Ashdod Travelers guide

Culinary arts 193 Even when he was 16, while wearing a pair of yellow plastic gloves during his dish-washing shift at a steakhouse in Ashkelon, Simo Ben-Chovel was waiting for the moment when his last plate would be polished and he would be able to go to the other side of the kitchen, the chef's side. That is how he learned the secrets of the culinary arts. And so, between scrubbing and polishing, he dreamed of his own restaurant that would one day be able to provide for his parents and the rest of his family as well, and that would have those special dishes he would invent himself. His culinary education moved up a notch when he took a cooking course in the IDF and, parallel to his military service, he also learned at the Tadmor School. When he was a soldier he even participated in a national chefs competition and won third prize. So, not surprisingly, the creative culinary dream the dish-washing boy had came to be and Ben-Chovel became the conductor of the concert of his life - Petra restaurant, which he established at Hakshatot Beach in the city. His musical instruments were the Georgian-European delicacies, in which he weaves his unique sound - his creative fingerprint, a personal touch, a one-time arrangement of the foods, his own Khachpuri tune. He fills the flaky Georgian dough shaped like a boat not only with Georgian cheeses and a poached egg, but also with seafood and a smear of butter, and he bakes it in a stone oven. This creative symphony is complimented by the pleasant atmosphere, the addictive breeze and the spectacular view from the beautiful restaurant, which recently celebrated the ninth anniversary of its establishment. Hakshatot Beach. 1 Mafkura street All week, 09:00 until midnight 053-9441986