Review: The Stupp's Restaurant, Moshav Amirim, The Galilee

[Guest guest]

B " H

 

TO THE MODERATOR:

 

Please be so kind as to delete the first review of The Stupp's

Restaurant that I posted and leave this corrected and more

comprehensive review in its stead. Thanks.

 

Living as I do in Israel, being married to a vegan vegetarian doesn't

present much of a challenge when looking for places to eat out. A

lovely salad can be found even in an ordinary restaurant in vegetable-

happy Israel, the country with the second highest per capita rate of

vegetarians in the world, second only to India.

 

Yet we wanted to do something special for our twentieth wedding

anniversary. We thought about going to a posh hotel here in Tzfat,

but posh doesn't really " talk to " either of us and posh is not

guarantee that vegan Dani'el would come away feeling he had a really

satisfying meal. Also, we both felt the need to be in a very gentle

and peaceful atmosphere.

 

We decided to dine at the Stupp's Restaurant, which is located in the

Amirim Vegetarian Village and Retreat, just south of our native Tzfat

on the road to Chaifa, where most of the foods and herbs are

organically grown on the premises. We made a wise decision.

 

Arriving early, we hopped into the restaurant and made sure the table

we had reserved overlooking their lovely herbal garden was waiting

for us. The proprietress of the restaurant, Esther Stupp, was very

polite but apologized firmly, telling us the table is reserved for a

couple from Tzfat. We laughed happily knowing our interests were

well protected (you see, we are the couple from Tzfat).

 

There is a map at the entrance of Amirim that shows the exact

location of all of the homes, businesses and attractions on the

moshav. We returned to it, noting the location of the lookout point

and the library most especially.

 

We ambled down the verdant path that is the main road of Amirim

admiring the rustic homes, some inlaid with stone, some wood, as well

as the gardens that are obviously tended to with great loving care.

The atmosphere of Amirim is so peaceful, so healing. The moshav seems

to say: " We care. "

 

We came to the lookout point that oversees the Galilee, including the

Sea of Galilee. Standing there, taking in the breathtaking view, we

felt all tension and concern melt away. Time seemed to slow down.

 

Returning leisurely to the restaurant we arrived a few minutes before

our reservation. We sat in the inviting swing that is on the lawn of

the restaurant. Dinners can be had out on that lovely lawn, as well

as in the log cabin interior of the restaurant. It is now very hot

in Israel, of course, but there is a log burning stove in the

restaurant that provides warmth and comfort on harsh Israeli winter

days and nights.

 

Esther Stupps greeted us with a warm grandmotherly smile at the door

and led us to our table. In between taking very, very good care of

all of the parties that were dining in the restaurant, Esther told us

that she came to Israel from Canada in 1966. From what she told us

about her grandchildren, I understood that they are about the same

age as our children. I was amazed at this woman's strength,

vitality, attention to detail and, most especially, gratitude to God

to be alive. Every compliment and kind word Esther receives, and she

receives many, is responded to with: " Barukh HaShem! " (Blessed is

God!), taking none of the credit herself. Esther is obviously

energized by, and thrives, on the many compliments and words of

appreciation she receives from her contented clientele.

 

We had trouble deciding what to choose from the menu to be sure.

Matters were a bit easier for Dan, as he is vegan. He settled on the

Meal-In-One, a lovely, large, deep plate of vegetables made in a wok,

together with triangles of tofu topped with the house soy burger, all

in just the right amount of the house specialty sauce. It was

delicious.

 

Not being able to eat all of the three or four dishes that " talked to

me " , I chose the various types of goat cheeses melted under the grill

on baguette with a side order of a fresh, crisp mixed salad. Both

yogurt dressing with basil and Thousand Island dressing was presented

with the salad. I used both, each on half of the salad. Yummy.

 

Of course Dani'el and I stole glances at what the party of four

seated next to us were eating. The youngsters chose Italian dishes

which all looked very tempting.

 

When our dishes were presented to us the party next to us couldn't

contain their appreciation. " Oooh. What's that?! " , the head of the

party asked. We told him and he joked about how the vegetables are

always greener on someone else's plate. Actually, that isn't always

true - just in very good vegetarian restaurants, like Stupp's, where

everything on the menu is luscious and just about everything really

does tempt.

 

While we ate our main course the party next to us

were " oohing " , " aahing " and purring over their desserts. We were

both enjoying a good thing and anticipating the better things we

understood were yet to come.

 

The anticipated time came for us to order dessert. Once again

choosing was difficult for us and our first instinct was to

say: " We'll take one of each. " The desserts at Stupp's really are

sinfully delicious. I chose one of their cheesecakes - the layered

white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake with a dark chocolate cookie

crumb crust. Dani'el chose the apple crumb betty. Now being a vegan,

the poor man couldn't eat the generous scoop of vanilla ice cream

that comes with the apple crumb betty. So, what could I do? I had to

sacrifice myself to the task. Luckily, my cheesecake was served with

extra raspberry preserves on the side. I drowned the cold, creamy,

rich vanilla sorrow of Dani'el's ice cream in the raspberry

preserves. Kinda made it go down easier. Ya know?

 

I ordered Rombout's filter coffee with dessert. I usually take a vial

of cane sugar from the house with me, as even most vegetarian

restaurants serve refined white sugar with their beverages. I forgot

the cane sugar on this occasion. I was delighted to see that at

Stupp's cane sugar packages are served with beverages, in addition to

white sugar.

 

The tab came to 155 NIS (somewhere between $31-35 dollars depending

on the daily rate of exchange) en toto for the two of us - a most

reasonable price for the two very satisfying main dishes, two

legendary desserts and two drinks that we had indeed.

 

My recommendation is to visit the Stupp's restaurant with a party of

people so that you may share with one another. The only drawback of

eating at Stupp's is the feeling that there are many adventures on

the menu that were left unexplored.

 

The Stupp's restaurant is certified kosher and is under supervision.

 

For more information about The Stupp's Restaurant, a photo of the

interior and a 10 % discount voucher see:

http://www.eluna.com/rest/Stupps.asp?mumu=366

 

Stupp's is all about Vegetarian Soul food - good to you and good for

you.

 

Dani'el Dotan and Doreen Ellen Bell-Dotan, Tzfat, Israel (twenty

years together and still counting)