March 28, 2024
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Shakshooka Keeps on Trucking

If you’ve been to Israel, you know about Shakshuka, a breakfast or lunch dish of eggs nestled in a tomato, onion and pepper sauce. Now it is available in Teaneck, Paramus and Riverdale, or even at Rutgers, depending on the day, from Shakshooka, a travelling truck with an unmistakable, colorful design. The nomadic dispenser of shakshuka and falafel can be found at schools, community centers, special events and sometimes at home base in Teaneck.

Yuval Graneviz, owner of Avenue Event Space on Queen Anne Road in Teaneck, was inspired to create Shakshooka so students would have a tasty, affordable lunch alternative. “We serve hot, delicious, fresh shakshuka with toppings, and falafel with tahini served on an 8 inch sub,” Graneviz said. He gives 10 percent of proceeds back to participating schools. His partner, Boaz Nuriel, makes the sauce and cooks the eggs and falafel to order. “Everything is always made fresh and hot,” said Nuriel. “We don’t keep anything over. When it’s finished, we’re done for the day.”

The partners are both Israelis who have lived in the states for many years. “I always liked to cook,” Nuriel said. “And I never had good shakshuka here. It didn’t exist.” The partners spent about six months making and executing their plan—finding a truck, getting permits, designing a logo and painting their eye-catching look. The food is under the supervision of Badatz of Monsey.

The inaugural outing for Shakshooka was erev Purim, when Chabad held a megillah reading at Avenue, with the truck parked outside. “It was freezing but people lined up for our food,” Graneviz said.

During the week before Pesach, Shakshooka parked on Teaneck’s West Englewood Avenue between Queen Anne and Palisades Avenue. Students on break and adults shopping and strolling in the area came by throughout the day for shakshuka and falafel. Graneviz said he donated 10 percent of the profits to Magen David Adom in Israel and credits Elie Katz, deputy mayor of Teaneck, with helping to get the word out.

The truck is in the SAR parking lot one day a week. Negotiations are under way with other schools and with summer camps. Shakshooka is also available for events at Avenue. “We had someone come here to look at the space for a function and saw the truck. He loved it! He booked the room and the truck,” Graneviz recalled.

For the menu and prices, visit www.shakshookapro.com. To get the Shakshooka schedule, email [email protected].

By Bracha Schwartz

 

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