From Israel

April 14, 2009 - 3:31 PM by Karin Kloosterman · 1 Comment
Filed under: Environment 

fridge-voyeur-israel-photo

Are you an organic food addict? Or do you insist on eating food that grown locally, but pesticide-ridden, to spare food miles (or to serve an ideology?)

As food production is a major source of greenhouse gas pollution (Read: Global Warming), eating locally, and consuming less meat is one way we can do our part.

Following a worldwide trend, where people are opening up their fridge to show people what’s in their fridge (and on their palette) today I will expose myself and show you what’s in mine. It feels a bit like opening my underwear drawer to strangers, but here goes:

fridge-voyeur-tel-aviv-photo

CONTENTS (Door on right): Bio eggs, butter, organic strawberry jam, milk, mustard, sundried tomatoes, pomegranate concentrate, goat’s milk yogurt, V8, tehina, capers, guava juice, orange juice, batteries (not for eating!), coconut juice, goat’s yogurt, and the old Canadian maple syrup (thanks Mom!).

SOURCE: There are a number of imported items here like the V8 from North America and the juice from Egypt. The jam is from the United States. Phoeey on me, but it looked so good. And the pomegranate concentrate, I think is from Turkey, while syrup is from Canada. All the milk products are produced locally and bought at Eden Teva market or local non-organic shops. Milk costs about $1.50 a liter in Israel (non-organic), the organic yogurt about $3 a bottle.

fridge-voyear-photo

CONTENTS: (from top to bottom, left to right) organic lentil sprouts, organic goat’s cheese, chessick fruit, soft regular white cheese 5%, organic red cabbage part of a weekly CSA veggie box delivery (choose from a list of CSAs here if you live in Israel); more cheese including a Rockfort goat’s cheese, Syrian dates, spicy lettuces, cabbage, parsley, green onions, carrots, leaks, tomatoes, radishes, cucumbers, and spinach.

SOURCE: Vegetables come from an organic farm, which delivers a box of whatever’s in season, once a week. Some of the cheese is from Eden Teva market, a health food store in Bnei Brak; some cheese is from Arab supermarket on the corner nearby my house. Reducing food miles is important to me from an environmental perspective. I try to eat locally produced food, and things which are in season.

fridge-voyeur-israel

CONTENTS: It being Passover in Israel means that a lot of the bread products you might see here other times of the year have been cleaned out, eaten or burned, as per Jewish custom. Moving on, there is some sort of white fish, hamburger organic and regular, rice (stored in freezer to keep the bugs out), and a strange kind of sheep tail fat (bottom right) for making a Bukharian food known as Osh Pollo. It is wrapped like that because someone (on their request) was supposed to “smuggle” it to the US where no such sheep tail fat can be found. It stays frozen in the meantime. (As a once a week meat-eater, Osh Pollo is very yummy and highly recommended.)

SOURCE: The frozen products come from Eden Teva Market, a health food store, a regular grocery store, and the sheep tail fat, a local market. Normally you won’t find so much meat in the freezer, as I tend to buy it when I want it. I have no idea how much meat costs per kilo, because I buy it so rarely. The organic hamburger, enough to feed 4, cost about $25 for the box, times 2 what you see above.

Want to know more about fridge voyeurism? Read this post in its original form with more details at Canada’s Israel. Or a past Green Prophet post on a fridge in Jerusalem.

We’d be happy to feature your Middle East fridge on Green Prophet, if you dare. Send us some pics and describe contents and food source, so we can know a little more about you, and what you eat. Send to contact@greenprophet.com.

::Canada’s Israel

Tags: , , , , ,

Give Israel’s “Loli” Organic Sweets to Your Sweet This Valentine’s Day

February 1, 2009 - 10:29 AM by Karin Kloosterman · 1 Comment
Filed under: Environment, Food 

loli organic sweets israelWhether or not you’re a fan of the overly commercialized holiday of love, Valentine’s Day, we think everyone would agree that when giving your special someone a loving gift you want it to be something that doesn’t cause potential harm to them. Candy and flowers are the traditional Valentine’s Day gifts, so why not show your loved one that you really care with handmade organic candy and a potted flower plant?

The flowers are pretty easy to find, but what about the candy? Enter Loli Natural and Organic Sweets.

Started by two fresh mothers named Liat, Loli grew out of their maternal need to provide a natural alternative to the very unnatural candy options that are already available and which are beloved by most kids. Kids are going to want candy no matter what, so the candy that they eat might as well be natural, made with organic fruit, sugar and chocolate, and locally handmade.

loli organic candies israel photoTheir goodies are diverse and appeal to a variety of special dietary needs – including gluten free and sodium reduced candy.

Loli’s offerings includes: handmade organic candy in a variety of shapes, organic lollipops, natural jelly candy with real fruit, natural sugar sticks, truffles with natural ingredients, nuts and dried fruit covered in organic chocolate, and crystal candy that comes in special flavors.

Licking your lips yet? Loli Sweets can be reached by phone or through their website Loli Organic.

Read more about other organic, local, and homemade gift ideas from Israel:
Nagaya Organic Gifts: Give the Gift of Sustainability
SAHA’s Fairly Local Trade
Indulgence, Locavore Style: Homemade Strawberry Jam

(This post was written by Karen Chernick, and first posted on greenprophet.com)

Tags: , , , ,

 

© 2009 ISRAELITY | Site by illuminea | Sitemap