By TALY SHARONWaldorf Astoria Hotel(photo credit: PR)
The Waldorf Astoria’s Garden Terrace tapas bar, recently reopened for the summer, presents a new menu featuring unique cocktails and tapas by the hotel’s executive chef, Itzik Barak. The cuisine is modern, with a Mediterranean twist inspired by the city of Jerusalem.“This year, to celebrate 50 years of the reunification of Jerusalem, we are offering a variety of dishes that represent the gastronomic culture of the city, such as Jaffa Gate Tempura Cauliflower, Mahaneh Yehuda Charred Eggplant and Jerusalem Mix, as well as a cocktail called Jerusalem of Gold,” says Barak.The setting of the Garden Terrace is beautiful. Located on the fourth floor of the hotel, it is a small rooftop garden overlooking the surrounding area. The seating is informal. The rattan love seats and armchairs with colorful cushions surrounded by bushes and flowers are designed to make the seating a sensory experience. The summer evenings in Jerusalem are cool, making it very pleasant to sit in the open air. Shawls are available if it gets chilly.The terrace is primarily a place to have a drink. The cocktails are a unique creation of the Waldorf’s team (NIS 52-92). The signature cocktail Jerusalem of Gold was “created especially to take you on a sensory journey around our beautiful Jerusalem. The flavors of our city are awakened by Arak, Havana 7 and enhanced by cinnamon smoke,” Barak explains.It is an enchanting cocktail. It is brought to the table covered with a glass shell. When the glass shell is removed, smoke is magically released, emanating a sweet scent into the air. If you’re looking to impress your date or experience some excitement, order this cocktail!Another cocktail is Summer Breeze, which was somewhat sweet and covered with a light egg-white foam, which gave it a silky texture. It was my favorite. The Wild Rose and Basil Daiquiri were very good as well. All the cocktails were first rate, made with the highest quality alcohol and using the latest techniques.The Garden Terrace offers a variety of kosher tapas made with the finest fresh ingredients (NIS 40/50/60). They are prepared and served quickly. The menu includes vegan, fish, poultry, beef and lamb tapas. Each dish is served on a different type and style of plate, and careful attention is paid to the design and combination of flavors selected by the chef.Everything we tried (and we tried many of the dishes) was excellent – fresh, full of herbs and flavor; some dishes were a little spicy. My favorite dish was the Bass a la Plancha, served with roasted artichokes and spinach. Crusty charred fish with melt-inyour- mouth artichokes. I loved it!The bar has a smoking area, where patrons can smoke one of the selection of cigars listed on the bar’s menu.The Garden Terrace is a place to relax and unwind and to enjoy the international atmosphere of the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Patrons of the bar are entitled to two hours of free parking in the hotel’s parking garage. Avner On, the hotel’s manager, says the aim is to open the Waldorf Astoria to the people of Jerusalem and invite them to enjoy the high standards of the hotel.The Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem was named Best Hotel in the Middle East by Conde Nast, as well as one of the 10 best hotels worldwide, and received TripAdvisor’s 2016 Certificate of Excellence Award. The modern hotel is a luxury contemporary style that preserves the original façade and characteristics of the original 1928 Palace Hotel.The Waldorf has become well known for its kosher gourmet food services, as people dine at the hotel’s restaurant, starting with the famous breakfast, perhaps the best breakfast to be found in Israel. The Garden Terrace joins the Palace Restaurant and the King’s Court in providing opportunities for fine dining in an elegant Jerusalemstyle atmosphere.The writer was a guest of the tapas bar.The Garden TerraceKosherWaldorf Astoria Hotel26-28 Gershon Agron Street, JerusalemSunday to Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to midnight