Archives Restaurant Reviews


Browse All

Paris in 48 Hours

Saturday 10 Dec 2011 | 2 Comments
Filed under: General, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , ,
Eiffel Tower

By: Deanna Linder (including photos) I’ve wanted to go to Paris for years now. Every birthday I have the image in my head of my husband surprising me with tickets for a weekend getaway to what I heard is the most romantic city there is. Like many other unrealistic expectations I tend to have, that one never came true.  What did happen is my husband was sent to Paris for work, so I tagged along for the weekend. I had two days in Paris and one goal: to eat as well as possible. It was not an easy task and a lot of research went into it. But after a little over 48 hours in the city of lights, I did it. Here is my journey: Day 1: I arrived in Paris in the late afternoon after rather difficult journey (5 am flight to Switzerland then connection to Paris). Found my way into the city using the metro and decided to start the eating right away rather than go straight to the hotel to rest. Meal One: Rose Bakery, 46 rue des Martyrs, Metro: Notre Dame de Lorette (12) The small restaurant/bakery... 
Continue reading →


Culinary Guide for the Tel Aviv Tourist Part 1: Yaffo

Thursday 2 Dec 2010 | 3 Comments
Filed under: Recommendations, Restaurant Reviews
Yaffo Flea Market

By: Danya and Deanna First we would like to apologize that it has taken us so long to get this post up…we are both in a really busy period of work (good thing). Finally we have been able to bring together all of your recommendations and our personal experiences and we have decided to continue this concept in an interactive manner by posting each area separately, and receiving your feedback, before creating the final version. Yaffo Considered part of Tel-Aviv municipality, Yaffo is a port city, to the south Tel-Aviv. Culinary wise, Yaffo has changed dramatically over the past few years. From a place that people would go to only to eat hummus, Yaffo has now turned into vibrant area filled with restaurants and bars. Three years ago, Yaffo’s main attraction-the flea market- was an area that you wouldn’t want to walk around alone in at night. Today the flea market is bustling with Tel Aviv residents coming to experience a different vibe than in the neighboring city. The culinary development... 
Continue reading →


My Top Five LA Restaurants + Chickpea Pancakes with Honey and Goat Cheese Recipe

Thursday 6 May 2010 | 2 Comments
Filed under: Recommendations, Restaurant Reviews, Side Dishes Tags: , , ,
Chickpea Pancake

I visit Los Angeles at least twice a year to visit my family and friends.  Sometimes my visits are nice and long (a month!!) and some are short (a week). When I'm doing the shorter version my time must be calculated and planned wisely. Restaurant wise this means that I generally don't have the luxury to try new places- I want what I know is good and is going to make me feel at home (or what was formerly home).  Last time I was in LA-it was for a total of five days- and somehow I was able to squeeze in a new spot that I have been wanting to go to for a very long time, and was recommended by one of the best LA/NY foodies I know...Deanna So here's the list plus one inspired recipe. Restaurants are in no particular order. Brent's Deli- (818) 886-5679 This is the real deal when it comes to deli food. My flight from Tel Aviv to LA usually lands at 6:00 am and my dad and I have a ritual when it comes to this place. He picks me up from the airport, we head straight over to Brent's and order... 
Continue reading →


Restaurant Review: The Salon-Eyal Shani

Thursday 22 Apr 2010 | 10 Comments
Filed under: Recommendations, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , ,
Eyal Shani

I arrived at the "Salon" while on a work assignment from the "Washington Post". Did I mention that was my first international assignment?! Full of motivation and hunger I arrived at the restaurant with Oded, my husband, without knowing what we were getting ourselves into. Yet as soon as the door opened, a large smile landed on both of our faces. This was not just another swanky, quiet place with Norah Jones buzzing in the background, but a live, loud, crowded, one man cooking show. Once I went with Oded to a famous chef's restaurant, and when we left the place Oded mentioned that there's nothing like the Sabih (eggplant, tahini, and hardboiled egg in a pita-type of Israeli fast food). I was obviously upset by the fact that my husband could not appreciate creative, quality dining. I had told myself then that was the last time he'd come with me to that type of restaurant and at that moment also realized that I was in the market for a new food buddy. Now I realized that Oded and Eyal Shani... 
Continue reading →



  • Food photography and food styling is what we do for a living. Day in and day out we work for a variety of clients, creating images made to order. This blog gives us the opportunity to work for ourselves, something that truly exhibits our work, through photos and stories.

    A love for aesthetics and passion for food… that’s what makes Matkonation.

    Enjoy, Danya (photography) and Deanna (styling)

  • Follow francesdee on Twitter

  • Contact Us:

    matkonation[at]gmail[dot]com
  • Follow Me on Pinterest