Yaffo Tel Aviv is the latest restaurant from Chef Chaim Cohen which is attracting attention from all corners of the local culinary community. Chaim Cohen, who has become one of the leading chefs in Israel over recent years, has avoided opening new places, a fact that has raised eyebrows. His fame gained through his appearance as judge on Master Chef has only increased the curiosity.
The restaurant, which has been open since 2012, is exclusive and elegant. In contrast to fellow judge Eyal Shani, who boasts a relaxed atmosphere in his restaurants, Chaim Cohen has a different approach. In this restaurant you'll find all the classic characteristics of a restaurant owned by a top-class chef – complex dishes, attentive service, an extensive wine list etc.
The menu and concept of the restaurant represent a fusion of Chaim Cohen's own world and that of a renowned chef. "The cuisine I grew up with was full of clear and eclectic flavours, my mother cooked typical of Jerusalem, as well as Ashkenazi food. When I was in my 20s I hit a turning point, for the first time I tried meat that hadn't been cooked for hours and a new world was opened up.
My personal cuisine started with recipes from the new world I had been exposed to, but there was always something missing, until i understood that I can't distance myself from home, yet can't completely return to it either. I realised that I was both Jaffa and Tel Aviv."
The restaurant menu changes on an almost daily basis, depending on the fresh, raw materials that arrive each day. The place is not cheap but it's worth the experience – it is recommended to make a reservation