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La Regence – Best of Jerusalem Restaurants !

July 31, 2016 by Lynn 5 Comments

La Regence – Best of Jerusalem Restaurants – Gastronomy with a World-Class View!
Israel may be famous for its spectacular breakfasts and fabulous street food, but we’ve been hearing so much buzz over Israel’s relatively new breed of top chefs that we decided we needed to experience the upscale food scene for ourselves.  Since we were already being treated like royalty as guests at the legendary King David Hotel in Jerusalem, we decided to see if the cuisine, service and ambiance of the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, La Regence, was on a par with the hotel’s “royal treatment” of its guests.
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La Regence fine dining restaurant at King David Hotel in Jerusalem Israel

La Regence fine dining restaurant at The King David Hotel in Jerusalem Israel

Let me set the stage for you … As you enter La Regence, you are welcomed with warm hospitality and immediately escorted to your table, either in the elegant interior of the restaurant or on the charming exterior patio.  The rich warm tones of the wood paneling and the red and gold decor are complemented by soft, romantic music.  Photos of royalty, world leaders, and celebrities line the walls and adorn the table of the foyer.  You feel the weighty sense of history.  More photos grace the walls of the restaurant’s magnificent Wine Room which, along with the more intimate Diplomat Room, has surely hosted many memorable meals where diplomatic relationships were strengthened and bonds forged.  Yet the tables in the main dining area, with its quiet alcoves and dimmed lighting, set the stage for an intimate dinner for two.  This is a restaurant whose refined elegance is the backdrop for its star feature … classical yet extraordinarily innovative cuisine artfully presented and served by highly-trained staff.  But lest you forget that you are in Jerusalem you have only to look outside the many full-length windows or, if you are sitting outside as we did, over the ledge of the balcony to enjoy a breathtaking view of the Old City at night.  What could be more legendary?  Aaah … just wait until you savor the meal.
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David Bitton, Executive Chef at La Regence Restaurant of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem Israel

David Bitton, Executive Chef at La Regence Restaurant of The King David Hotel in Jerusalem Israel

The Chef of La Regence, David Bitton, was born and raised in Jerusalem.  Renowned for his tasting menus, his use of fresh, seasonal produce, and his culinary excellence and innovation, Chef Bitton prepared an exquisite twelve-course tasting menu for us.
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La Regence fine dining restaurant at King David Hotel in Jerusalem Israel

La Regence fine dining restaurant at The King David Hotel in Jerusalem Israel

While we sat outside and sipped the marvelous Israeli Montefiore Cabernet Sauvignon proposed by the sommelier of La Regence, the sun slowly set over Jerusalem as we admired the unforgettable view of the Old City and savored our meal.
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La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

The first course was a Horseradish & Aioli Dip with house-made Saffron, Beef, and Wild Rice Tapioca Crackers which excited and taunted our taste buds.

La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

Goose Liver Tart on Cacao Sesame Cracker with White Wine Jelly followed, creating an explosion of flavor in my mouth from the unique pairing of the rich goose liver with the sweetness of the cacao.
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La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

Chicken Consomme Soup with Rosemary and Thyme, Brioche Toast with egg white Tapioca, charred Bay Leaf and Herbs to aromatize the soup cup.  The process of aromatizing of the soup cup invited us to begin this course by inhaling the charred aroma, intensifying our sensory experience, and the herb pouch provided us with the ability to personalize the herb flavor in our consomme.  Another example of Chef Bitton’s focus on a complete culinary experience.  Three types of House-Flavored Salt, Smoked, Porcini Mushroom and Ash, also enabled us to personalize the courses in a most unique way.

La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

Tomato Leather Seafood Salad, Cucumber, Radish, Tomato Jelly, Smoked Tomato & Tomato Granita.  I was truly delighted when this particular course appeared, as I had read about the very successful Tasting Menu Chef Bitton had prepared for the launch of his Spring Menu at The King David which included this very appealing dish.  I could make an entire meal of this very light yet sumptuous course.

La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

Jerusalem Artichoke, Caramelized Onion Cream, Chopped Carmelized Onions, Jerusalem Artichoke Chip, Bok Choy Leaf.  A magnificent and unique medley of textures and flavors in a totally innovative presentation of of Jerusalem artichokes  — one of my favorites.

La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

Veal Sweetbreads, Garlic Spuma, Fried Beef Rillete.  Despite what you might expect, this course was very light and harmonious.  It also appealed to the Francophile in us.
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La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

Lamb Tongue, Potato Slice, Mushroom Ragout.  If you think you might be satiated, then just wait to see what comes next …

La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

Celery Root Ravioli, Duck Confit, Quail Yolk, Shimeji Mushrooms, fried Baby Shallots.  Along with the Tomato Leather Seafood Salad, this was my favorite course of the evening. The fried baby shallots and the quail yolk rendered the dish simply exquisite.

La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

Lamb Loin, Leek Confit, Marigold Leaf, Parsley Root Puree.  Under the direction of another chef, this dish might have been one too many meat dishes, but under Biton’s skillful direction the tenderness of the lamb perfectly complemented by the leek confit and the creaminess of the parsley root puree was very easy to appreciate.

La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

Almond Flan, Almond Milk, Strawberry Sorbet, seared Almond Cake.  The almond milk brings the almond flan to new heights in a kosher “meat” menu where diary is not to be seen.

La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

Chocolate Fondant & Olive Oil Sweets, Salted Caramel.  Local and very flavorful Israeli olive oil creates a most original touch to a favorite classic dessert.  The little olive oil sweets offered a surprisingly divine pop of olive in my mouth … truly an Israeli take on a chocolate fondant.

La Regence Tasting Menu

La Regence Tasting Menu

Mignardises of Almond Madeleine, Orange Jelly, Chocolate Praline.  We were very full when these arrived, but who cared at this point as our taste buds were very happy.

Fresh Mint Tea … Fresh mint from the hotel’s garden … the perfect digestive!

 We had the great pleasure of meeting Chef Bitton at the conclusion of our meal.  With top-notch classical training and experience in kitchens like that of Noma in Copenhagen, David Bitton has the reputation of being a culinary virtuoso totally devoted to his art.  While his passion for unique combinations of flavors and exotic ingredients is readily apparent, his complex yet simply elegant approach awakens your senses such that the visual artistry and aromas excite while the flavors and textures work together like magic in your mouth, perfectly paired for ultimate harmony and pleasure.  And Biton achieves these culinary heights of gastronomy in a kitchen that is kosher.  Truly awesome.
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I highly recommend the tasting menu specially prepared for you by the extremely talented Chef David Bitton of The King David Hotel‘s La Regence.  It will be extraordinary … but remember that if you prefer the “tasting menu” to dining a la carte, you must book this request in advance.
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From the quality of the ingredients to the highly-skilled preparation and presentation of each course developed by Bitton’s unique Israeli sense of “innovation”, to The King David’s approach to treating all their guests like royalty and the world-class view, you have the formula for an unforgettable meal. In fact, I would venture to say that dinner at La Regence is one of the best culinary experiences in Israel.  Bon Appetit!
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Stay tuned to BonVoyageurs.com for our writings about other Countries of the World as we share our joie de vivre from around the world. Luxury escapes, cruises and city breaks to Quebec City, New York, Washington, Buenos Aires. In Europe and the Mediterranean, places like Paris and Nice in France, Florence, Rome, Napoli and the Amalfi Coast in Italy, Tel Aviv in Israel. In Asia, countries like China, India, Nepal and so much more!

Filed Under: Countries of the World, Culinary Delights, Israel, Middle East Tagged With: Israel, Jerusalem, kosher, luxury, Regence, Restaurant, Travel

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Comments

  1. Karen Warren says

    August 15, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    The food at La Regence looks amazing – I particularly like the idea of artichokes with caramelised onions.

    Reply
  2. Judy Freedman says

    August 15, 2016 at 11:42 pm

    This looks amazing. Hope I can get to Israel next March with TBEX.

    Reply
  3. Carole Terwilliger Meyers says

    August 16, 2016 at 2:09 am

    That was quite a spectacular meal you enjoyed at La Regence in the King David Hotel! I would most like to try your appetizer course of Horseradish & Aioli Dip with house-made Saffron, Beef, and Wild Rice Tapioca Crackers. Sounds so yummy. I’ve stayed at the King David as well–such a special hotel–and what I remember most, beyond a very posh room with a view of the old town–is a mind-boggling chocolate buffet. My regret was that I was barely able to put a dent in it!

    Reply
  4. The GypsyNesters says

    August 16, 2016 at 8:17 pm

    Very interesting and unique dishes, and the presentations are phenomenal.

    Reply
  5. Irene S. Levine says

    August 17, 2016 at 5:54 pm

    What a beautiful dining room. My heart started fluttering when I saw the goose liver tart! I only recently learned that Israel is a big producer of goose liver.

    Reply

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TOP 10 travel experts and influencers on social media and rated as one of the most influential travel bloggers in the world, Denis and Lynn Gagnon have been circling the globe for more than 45 years. Former international business travelers, they know how to travel - with class, comfort, and style. Members of the National Press Club, PTBA , NATJA and SATW. Wish to connect? Email them at [email protected].

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