Spurs’ Israeli star Manor Solomon visits Eyal Shani’s new restaurant for new year dinner

In true Israeli style the partying carried on long after the event was over. I’m talking about the Rosh Hashanah celebration at Lilienblum, Eyal Shani’s latest culinary gem in Shoreditch, in partnership with Jewish News and Tel Aviv Institute. Chefs Eyal Shai and Oren King collaborated on a menu to celebrate new beginnings while keeping true to traditions.

Those who were lucky enough to nab tickets to this exclusive event included Spurs player Manor Solomon and his girlfriend Dana Voshina, influencer Hen Mazzig and Smashing the Glass blogger Karen Cinnamon. Guests were treated on arrival to a seasonal pomegranate spritz. White candles and pomegranates decorated the tables while an abundance of tomatoes, peppers and herbs decorated the open-kitchen counter.

Those familiar with Shani’s style will not be surprised to learn that the tables were covered with brown paper. Once seated we were served Lilienblum’s much sought-after hummus in giant bowls, beetroot carpaccio with a dollop of crème fraîche and a dusting of fresh horseradish, as well as freshly baked golden focaccia and challah.

Larger dishes included chraime (fish stewed in a heady sauce of tomatoes, peppers, and sweet onions, studded with charred slices of lemon), autumnal mushroom pasta, and Shani’s famed cabbage dish, soft and almost sweet like a dessert.

We also enjoyed Green Fields – large bowls of bright salad leaves dressed with chardonnay and lashings of olive oil, as well as abundant plates of delicious tomatoes which bejewelled the table. A selection of kosher wines from Kedem kept us well ‘watered’

Desserts were done buffet style but not just any buffet style – Israeli buffet style, which meant that honey cake, chocolate mousse with whipped cream, salted butter cookies, pistachio cake and malabi were placed directly on the counter top for diners to help themselves to.

Daniel Goldstein, owner of Lilienblum, thanked the 80 diners for coming “and supporting Israeli food and culture.” Daniel and his brother David, who co-own both this restaurant and the London branches of Miznon, have Israeli heritage.

Hen Mazzig told those gathered that the role of Israelis in London “is to empower people to be proud of who they are”.

Justin Cohen at Jewish News admitted to Manor Solomon that despite being a huge fan of his he is actually a Liverpool supporter. “It says a huge amount that Manor and his girlfriend have come to celebrate Rosh Hashanah at Eyal Shani’s restaurant,” said Cohen. “They give huge nachus to the community.”

Solomon was then presented with a giant cake in the shape of a football, which was baked by the team at Carmelli bakery.

Managing Director Josh Light told Jewish News that this was the first of a series of events at Lillienblum: “Things will only get bigger and better from here.”

To read more about Eyal Shani and Lilienblum click here.