Tasty News: Culinary News and Innovations from the NONO Group

Ahead of the Jewish New Year 5787, the NONO Group is innovating and renewing.

The NONO Group was first established as a single restaurant in 2014 in Hod HaSharon, and from there evolved into one of the strongest and most dominant groups in Israeli cuisine. Today, the group includes several brands: Mimi, Nono, Mimi & Vaza, Giraffe, Dr. Frosting, Taqueria, and GDB.

* For the First Time: The NONO Group Launches the NONO & MIMI Recipe Book

After more than two years of work, the Nono Group is launching a 260-page book, "Home Cooking for Professionals," which reveals over 100 recipes from the group's restaurants, specially adapted for preparation in the home kitchen. The book is being launched in a limited edition ahead of Rosh Hashanah, with all profits from its sale donated to the "Social Culinary" association.

Born as part of the group's decade celebrations, the book brings together the most iconic and beloved dishes of NONO and MIMI throughout their years of operation, bringing them to the home kitchen for the first time with an openness and transparency that is rare in the restaurant world. The book includes 260 pages and over 100 recipes, divided into starters, salads, sandwiches, pastries, pastas, pizzas, main courses, desserts, basic recipes, and even a few cocktails.

During the book's writing process, solutions were found for the home preparation of recipes based on professional equipment—such as simulating baking in a wood-fired oven—along with alternatives for ingredients not available in the private market, and adjustments to quantities and portioning. Every recipe was tested in home kitchens by amateur cooks to ensure the instructions are clear, the quantities precise, and the final result true to the original, from the selection of raw materials and cooking times to the amounts of salt and pepper.

For more complex recipes, in-depth explanations were added, accompanied by photos of the preparation stages, raw materials, and essential information for the dish's success. Alongside each recipe, readers can find professional refinements, possible alternatives, suggestions for variation, and tips gathered over years of trial, error, and work in the group's kitchens. The book also includes a full chapter dedicated to essential basic recipes that every kitchen should know and keep, alongside additional explanations and techniques, including a guide for making the colorful sprinkles associated with Mimi's birthday cake.

The result combines a recipe book with a culinary study book, infused with the aromas of Italian cuisine and French patisserie. This is a book intended not only for those looking for a specific recipe, but also for food lovers who want to read, learn, and delve into the secrets of cooking and baking. Through it, amateur cooks will be able to prepare professional and impressive restaurant dishes at home, and reminisce about the dishes and moments that accompanied NONO and MIMI over the past decade.

The book will be sold in a limited edition at NONO and MIMI restaurants ahead of Rosh Hashanah for a price of 189 NIS, with all profits from the book's sale and other group activities going to the "Social Culinary" association, which works to empower disadvantaged populations, at-risk youth, war victims, combat shell-shock survivors, and residents of the Gaza envelope. The association provides training in culinary professions and helps its graduates integrate into the workforce, aiming for occupational rehabilitation and financial independence alongside physical and mental recovery processes.

* The MIMI NONO Chain Launches a Vegan Menu:

The Mimi Nono restaurant chain is expanding its menu and entering the vegan world with a new and intriguing culinary move. The new dishes are part of a chain-wide initiative by the entire group to increase vegan offerings and appeal to new audiences. The dishes will be introduced gradually starting September 15 across all chain restaurants.

The menu, developed in collaboration with restaurateur Ilail Yahav, founder of the vegan restaurant Goodness, bridges her experience in vegan cuisine with the language and character associated with Mimi Nono. The emphasis in development was on creating dishes that stand on their own rather than acting as substitutes for something else. While appealing to the vegan crowd, the dishes are designed to be delicious and appealing to non-vegans as well. Ilail will participate in a pop-up at Kikar HaMoshavah and will continue to accompany the rollout of the dishes across the chain.

Among the dishes served will be special items such as spinach khachapuri, eggplant and cheese shakshuka, walnut cheese sandwich, pizza, and chocolate cake with chocolate cremeux and Amarena cherries—all entirely plant-based, free of butter, eggs, or cheese.

The Nono Group sees great value in catering to diverse communities through varied menus across all chain brands. Already today, one can find wheat flour-free dishes across all brands, protein-rich dishes, and vegan options.

According to Danny Sultan, CEO of the chain: "Vegan cuisine has evolved significantly in recent years, and it was important for us to enter this field in a precise way that fits the language and values of Mimi Nono. From the moment we set out, it was clear we didn't want to create dishes meant only for vegans, but rather dishes that even non-vegans would want to order and enjoy. We are very proud of the result and excited to bring the new menu to all the chain's branches."

The new menu items:

Eggplant and Cashew Cheese Shakshuka – 67 NIS

Date shakshuka sauce, roasted eggplant, basil oil, Kalamata olives, roasted tomatoes, hot pepper, and cashew cheese – served with an arugula and red onion micro-salad and a mini focaccia.

Spinach Khachapuri – 65 NIS

Khachapuri filled with spinach and cashew cheese, served with an arugula, cherry tomato, and balsamic vinegar micro-salad.

Odem Pecan Cheese Sandwich – 41 NIS

Rye bread sandwich, mustard, pear jam, Odem cheese, pecans, arugula.

Pizza – 69 NIS

Pizza with cherry cream, olive salsa, arugula, and vegan mozzarella.

Amarena Chocolate Bar – 35 NIS

Juicy chocolate cake, Amarena cherries, and chocolate cremeux.

* GDB Opens Its First Restaurant Outside Tel Aviv:

GDB, the burger chain ranked first in most public popularity metrics, is opening its restaurant outside Tel Aviv for the first time. As part of the partnership between the We Like You Too group and the NONO Group in GDB restaurants, it was decided to expand the chain beyond Tel Aviv's borders.

GDB restaurants are characterized by a unique connection to the urban environment in which they are established; each opened restaurant has a unique appearance tailored to the local landscape. Furthermore, with the understanding that a restaurant outside Tel Aviv will generate significant interest, there was a desire to anticipate expected demand and provide a seating and dining experience for a relatively large crowd compared to existing branches.

For the first branch outside Tel Aviv, a special location was chosen in Ramat Gan, near the Tel Hashomer base, in a building that formerly served as a meeting house thanks to the legendary "Mifgashim" restaurant that once stood there. The structure was built before the establishment of the State by the Litwinsky brothers in the spirit of Villa Savoye in Poissy near Paris, designed by architect Le Corbusier. Villa Savoye was built in 1929 and is considered an important milestone in the development of modern architecture. Over the years, the building underwent many changes, and the connection to the original inspiration faded slightly. As part of the deal, massive renovations and restoration will be carried out on the building to restore some of its original charm while adapting it to the demands of a high-pace restaurant like GDB.

Alongside the building's uniqueness, the location offers additional advantages in terms of a central location accessible from multiple routes, spacious parking, the ability to create dozens of seating seats, and proximity to residential neighborhoods experiencing growth booms. Renovation planning is currently underway, and the restaurant is expected to open in early 2027.

About GDB: The GDB burger chain was established about 6 years ago and is considered one of Tel Aviv's most prominent burger brands. The brand was founded through a collaboration between the premium butcher shop "George de Beef" and the We Like You Too group, based on a concept of high-standard dry-aged burgers, utilizing quality cuts of meat and strict adherence to a unique aging process. GDB currently operates two branches in Tel Aviv—on Ibn Gabirol and in the north of the city—and over the years has won positive reviews in food sections and the status of a strong urban brand with a loyal following and high demand. The brand appeals to audiences looking for a premium product and an effortless dining experience, while maintaining a clear culinary identity and expansion potential.

* Taqueria Opens Its First Branch Outside Tel Aviv:

Taqueria, which has become synonymous with high-quality and authentic Mexican food, is expanding and venturing outside Tel Aviv for the first time. The chain, owned by the NONO Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding to enter a space in the Reisfeld complex in Kiryat Ono, adjacent to the existing MIMI NONO restaurant.

Taqueria is a Mexican restaurant chain operating in Tel Aviv since 2012, with its flagship branch on Levontin Street and another branch on Nirim Street in the city. The restaurant is built around a Mexican menu that strictly adheres to authentic ingredients, cooking techniques, and flavors, featuring signature dishes like nachos with guacamole, beef burrito, fish tacos, and the place's signature margaritas. Even before the Mexican trend swept the streets, Taqueria attracted customers from more distant areas thanks to its unique dishes and atmosphere.

The Reisfeld Center in Kiryat Ono is a neighborhood commercial center spanning approximately 1,500 square meters. Location-wise, the center sits right in the heart of the neighborhood, adjacent to Reisfeld Park. It is also close to the Tel Hashomer hospital and major traffic arteries, providing a relatively wide reach in terms of potential customers and delivery range.

Careful planning is currently underway to create a space that matches Taqueria's unique language and character, even outside Tel Aviv, while adapting to the neighborhood's vibe. The branch will open in early 2027. In addition to opening the new branch, Taqueria launched an independent delivery service this month, allowing customers to order food with a dedicated chain courier.

According to Shaku Azaria, CEO of the chain: "Adding the option for independent deliveries allows us to increase our delivery range and optimally manage arrival times for customers, since the couriers serve only the chain and not other restaurants. Additionally, with direct ordering, we know the customer and can offer club benefits and other promotions that the chain publishes from time to time."

(Photo: Shosh Lehav)