Away from the crowds on Ibn Sina Street in Qalansawe lies one of the most exciting gelato shops in the country. Behind Sirmione Yogurt is Yosri Wawiya, who was a nurse until a few years ago. During a vacation to northern Italy, he visited the town of Sirmione on the shores of Lake Garda and fell in love with its gelato — so much so that he returned home contemplating a career change.

Determined to explore this newfound passion, he boarded a plane to Italy again and enrolled in a gelato-making course. By the end, he realized this was his calling. When he returned to his hometown of Qalansawe, he began experimenting with flavors, ensuring that each one incorporated elements from the place he was born and the Arab cuisine he grew up with. At his shop, he makes gelato flavors like sage, mint with lemon, tahini and pistachio, cucumber and melon, coffee with cardamom, and a local strawberry flavor.

Ice cream store, Photo: Noam Prisman

Food writer Rotem Maimon explains: “Subtlety is the name of the game at Sirmione. The highlight, of course, is the creamy gelatos that are blended with fruits, vegetables, and herbs in a way you won’t find anywhere else. The flavors change, especially in the summer, each offering a ‘Hey, I’ve never tasted that’ kind of experience. As ice cream parlors in Israel become increasingly generic, it’s refreshing to see people who aren’t afraid to play with our minds — albeit gently.”