Nomi Restaurant, which opened in September 2021, hosted the Bailliage for a winter-sunny Friday dinner. The restaurant is situated in beautiful countryside about 20kms from Tel Aviv. Nomi is run by two Chefs, Gadi Bore and Jonathan Danon, who had both worked at Catit, Meir Adoni’s famous restaurant.

Israeli winemaker Eyal Drori introduced us to a newly-produced great wine called “Layam” from Agur Winery as well as to his own produced vermouth which was served between courses to taste with explanations.

Eyal is one of the rising stars in Israeli wine making. He studied wine making in north-west Italy specializing in vermouth in Turin, the capital of Italian vermouth.

Vermouth Vedta 52 is one of the most fascinating, high-quality drinks seen in Israel in recent years - considered a leader in a category of vermouth which is gaining momentum in the country. The vermouths produced by Eyal accompanied the meal.

The welcome cocktail, called “Sbagliato”, combined Campari, Israeli red vermouth and Prosecco. An excellent aperitif on a winter Friday in the Hefer Valley.

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Nomi's unmissable signature “fire bread”
Musabaha hummus
fresh goat’s cream cheese, za’atar
anchovies, pickles, local salted cheese, whipped taramasalata
Italian-style burrata
Tabun oven roasted beets
[Ed. the oven is Arabic outdoor stove used
chiefly for baking bread and pitta]

Hot-fire roasted fennel
Greater amberjack tuna tartare
kohlrabi, citrus, pistachios, fresh horseradish
crispy leaves (some from the restaurant’s garden)
crème fraiche with bread and hazelnut crumble
Charcoal-cooked calamari
spicy blood orange salad
harissa paste, coriander
Filled roast chicken dumpling
sumac, goat’s yoghurt, Shata oil

Slow-and-long cooked neck of lamb in rice and milk
wild chicory

Classic tiramisu
goat’s yoghurt cream, red fruits
burnt lime marshmallows

It is fortunate that it is known desserts have a spare stomach! The evening ended on the terrace overlooking the valley view with some enjoying a cigar.

Tami Lancut Leibovitz
Member of the Conseil Magistral
Bailli Délégué