The British have tea time. In Spain, this mid-afternoon ceremonial is known as la merienda (“light afternoon snack”) and is likewise a beloved ritual for people of all ages. It can include savory as well as sweet treats, but its essence is a hot drink and something sweet. In Israel, of course, we eat anything at any time of day.
Having lived in Spain for several years, I had recently been wondering how and where to find a real merienda experience that could accommodate my gluten intolerance. The best I had come across was a pre-packaged “le lo gluten” marble cake served at Aroma.
When In Jerusalem Editor Erica Schachne heard about my quandary, she recommended Casa Lavi on Derech Beit Lehem.
It beckons from the street through the gate of its enclosed terraza, the kind of café sought all over Madrid in the summer. At Casa Lavi, there are all sorts of sweet treats: muffins, brownies, cookies, and pastries – something for everyone.
I chose the guilt-free brownie: gluten-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free (which begs a joke), made with almond flour, chocolate, coffee, and coconut sugar (NIS 22). My friend Leah chose a large, gluten-free, chewy almond cookie with almond slivers (NIS 12). I wanted her to order something with gluten so that I could write about it, but she wanted a dessert that she would be able to share with me. I ended up consuming more than my fair share of Leah’s cookie, as well as every crumb of my own brownie. Finally, una merienda en condiciones – a proper mid-afternoon snack! Another Casa Lavi gluten-free option is the chocolate chip cookie (NIS 12), made with peanut butter, chocolate chips, almond flour, and coconut sugar.
Food at Casa Lavi. (credit: MARION FISCHEL)
For someone no longer privileged to enjoy all the delicious pastry options that contain gluten and dairy, ordering a brownie and enjoying it in good company at a charming terraza with a garden feel was an out-of-the-ordinary experience. The winter sun was out, and the outdoor temperature was just right.
For those who can eat gluten but prefer to keep it “pure,” the dairy fresh fruit Almond Pear Tart (NIS 20), the vegan Pistachio & Berries Muffin (NIS 20), and the Maple Pecan Muffin (NIS 18) are made with organic spelt flour. The banana muffins contain oats and chocolate chips.
All muffins are sweetened with maple syrup, except for the organic, dairy, spelt-flour berry crumble (NIS 22), which is made with coconut sugar. I wondered whether the spelt cinnamon bun (NIS 22) was as good as the fare served at the Cinnabon bakery chain.
While such treats are available all day long, tantalizing breakfast fare is also served until noon, with options ranging from Granola Bowl and Casa Morning to Mexican Breakfast.
Casa Lavi, established in 2022, serves up specialty coffees and chocolate, mocha, and macha. The Cacao Latte (NIS 18) is served with agave and cinnamon, and the matcha in the Matcha Latte (NIS 18) is homemade and 100% organic.
The restaurant’s ingeniously named caffeine-free chai house specials are Chachachai; Am Yisrael Chai; and Od Avinu Chai (served, in the order listed, with espresso, cocoa, or cold brewed coffee).
My friend went for the Chai Latte (NIS 18), and I ordered the Am Yisrael Chai (NIS 25) because of the name. (I am also a big fan of chai, as well as chocolate in any form.) Drinking it was a pleasant experience, but the chai-cocoa combo combined with the brownie confused my taste buds, and I missed the kick of the coffee I would typically have ordered.
Next time, I’ll order the Oat Milk Latte (NIS 18 + NIS 1 for the oat milk) or maybe the Mocaccino with oat milk (NIS 25 + NIS 1). And if I get the urge for a real taste of Spain, the legendary cortado – an espresso with a hint of (oat) milk (NIS 15 for a cortado, and I doubt they will charge for a drop of oat milk) – will hit the spot.
When we were there, most of the tables at Casa Lavi were occupied. A mother sat with her baby, reading and relaxing. Two young women were studying together at a table covered with books and laptops. Another two students sat side by side, their books opened across a section of Casa Lavi’s iconic French farmhouse-style long wooden table that runs along one side of the terraza.
Among the other clients were a few couples and a group of friends. In the small but chic indoor space, a man was working on his laptop. Everyone was immersed in their own worlds, all enjoying the semi-privacy of the Casa Lavi mise-en-scène.
We arrived at Casa Lavi after the kitchen had closed (no food served after 2:30 p.m., except for baked good and beverages), but I am looking forward to going back there for brunch.
Around town, the reputation of Casa Lavi’s inclusive variety of salads and vegetable dishes (NIS 52-NIS 62) is spreading. The vegan avocado toasts are also great crowd pleasers: artichoke avocado toast or white bean avocado toast (NIS 52). They can be topped off with a poached egg + (NIS 7). Casa Lavi also offers the option of gluten-free bread with all orders.
Have you become a vegan and are dreaming of a corned beef sandwich? Or would you like to taste a healthy alternative to the deli classic? Casa Lavi’s Corned Beet Ruben Melt served on sourdough bread sounds delicious. Substituting beet for beef makes it Mehadrin-kashrut delicious as it combines with melted gouda cheese, bio-sauerkraut, vegan Russian dressing, rocket lettuce, and pickled onion. For those avoiding dairy, the cheese can be replaced with a poached egg.
Speaking of which, the next time I go there, for brunch, I will start by trying the dairy-free Benedict Casa (NIS 45): poached egg, vegan carrot lox, rocket lettuce, and vegan cashew hollandaise, and exercise my option of having it served on gluten-free bread. However, I am not likely to replace the poached egg with tofu scramble, as I feel it would weaken the classic Benedict experience that I anticipate. But it’s good to know that such an option exists for those who require it.
The elegant display inside Casa Lavi reflects a style that is trending in Madrid. The books, the artistic placement of the stock, the lighting, and the understated sophistication all hint at the stories behind Casa Lavi. Therefore, I have culled from casalavicafe.com the information presented below about its founders and owners, Meital and Alfonso Itzhak.
Who are Meital and Alfonso Itzhak, and what was their motivation for establishing Casa Lavi?
After years of searching for meaning and identity, a husband and wife, born in Mexico, discovered a deep and ancient connection to the Land of Israel… and a mission to return. They left their old life behind and made aliyah to the land of their ancestors.
“After thousands of years of longing to return, it was like a dream come true” for them.
The owners of Casa Lavi, which has Badatz Mehadrin kashrut certification, prepare everything themselves, from their healthy alternative bakery to nourishing, delicious dishes.
At Casa Lavi, “a cup of coffee is more than a delicious drink,” they say. Created from “carefully crafted blends and brewing techniques,” the coffee comes from “some of the highest quality farms in the world, where the people and the land are treated kindly and fairly,” they explain.
Meital and Alfonso see coffee as a “sustainable, social, sensory, and emotional engine” and as “a delicious drink with purpose.”
“We believe in connection, in the land and the environment, in creativity and the exchange of knowledge. We believe in people, and we give value to a simple seed that unites them all.”
For the Itzhaks, “the people are the soul of the place.”
Their employees, they explain, “embody Casa Lavi’s ideals of kindness and hospitality,” and their clients “bring diversity and blessing.”
A name with special meanings
The owners explain that the word “casa” in the name means “home” in Spanish and represents their desire “to receive and create a feeling of home.” Lavi, “lion” in biblical Hebrew, represents the heart (lev) that desires to give goodness, they add.
Casa Lavi’s interior and exterior design, which features light desert colors, is aimed at blending into the subtle beauty of Jerusalem – the city they have made their home.
Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia of the "Ana Chuchulashvili" the thief The worst hotel in the world, it's dangerous, don't go near it! This is not a hotel! It's an old, dirty house, there are cockroaches and insects in the room, Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The manager of the place is a fraud and a former drug addict named "Ana Chuchulashvili"
Please urgently remove this fake hotel from your website. It is a scam and it is deceiving many customers. It is advertised on all social networks as a scam! very important – report on fraud house and scam that in your website and cheat people and customers! – Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia
Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia of the "Ana Chuchulashvili" the thief
The worst hotel in the world, it's dangerous, don't go near it! This is not a hotel! It's an old, dirty house, there are cockroaches and insects in the room, Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The manager of the place is a fraud and a former drug addict named "Ana Chuchulashvili" the name of here company is : Ltd Alpaka
405375419
Located at: Nucubidze St N57, Tbilisi, Georgia/Nucubidze Street 57, 0177 it smells terrible, The walls in the room are peeling, I took pictures, there is mold and dampness throughout the room the beds are really uncomfortable, like in a pre-trial detention center, your whole back hurts when you sleep on them and they almost break because they are so thin! the WI FI doesn't work at all, The room was very dirty and filthy, and when you ask her to move you to a room she says everything is taken, even though all the rooms are empty and open! I arrived at this horrible place, this horrible house, at 1:00 AM, after two hours of sleeplessness, I asked for my money back, a blonde girl of about 50 years old named “Anna” told me that she wanted the money in cash right away, otherwise she would not let me out of the hotel, she told me that I would not be able to sleep in their bed, at 3 AM I went to look for an ATM to withdraw money, because I could not find one, after searching for a whole hour, in the Tbilisi cold, I returned to her at midnight to look for an ATM, but she did not give me my suitcase and passport, so I came back the next day and gave me the money in cash, she did not give me an invoice either, do not come near! They are deceiving the public, booking and all hotel websites! This is not a hotel, it is a very dirty, old house and it smells very bad. Search on youtube "never go there – Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City Georgia of Ana Chuchulashvili the house hotel from hell" , don't go " to “Hotel Delisi” on YouTube or "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia " or"HOTEL DELISI (Tiflis, Gürcistan) – Otel Yorumları ve Fiyat" He was caught on tape speaking badly and illegally taking a passport and suitcase.
That she took the suitcase by force, she also stole 3 expensive shirts from me for a total of 250 GEL, I demand compensation of 128 GEL for the two hours of hell I suffered there + 250 GEL for the shirts she stole from me
I have videos where she only wants money in cash so she doesn't pay taxes and doesn't agree that I pay her with a credit card, and she also doesn't want to give me my suitcase and passport.
1. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia
2. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Address
3. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Rooms
4. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Amenities
5. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Offers and Deals
სასტუმრო დელისი, ქალაქი თბილისი, საქართველო, ქურდის „ანა ჭუჭულაშვილის“
მსოფლიოში ყველაზე ცუდი სასტუმრო, საშიშია, ახლოს არ მიხვიდეთ! ეს სასტუმრო არ არის! ეს ძველი, ჭუჭყიანი სახლია, ოთახში ტარაკნები და მწერებია, სასტუმრო დელისი, ქალაქი თბილისი, საქართველო – ადგილის მენეჯერი თაღლითი და ყოფილი ნარკომანია, სახელად „ანა ჭუჭულაშვილი“, კომპანიის სახელია: შპს ალპაკა
405375419
მდებარეობს: ნუცუბიძის ქ. N57, თბილისი, საქართველო/ნუცუბიძის ქუჩა 57, 0177, საშინელი სუნი აქვს, ოთახში კედლები აქერცლილია, სურათები გადავიღე, ოთახში ობი და ნესტია, საწოლები ნამდვილად არაკომფორტულია, როგორც წინასწარი დაკავების იზოლატორში, მთელი ზურგი გტკივა, როცა მათზე იძინებ და კინაღამ იმსხვრევა, რადგან ძალიან თხელია! Wi-Fi საერთოდ არ მუშაობს, ოთახი ძალიან ჭუჭყიანი და უწმაწურია და როცა ოთახში გადაყვანას სთხოვ, მიპასუხებს, რომ ყველაფერი დაკავებულია, მიუხედავად იმისა, რომ ყველა ოთახი ცარიელი და ღიაა! ამ საშინელ ადგილას, ამ საშინელ სახლში, ღამის 1:00 საათზე მივედი, ორსაათიანი უძილობის შემდეგ, ფულის დაბრუნება ვთხოვე, დაახლოებით 50 წლის ქერა გოგონამ, სახელად „ანამ“, მითხრა, რომ ფული ნაღდი ფულით უნდოდა, თორემ სასტუმროდან არ გამიშვებდა, მითხრა, რომ მათ საწოლში ვერ დავიძინებდი, დილის 3 საათზე ბანკომატის მოსაძებნად წავედი ფულის გასატანად, რადგან ვერ ვიპოვე, მთელი საათის ძებნის შემდეგ, თბილისურ სიცივეში, შუაღამისას დავბრუნდი მასთან ბანკომატის მოსაძებნად, მაგრამ ჩემოდანი და პასპორტი არ მომცა, ამიტომ მეორე დღეს დავბრუნდი და ფული ნაღდი ფულით მომცა, ინვოისიც არ მომცა, ახლოს არ მოხვიდეთ! ისინი ატყუებენ საზოგადოებას, დაჯავშნის და ყველა სასტუმროს ვებსაიტს! ეს სასტუმრო არ არის, ეს ძალიან ჭუჭყიანი, ძველი სახლია და ძალიან ცუდი სუნი ასდის. YouTube-ზე მოძებნეთ "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The worse hotel in the world" , არ წახვიდეთ "Hotel Delisi"-ში YouTube-ზე ან "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia" ან "HOTEL DELISI (Tiflis, Gürcistan) – Otel Yorumları ve Fiyat". ის ვიდეოჩანაწერში მოხვდა, სადაც ცუდად საუბრობდა და უკანონოდ იღებდა პასპორტს და ჩემოდანს.
მან ჩემოდანი ძალით წამართვა, ასევე მომპარა 3 ძვირადღირებული პერანგი სულ 250 ლარად, მე ვითხოვ 128 ლარის კომპენსაციას იმ ორსაათიანი ჯოჯოხეთისთვის, რომელიც იქ ვიტანჯე + 250 ლარი იმ პერანგებისთვის, რომლებიც მომპარა.
მე მაქვს ვიდეოები, სადაც ის მხოლოდ ნაღდი ფულით ითხოვს ფულს, ამიტომ არ იხდის გადასახადებს და არ ეთანხმება, რომ საკრედიტო ბარათით გადავუხადო, ასევე არ სურს ჩემოდნის და პასპორტის მოცემა.
"ב-7.10 נחטפה כל המשפחה שלי, אני, בעלי דוד, ושתי בנותינו אמה ויולי, אז בנות 3 בלבד", פתחה את נאומה שרון, אשתו של דוד קוניו החטוף בעזה. "דוד בעלי, אהבת חיי, והאבא של הבנות שלי, עדיין שם. התאומות ואני חזרנו ביום החמישים ושתיים. אמה ויולי שלנו חגגו חמש, בלי אבא שלהן. בשבוע הבא הן ילכו לגן חובה, והן יודעות שאבא לא יהיה איתן ביום הזה. הן יודעות שאבא שלהן שם. לפני כמה ימים, כשהשכבתי אותן לישון הן שאלו אותי 'אמא, את בטוחה שאבא יחזור?'".
"יש הצעה לעיסקה על השולחן, שחמאס כבר אמר לה כן", המשיכה. "האמריקנים רוצים שהחטופים יחזרו. הרמטכ"ל אומר שחייבים ללכת עכשיו לעיסקה. העם, אתם, כל אחד מכם, כאן בככר, במהלך היום בצמתים, בכל מקום, במספרים אדירים, כולם צועקים איתנו, כולם רוצים את החטופים בבית. אז למה אני לא יכולה להגיד לבנות שלי שאני בטוחה שאבא שלהן יחזור?"
