Israel Aharoni: "The day this stops, we are in trouble"

One of the most respected chefs in Israel, Israel Aharoni, a pioneer of Chinese cuisine and modern culinary arts in Israel, recently celebrated his 75th birthday. But for him, age is just a number, and every day he proves that there is nothing that can stop him.

In a candid interview with Calcalist, he shared his plans for the future, what makes him happy, and the culinary world in which he lives. He opened up about his current plans: "We are opening another Aharoni's Fried Chicken in the Levontin neighborhood in Tel Aviv on Vital Street. We already have locations in Sarona and Big Glilot, and in both, we were pampered by the complex management. Now it's a new adventure because we took a place on the street and we don't have a 'mom and dad'."

"In two months, we start filming a new season of 'MasterChef', which is always a great excitement," he continued. "Besides that, we will arrive with the Aharoni's Fried Chicken food truck to the Megiddo Music Festival in the Megiddo Regional Council."

When asked about the best advice he ever received, he admitted that he is his own best advisor: "At my restaurant 'Tapuach Zahav', I said to myself: 'Aharoni, be careful, the success is starting to go to your head. Run from it like fire.' I felt my ego growing and it scared me, and I said 'get rid of it now before it's too late'. I bless myself for this advice to this day, the success did not go to my head. This is advice I give to everyone."

When asked what his Friday looks like, he admitted: "I cook from the morning until the afternoon for the entire nuclear family. We are 13 and there are always some extras, so it's between 15 and 17, and I always prepare a lot of food. The children leave with boxes. They are happy and I am happy," he added with a smile.

Aharoni highlighted his successes: "Beyond the cliché of children and grandchildren, there is no doubt that 'The Amazing Journey of Aharoni and Gidi', with Gidi Gov, is a highlight. A television program that I initiated and created with many good people. It is one of the most interesting and cool projects I have done." He added that they became friends only because of the program, as they did not know each other before.

"I looked for a long time for someone to join me on the journey, and when I called Gidi, he asked for a few days to think about it," he recounted. "After half an hour he called me back and said: 'This is not my comfort zone, but this is the opportunity of my life to do such a journey, so I'm coming.' In that same second, I understood that this is the person I want." He noted that journeys around the world are a main source of happiness, and he drags his entire family along.

Aharoni revealed he is a bit of a spendthrift: "I buy clothes everywhere possible but not on the internet. I am bad at it. Once I ordered and it turned out I bought the same thing three times."

Towards the end of the interview, Aharoni addressed personal changes: "That I would have a straight nose because I have a crooked nose. If I could have an even wider smile, I would also be happy, and less of a belly, which I am working on now."

"I am terrified that we are on the verge of a civil war," he continued, addressing the situation in the country. "This hatred within us is inconceivable and I cannot deal with it. It tears me apart, I don't understand how we reached this situation." Alongside this, he added that his energy and curiosity keep him going: "The day this stops, we are in trouble." When asked about an alternative path, he replied: "After the army, I went to Holland to study art, I studied painting and became a cook. So if not a cook, I would have been a painter."

As recalled, Aharoni recently revealed that for years he suffered from prostate cancer: "I had cancer a month before October 7, I was operated on. It was tough, a very strong cancer. I had no idea, I felt wonderful. It was discovered in a random check."