Join Kayla Sprague on a delicious journey through the 2024 Jerusalem Food Truck Festival.

From families to tourists, everyone finds a place at this table. Kayla interviews participants, chefs and visitors, capturing the essence of this remarkable event that showcases the best of the food scene and the indomitable spirit of Jerusalem.

Click on the video above to watch or read the lightly edited transcript below.

Good evening. I’m Kayla Sprague, reporting live from the Armon HaNatziv Promenade here in Jerusalem, where the air is filled with tantalizing scents and the sounds of music and laughter. It’s incredible.

The Jerusalem Food Truck Festival 2024 is in full swing. And I can tell you, it is a feast for all the senses.

Festival Guest 1: This is pepperoni pizza. The cheese is not… It’s kosher. The cheese is not cheese. It tastes like cheese. This is crispy chicken. And it’s amazing. It has something like coleslaw in it. It’s amazing. And this is lamb… Something with lamb. It’s really good.

Guest 2 of the festival: I took a sandwich with me asado and a halva candy and some yummy stuff from Rachel. And it’s amazing. A really amazing atmosphere, amazing people, amazing view. Amazing place.

Festival Guest 3: We’re eating hamburgers and schnitzel and fries. We came for dinner. Their older brothers and sisters aren’t home, so we’re having a fun day. My husband is out. Look at all the people here. It’s so much fun. We love it. Amazing.

Kayla: Do you like it? Yes. Okay, take a big bite. Let’s see how. How is it?

Child of Guest 3: Delicious.

Kayla: How did you find out about tonight?

Festival guest 4: I come every year.

Kayla: Yes. Okay. Take a big bite. Fine.

Despite the challenges Israel has faced this year, the spirit of resilience and joy is palpable here every Tuesday through Thursday. This promenade is transformed into a culinary paradise. The festival showcases the best of Jerusalem’s vibrant food scene, with rotating top chefs and restaurants serving delicious dishes from their food trucks throughout.

But it’s not just about the food. The organizers have really outdone themselves this year. Picture this: Israel’s longest bar stretches the length of the promenade, offering everything from homemade cocktails to local wines while you sit back and relax and enjoy the stunning views of Jerusalem.

And if you think it can’t get any better, there’s a laser show every night. I mean it. A light show that completely lights up the sky.

The festival is more than just a culinary event. It is a testament to Jerusalem’s unbreakable spirit. Every Wednesday, tonight, the air vibrates with live music from Israel’s top artists, from rock bands to rappers. The lineup is as diverse as the city itself.

Guest 3: It’s just a normal life. We’re trying to create a normal life for ourselves and the kids. And the weather here is amazing and it feels kind of normal in the midst of all the madness, so we’re trying our best.

Festival guest 5: I think that’s really important. My husband, my new husband, is in the army, in the paratroopers. It’s refreshing. It’s a joy to see people with weapons and stuff, who are still happy and come to a beautiful place. So I think that’s important.

Kayla: What strikes me most tonight is the sense of community. Families, friends, even tourists come together, sit at shared tables and create memories together. It’s truly heartwarming to see Jerusalem come together on a night like this in light of recent events.

Alex, owner of Mojo’s Restaurant: Right. We’re in the middle of a war. It’s crazy. And everyone needs a break every now and then. We all just need to take a breath. It’s. It’s crazy. What’s going on? My boy is in Gaza. It’s not easy. My daughter, my daughter, my boy. Another boy of mine. My son-in-law. There he is.

Kayla: I love it.

Alex: We try to give back what we can to everyone. It’s difficult. It’s not easy. My boy is probably in Rafah (Gaza) right now. He’s a tank driver.

Kayla: How many pizzas are in the oven?

Alex: There you go. Oh, it’s fine. You’re hired. You’re looking for a job.

Kayla: Well, thank you very much.

Festival Guest 6: We’ve been going to Mojo once a month since the war started because he’s our friend. And it was really important to support the restaurants in Israel because they were really struggling. So that’s part of it too.

Kayla: Beautiful. Beautiful.

Guest 6’s husband: And during the war, it feels like we’re giving in to Hamas if we don’t do normal things and live somewhat normal lives. I’m sick of the war intruding on my normal life. I could use a few minutes of rest.

Kayla: That’s really good. Yes, I agree. Thank you guys for your time.

Guest 6: You might want to edit that out. The person whose death they announced yesterday is a friend of mine. And so I feel like I’m happy and crying at the same time, because that’s what it means to live here. All the time. We live with joy and tears and resilience. All at the same time.

Husband: And you think they’re going to cut it?

Kayla: To conclude this post, I want to remind you to keep Israel in your thoughts and prayers.

And if you have the chance, come and experience this incredible event. There is something for everyone here. The food. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m excited because I know it will be amazing. The atmosphere is electric and the spirit of Jerusalem is stronger than ever.

This is Kayla Sprague for ALL ISRAEL NEWS reporting from the 2024 Jerusalem Food Festival.

Thank you very much. Until next time.