A Venezuelan Piece in Tel Aviv
Totuma Arepa Bar
256 Dizzengof St., Tel Aviv, Israel
Rating: 4/5.
Ideal for: Family Gathering, Outing with Friends.
Price: Mid-Price.
When I heard that a Venezuelan restaurant was just a few blocks away from my apartment in Tel Aviv, I was beyond excited. I was going to be able to eat empanadas as often as I wanted, and I was extremely content with that idea. Located near the Tel Aviv Port, Totuma Arepa Bar is a little piece of home for all the Venezuelans who live in Ha’aretz (Israel). Its complete menu offers any criollos’ (people from Venezuela. Historically, it is someone of Spanish descendent) favorite dishes, including mine: cheese empanadas.
Of course, I chose this as an entree even if it is considered an appetizer, and I even ordered two portions. Calories don’t count when you are enjoying the food, right? The thing is, nothing beats a good cheesy empanada with some salsa verde (often includes avocado and cilantro) on a rainy night, and a chicha (sweet rice drink) to go with my dish. Among Totuma’s appetizers, you can also find cachapas, a yellow corn pancake filled with cheese, and tiradito, the Venezuelan version of the Peruvian ceviche that consists of raw fish in a delicious yellow sauce. I highly recommend this before your meal, with a side of plantain or yuca chips for some crunch.
You also have the option of eating a good Reina Pepiada (strong queen), an arepa filled with avocado and chicken salad, a Dominó, which is filled with black beans and cheese, or an arepa filled with Pabellón (Venezuelan’s typical dish that has plantains, rice, beans and shredded meat). If you are trying to eat something that is both filling and delicious, you must go for one of these arepas.
For dessert, Totuma Arepa Bar offers Quesillo -the Venezuelan flan-, The “R“, which is a dark chocolate mousse with caramel cream, and my personal favorite, a chocolate Marquesa. Think of chocolate mousse meets chocolate ice cream with graham crackers in the middle. What else could I ask for? Oh yes, tequeños (white cheese wrapped in dough) that are offered seasonally!
I especially liked this restaurant because, beside from the authentic food from my country, the place feels like Venezuela the moment you walk in. It is decorated with wooden guacamayas (toucans) and plants. The walls are painted with typical Venezuelan flowers and other plants, and very vibrant colors that not only represent the country, but how energetic the people are. The yellows, oranges and greens make you feel you are in the tropics, and next to the plants you can see fake guacamayas that are commonly seen around Venezuela. What made me feel even more at home was the Spanish music playing in the background, including some of my favorite Venezuelan artists like Chino y Nacho, Carlos Baute and Ricardo Montaner.
Jewtina Tips: Go during soccer game nights to enjoy your favorite dish while watching your favorite team win!
Teenu- Disfruta- Enjoy!
Note: sadly, Totuma Arepa Bar closed its doors a few months ago, after I wrote this article.