Ashdod’s Meridiano Festival Brings Kosher Global Street Food, Live Music and Free Entry

The Meridiano Festival is running in Ashdod from today through June 18 in the plaza outside the city’s Performing Arts Center, offering what organizers describe as a colorful, cross-continental culinary and cultural event. Admission is free, and chef dishes will cost up to 45 shekels each.

The festival’s headline attraction is a kosher version of a dream team of top Israeli chefs. Moshik Rot is serving Dutch-style gourmet sausages in brioche buns and Dutch fries. Israel Aharoni is offering Chinese crispy chicken with an addictive hot-honey glaze, while Avi Bitton is bringing American-style buffalo wings and shredded asado.

Local chef Yechi Zhano, from the well-known Pescado restaurant, is presenting Ashdod pride with a spicy fish sandwich, fish rice, and a bun with eggplant and tuna in olive oil. Around them, dozens of food stalls and food trucks are set up with international fare including English fish and chips, South American smoked meat, Thai-style dim sum with sweet potato, mushrooms and vegetables, Druze pita baked in a taboon, stuffed vine leaves and fresh falafel.

The sweets section includes Spanish churros, hot Hungarian kürtőskalács, including a vegan option, and Ice Ball, a frozen treat that creates a smoke effect from the mouth and nose. The festival also features live performances, music and an international art fair.