Taste of Israel Southeast Food Truck Pops Up at JCC

On Oct. 27, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, along with renowned Israeli chefs, Yossi Shitrit and Shai Lavi, brought the Taste of Israel Southeast food truck tour to Atlanta as part of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism’s “I Am Israel” campaign, aiming to boost tourism in a post-Oct. 7 Israel.

Around 200 people filled the parking lot of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) to get a bite on local soil. Attendees ranged from local Jewish community members, including Israelis, JCC employees, and those who were just looking for a lunch break.

Chef Shitrit is a leading figure in Israeli cuisine. Coming from a Sephardic background with parents born in Morocco, and Ashkenazi in-laws born in Poland and Germany, Chef Yossi’s strategy involves fusing traditional roots with global talent, influential ideas, vibrant creativity, and innovation. Shitrit is the visionary behind Tel Aviv restaurants Bandit and HIBA, and was the first Israeli chef named to The Best Chef list in 2024 and 2025 and is also a judge on MasterChef Israel. Chef Lavi is also the founder and creator of The Third Space, an Atlanta based state-of-the-art catering company and event venue.

For the event, the two partnered to create a dish called Fish Kataif: a hot pocket-style dish featuring fish in a bread pocket.

Lavi and Shitrit’s approaches to cooking are similar: “We let the emotions and the love that we have dictate the menus that we develop. So, we don’t really control anything, we just go with the flow. You come to a certain point as a cook that you have techniques. With those techniques, you apply the emotion.” said Lavi.

Delta’s Atlanta to Tel Aviv route will restart on Dec. 19 after a three-year hiatus, following the attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.

Lorin Maugery, Israeli Tourism Consul for the Southeastern United States, said the event was also a sneak peek of what tourists can get when they come to Israel.

“You have influences from Yemen, Morocco, Europe and the Middle East, obviously. So, Israel is a very diverse country … When you come to Israel, you meet not just one culture. You meet so many cultures … Israel is welcoming, restaurants are full in Israel, and we really look forward to hosting the Southeast community.” he said.

The weeklong tour ran from Oct. 25-30 in just four cities: Miami, Atlanta, Nashville, and Dallas.