Russian Grandpa Frost. FREEPIK
Due to the Ukrainian and Russian immigration in the last two years because of the war, Novy God, the holiday that symbolizes the end of the year in the Commonwealth of Independent States, has been gaining more and more momentum as a trendy event in various restaurants and of course in private circles. I can understand this; Novy God includes a lot of good food, vodkas, caviar, pickled fish, and lots of drunken joy.
Novy God is the name given to the New Year celebrations in the Soviet Union as a compromise between the communists and the people, and instead of a holiday with Christian symbols, it was decided to have celebrations that are not related to religion, combining Christmas with Slavic mythology.
Villa Mare has always brought a delightful Russian experience to the Israeli audience. For Novy God, each branch will celebrate in a different way, but both will provide the full experience.
In Bat Yam, they will celebrate with a lively dinner combining traditional dishes with decorations and drinks and Ded Moroz will arrive at midnight. In Tel Aviv, there will be a special menu and a closed party for those who book until the early morning hours, including a lavish meal. Until January 21, 2025, a special Novy God menu will be served at both Villa Mare branches for those who didn't have time, including hot wine and spiced vodka.
Among the dishes: the famous herring salad / lamb-filled pelmeni / chicken Kiev - chicken fillet stuffed with garlic and dill butter, wrapped in breadcrumbs, on mashed potatoes, and of course blini and red caviar.
Herbert Samuel 88, Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Phone: 074-7725322 | Ben Gurion Street 69, Bat Yam Phone: 03-922-2958
Villa Mare Yael BenopitzNot exactly classic Novy God but definitely an experience that combines two fun and indulgent meals - brunch and Novy God. It all started from a collaboration with Birdie from Haifa, who came to host a series of brunches full of Russian scents at the Fabric Hotel of the Atlas chain.
What's on the menu: a buffet of cheeses, cold cuts, pickled fish, tongue with mushrooms, herring salad, Olivier salad, gravlax, cream cheese, ikra, Russian breads, and of course, sparkling wine and vodka (vodka from Belvedere and 'Sovietskoye Shampanskoye', the Russian cava). Alongside the buffet, warm main dishes will be served such as: pirozhki stuffed with potatoes, meat, or cabbage / oladyi - pancakes with sour cream and salmon roe caviar / zhoulienne - chicken cooked in cream and mushroom sauce. For dessert? Kartoshka - traditional chocolate cakes resembling a potato / blintzes with berries and sour cream / medovik - a wonderful honey cake.
Price: 155 shekels per person.
When: 31.12-4.1 from 10:00 to 14:00
Where: Nahalat Binyamin 28, Tel Aviv-Jaffa. To reserve a place
Fabric, Bar ChaimAt Aria Restaurant and the bar level, preparations are already underway with vodka and caviar for the new year celebrations.
They’re setting up with decorations, DJs, and festive dishes from the kitchen of Chef Moshiko Avraham. Besides the dishes that will also be served downstairs on the Aria downstairs, they are preparing for a long and festive evening with DJs starting at 21:00.
Among the dishes: blini with caviar and crème fraîche / bruschetta with foie gras on wild fennel jam and Iranian pistachio / raw scallop, fermented chili strawberry vinaigrette, caviar and finger lime / half lobster, lobster ravioli, mascarpone, chervil bisque / spaghetti vongole, pickled artichoke, white wine.
For reservations: 03-529-6054
Aria. Gal Zehavi
At Asif, they went for a people connection and brought Marina Kegel, content creator and founder of the "Russians on Russians" Facebook community, to Cafe Asif with a pot of zarkoya - a thick stew of meat with potatoes, chestnuts, and fried onions, so everyone can taste.
Price: 85 shekels per dish, served on the afternoon of 31.12.
In the evening, Asif will serve a Novy God menu including: blini with gravlax trout and crème fraîche / bruschetta with butter and red caviar / Olivier salad / medovik for dessert.
Lilienblum 28, Tel Aviv
Asif Novy God. Hagar BadrYes, it exists, this is a project established by young people from the Commonwealth of Independent States who wanted to share the Novy God culture with everyone.
In the project, people from all over the country, originally from the Soviet Union, will host at their homes the traditional Novy God dinner for friends and acquaintances, Hebrew-speaking enthusiasts of new experiences, sharing childhood memories, immigration stories, and dreams for the future. Sounds amazing to me.
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