Did you ever wonder about its name?
Variety of sweet flavors is probably the best way to have fun.
My mother and I stumbled into the wonderful Kiortosh Café on 18 Lincoln Street, Tel Aviv. Did you ever wonder about its name? Well, Kiortosh is a well-known Hungarian pastry, immigrant to Israel and subject of local admiration.
Kiortosh on Lincoln Street is one of 11 kosher branches scattered around Israel. Tel Aviv alone houses two – one on Lincoln Street and another one on Bugrashov. The chain of cafes has been in business for more than 10 years.
Sitting outside is nice, as the sitting area is covered and not exposed to direct sunlight. I loved the tables with their mosaic tops; a combination of art and food has never done anyone any harm. Plus, the entire area is surrounded by plants, which contribute to a sense of calmness and a getaway from the hectic Tel Aviv life. An iced passion fruit drink and iced coffee were the perfect fresheners for my mom and I on that hot day.
Before we were received with some sweet injection, we started with a savory strudel, with pesto and feta cheese. It was so elegant, and hand-made; certainly something to write home about.
We then continued with some crunches. One with ricotta cheese and berries: a true celebration of flavors that I can even taste now. But the chocolate crunch really took me back to my childhood, with a beautiful baking scent. There is nothing like discovering your restaurant order is as home-made as it gets.
Kiortosh's Specials include one extraordinary Italian pastry – crispy Italian dough filled with crème pâtissière. I really loved the combination of crunch, sugar powder and rich crème. But I was waiting for it, and there it was – the kiortosh.
The kiortosh recipe dates back many years, when an old Hungarian woman shared her secret with the chain's owner. Today, you can watch the employees of the café as they wrap the rolling pin with the special dough, sprinkle sugar over it, and bake it to perfection. It is then served as a hot hollow (sort of) cone, in many flavors.
Cinnamon and nuts, chocolate and vanilla, chocolate and nuts, chocolate and halva, halva and almonds, hazel nuts, dolce de late and what have you – My kiortosh was conveniently served with vanilla ice cream, and within two minutes of peeling and ice cream wiping it was all done.
So, Kiortosh Café is open on week days between 7 am and 21 pm, and on Fridays from 7 am and until Shabbat. Go for it.
