Welcome to queen Ester,
What’s Israeli food anyway?
Israel (and the Middle East in general) has amazing food. Arguably, the best in the world (we think so at least). There is one integral secret to its majestic status - diversity. Our grandparents came to Israel from all corners of the world - Yaman, Morocco, Algeria, Poland, Romania, Argentina, South Africa, England, Turkey, India, and the list goes on and on. They each brought with them the flavours, spices and recipes from their respective countries, along with traditional food that was prevalent in their Jewish communities.
Our grandparents were integral part of our upbringing. They are the bridge between our past and our future. We grew up listening to stories about lands far away, topped with languages we couldn’t understand, spices we couldn’t pronounce, and smells… the smells of cooking taking over every corner of the house, especially on Fridays, as big pots were steered in tiny kitchens, enough to feed the whole family or a small village. Food is our grandparents’ love language (and they won’t take no for an answer. Seriously). It is a direct portal of endless love and support, manifested through Friday night Moroccan Fish, Saturday morning Malawach, and after school ptitim & schnitzel.
With time, love stories brought families from different backgrounds together, creating new traditions and cuisines, connecting the old with the new. Recipes were amended to fit the local climate and availability of produce, flavours were adjusted, spices were reinvented. The evolution of Israeli food has begun, but its essence remains the same, capturing in it the history of people from all over the world,
Israelis cook big, they cook loud and generously and unapologetically. Everyone has a room in the table. Everyone is welcome. Our dream was to bring the essence of Israeli street food to Australia - to create an island of peace, where our food tells stories and creates memories that can be shared across cultures.
Queen E was founded by a group of friends who grew up together in the same town in Israel, joined by their Aussie and French friends. After finding each other again in Australia, we decided to create a community based on love and respect for people and food. The food is a simple concept that appeals to everyone, from vegans to meat-lovers to chicken enthusiasts. At queen Ester, we believe that food is the perfect tool for bringing people together, regardless of language or nationality. Our Israeli cuisine is a combination of our heritage, the local produce of Israel, and the influences of neighbouring countries, creating unique flavours and textures that we are excited to share with you.
