Haifa

Wednesday brought us to the city of Haifa.  The views are indescribable with the Mediterranean Sea laid out before you and the entire city and north coast in sight.  

After walking around the exquisitely maintained Bahai Gardens in the oppressive heat, we drove into Carmel Center to get some refreshments at Cafe Greg.

 We had both an iced cappuccino and an iced coffee blended with pecan granita, the latter of which totally stole the show.  It wasn't overly sweet, and the richness of the pecans blended with the pungent flavor of the coffee was the perfect match.  

 The cheesecake in Israel is much lighter and fluffier than the American version, which I must say I prefer.  Especially in the heat.

                              Later that day we made our way to the neighborhood of Wadi Nisnas in search of Falafel Hazkenim, or Falafel of the Old Men.  It's located right across the street from another falafel joint and the two have been competing for the best falafel in Israel for some time.  Upon walking in, we were each handed a falafel ball in a napkin drizzled with tahini as a tantalizing teaser.

There was a counter spanning the edges of the small room with stools on which to sit, nothing fancy.  On the counter were napkins, delightfully bitter Syrian olives, hot peppers and a chile oil of sorts.

The plate was given to us drowning in tahini so it doen't look like much, but suffice it to say that the falafel was fantastic:  light, flavorful and just so, accompanied as always by a few sides, this time tomatoes, cabbage and pickles.  

Stolling through Wadi Nisnas we came to an Arabic pastry shop where piles of backlava and other sweet delights beckoned.  

 We decided on kanafeh again, so as to compare with what we tasted in Akko...and Akko definitely won.  This one was a bit on the sweet side and not as flavorful.