Israeli Pastry Chef Launches First Chocolate Shawarma Cookie Pop-Up in Tel Aviv

Adi Barak, a renowned pastry chef and content creator known for crafting Noa Kirel's wedding cakes, is introducing a unique summer pop-up in Tel Aviv called COOKIE GIRL by AB Cake. Starting July 9 and running Wednesdays through Fridays until the end of July, the event takes place at HaMaon 5 in Florentin Quarter. The centerpiece is an oversized chocolate shawarma wheel, meticulously sculpted to resemble the traditional shawarma meat, but made entirely of chocolate and served atop various gourmet cookies.

Customers begin by selecting a cookie base from options including classic chocolate chip, a Dubai chocolate cookie filled with pistachio cream and kadayif, carrot cookie with cream cheese and white chocolate, and lemon meringue with poppy seed cream, with flavors rotating weekly. Instead of savory sauces, the shawarma is topped with chocolate shavings carved fresh from the chocolate wheel, accompanied by sweet sauces such as salted caramel, Nutella, chocolate crunch, and homemade American-style ice cream.

The pop-up also offers chocolate chip cookie dough fries priced at 28 shekels, complementing the sweet shawarma experience. Prices for a full or half "serving" range from 36 to 48 shekels. The venue is decorated with pink mixers and sugar paste cake sculptures, creating a whimsical atmosphere. Given the anticipated high demand, visitors are advised to arrive early to avoid missing out.

This innovative dessert concept stems from Barak's personal history, which includes selling cookies at a street stall in London as a child and her ongoing quest to perfect the New York-style chocolate chip cookie. COOKIE GIRL by AB Cake aims to be the official refreshing treat of the summer in Tel Aviv's vibrant Florentin neighborhood.