…until you eat from these two places

Every December I think about how quickly the year went by, how much I have accomplished, how much more I want to accomplish in the next year. The year 2010 was an interesting one. We had everything from Lebron James embarrassing his hometown on national television to the WikiLeaks fiasco. The year 2011 looks to be a good one.

But what would happen if this were your last year? If there was no next year, what have you not yet accomplished? What would you want to do?

And most importantly, what have you not eaten?

If you have lost my train of thought, then you are not alone. Here is the deal, forget New Year’s resolutions, there are two kosher places in the world where you need to eat before you die.

Carmel Forest Spa
This place is absolute heaven. Carmel Forest Spa has the BEST kosher food in the entire world. I have been there more times than any young adult in his 20’s should admit, and at the end of each trip I don’t want to leave.

Imagine your favorite things in life. The day you made that winning hit in the little league world series, getting into an Ivy League school on early decision, selling your first company for eight figures, and finding out that Scarlett Johansson is back on the market (FYI- she has a Jewish mother. I’m no rabbi, but I’m pretty sure that makes her Jewish). Now take all these happy moments and roll them up into one experience- that my friends is the Carmel Forest Spa.

Supporting evidence, you ask? We don’t need no stinkin evidenc, I have FACTS!

The Carmel Forest Spa is located near Haifa. They have strict rules about age requirements and cellphones, No people under the age of 16 allowed at the spa (no crying babies!) and no cellphones allowed in the eating area (so you can’t be THAT GUY). One of the best things is that it is always ALL YOU CAN EAT- non-stop food (Breakfast from 7am-12:30pm, Lunch 2-4, Dinner 7-9, reserved seating).

The food is fantastic, and I mean really fantastic. A typical food day looks like this:

Breakfast: On the spot mushroom/cheese omelet, mozzarella/pesto/tomato sandwich on fresh whole wheat roll, gravelox, tuna and egg salad, various fresh fruit and a choice of apple cider, mint lemonade, chocolate milk, orange juice, grapefruit juice and coffee.

Lunch: I usually get the fresh catch of the day or pasta special (gnocchi, ravioli, tortellini, or some other ridiculously good pasta), long skinny focaccia bread with oil and sea salt (that is so good- you would commit unspeakable crimes to eat), and for dessert a napoleon and other delicious desserts offered.

Dinner: There is typically a choice of between 6+ entrees, two soup options, a variety of salads, appetizers, and desserts oh my! Quick Note: The desserts for dinner are baked by angels in heaven and delivered fresh to the forest of Carmel.

That was just a typical day, and I’m now officially hungry, and I didn’t even mention Tuesday night BBQ or Shabbos sushi. In unrelated news, I’m also officially depressed that I am not currently there. So here is to planning a trip to the Carmel Forest Spa….

Tierra Sur at Herzog Wine Cellars
Now if you are cant make it all the way out to Israel, stuck in the good ol’ US of A, you should do your best to try and make it out to California. For those of you in California, It is a bit of a drive from LA, but worth the travel and more. I have had the pleasure of trekking out to The Tierra Sur restaurant at Herzog Wine Cellars twice, and both times I was left knocked out of my socks.

Check this out:

The Tierra Sur restaurant is located in Oxnard, CA (only a hop, skip and jump away from LA), but unlike in Carmel, they only serve  lunch and dinner, so don’t drive out there looking for a delicious omlet at 8am, or you will be sorely dissapointed. If you would like to go, I would make sure to call and reserve a table a day or two in advance, the place can get really booked up. But I have been there twice in my lifetime, accompained by my partner-in-crime (my wife) and if you have foresite to reserve in advance, it is heaven.

Both times, we walked (or rolled) away fully satiated. The food rundown is as follows: Caesar Salad (with just the right amount of dressing and crunch), Soup Du Jour (truth be told, I cannot for the life of me remember what the soup was- but remember it being gooooood). For entrees: Steak Special (don’t ask, just order), House Burger (including home made hickory and maple smoked lamb bacon), Organic Tortillas filled with Fish of the day (the fish was salmon and was magnificent) for dessert: Home Made Doughnuts with Cream and Hot Chocolate (MUST EAT MORE DOUGHNUTS… (read in robot voice), Gâteau d’ Ariel Flourless Chocolate Cake (gluten free and delicious!). We were way to full to order any more, but I have my eye on the Roasted Lamb Chops and Pan Seared Duck Breast for our next trip.

Make a note to have a designated driver or wait a few hours to drive home, I mean it is a winery, and what is a winery without pairing your meal with a glass of Merlot.

So there you have it. Two amazing kosher food places to go to before you die. If you have been there already, then you can die a happy and (ful)filled man-lady (or lady-man, whatever you are in to). If not, make it your New Year’s resolution to get eatin’.