A Culinary Experience: The Goat Farms of Israel

July 1, 2018
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Favorites, Savour
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2 Comments

The Ultimate in Farm to Table

One my favorite ways to spend a weekend in Israel is to get out of the city and visit a farm or a kibbutz. I love to be surrounded by nature. With the sunshine warming my cheeks and a slow breeze cooling off my sandal clad feet, it’s the perfect escape.

Each kibbutz has a specialty, and many Israelis could tell you off the top of their head what each one is. My favorites? The farms that specialize in cheese!

There are several farm-to-table restaurants, where the restaurants are actually on the farm. (In that case – is it really farm to table? Or is it just table at the farm?)

These are my favorite places to visit since the food is so fresh and so tasty!

The Kosher Influence: One of the super basic ideas of keeping kosher is that meat and milk should not be mixed. Although many of these farms are not officially kosher (i.e. certified by the rabbinate), they often forego the meat to appease those who are more “traditional.” Since I don’t eat meat, these veg heavy meals work out great for me!

My Favorite Farm

I first visited Goats with the Wind when we had a few friends visiting from out of town. They had previously eaten at a similar farm, which had since stopped opening to the public. Goats with the Wind (GWTW) was the perfect alternative.

Logistics

GWTW is located in Bethlehem of the Galilee. It is about a 2 hour drive from Tel Aviv or a 2 ½ hour drive from Jerusalem.

If you wish to visit, you must make a reservation by email or by calling.

Note that to get there, you will need to travel a bit by dirt road. We did this several times by sedan, and were fine, but it does take a little extra precaution.

The Experience

Before reaching the seating area, you will meet the goats. It’s not a formal introduction; they are just there, in their little barn, happily eating their hay.

Once seated in a lovely outdoor seating area (each party gets their own), a staff member will bring out the first course, typically a bowl of fresh labane (thick yogurt), a bowl of freshly cured (on the farm of course) olives, and a loaf of bread.

Don’t worry; there will be plenty more to eat.

Next comes a ricotta and some baked (or fried) cheese.

Don’t worry; there will be plenty more to eat.

Next come the vegetables: cabbage, tomatoes, and eggplant. All are super delicious and fresh. Make sure you save a little labane – it goes great with the eggplant!

But wait… there’s more.

Finally the cheese… A beautiful cheese plate arrives with several types of goat cheese, all with varying sharpness and flavors. At this point, you’re probably stuffed.

When you feel like you can’t eat any more, they’ll serve the tea and dessert.

Our meal took about three hours! When we were ready to leave, we went hunting for our check. That may seem odd, but it’s quite typical in Israel to have to go out of your way to get the check, it’s very casual.

When we finally found our server, she apologized and said, “We usually try to let you linger for awhile, it’s part of the experience; people tend to want to stay for hours…”

Happy and tired, we stopped to say one final goodbye to the ladies, and headed off.

Things to Note

There is a set price per person.
Be aware that seating is on floor pillows and you will be asked to take off your shoes.
The farm also makes their own wine; you can order a bottle to accompany your meal.
When searching for driving instructions, make sure you search for the restaurant, as there is also a market where they sell their cheeses.

Other Farms to Try

Alto Dairy Farm: Close to Acre. The cheese is made on the Kibbutz, but the restaurant is more of a traditional restaurant experience.
Kornmehl: A goat farm and restaurant in the Negev.
Shwartzman Dairy: I haven’t actually visited this one, but it is on my list!

If you are at all into food and wine, definitely put this farm on your itinerary. The scenery is lovely, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the food is absolutely delicious. This will probably end up being the highlight of your trip.