While we were in Jerusalem, I was able to join Out Editor in Chief Aaron Hicklin for a meal with Gal Uchovsky--who is a prominent personality, talented writer (and former judge on Israeli Idol)--and pop sensation Ivri Lider. After dining with the full group of editors at Chakra, a fine restaurant in its own right, we skipped dessert to go hunting for Machneyuda, the restaurant with the same name as the famed Jerusalem open-air food market. After wandering a few streets, we found the restaurant and embarked on an impressive chef's tasting menu that included a sensational creamy polenta served in a mason jar with a softboiled egg, a variety of wild mushrooms, goose liver, and truffle oil. It got a little rambunctious later, when the kitchen staff--including the chef--started pounding on pots and pans and drumming to the beat of a traditional Israeli tune.
Over the amazing meal, we got to talking about Uchovsky's latest projects, his reputation for "outing" public officials and celebrities and his involvement with Israel Gay Youth and the latest projects of his husband Eytan Fox, who directed Yossi & Jagger, The Bubble, and his latest to make it stateside, Yossi (a continuation of the first).
We were lucky to see either of them with their busy schedules--that's why they drove from Tel Aviv to meet us at this amazing restaurant--and Lider was preparing to travel for his "band," The New Professionals. Although they are currently signed to Universal-France, we're hoping they make a big splash when they arrive stateside. A new collective concept, Lider explained that there were only two musicians, the others include a graffic designer, dancers, and the never-to-be-forgotten Uriel Yekutiel (who you may remember from some steamy videos with Eliad Cohen). Although not as familiar with US audiences, the group was nominated for "Best Worldwide Act" at the 2011 MTV European Music Awards, and will hopefully perform outside of Europe soon. The Young Professionals debut album 9:00 to 17:00, 17:00 to Whenever will drop on June 26. In the meantime, we recommend you watch the video for "D.I.S.C.O" below.
