Despite popular Jewish mythology and the jokes of Woody Allen, chicken soup will probably not cure either the common cold or arthritis. Despite that, considering that the wintry weather is chilling our bones somewhat, nothing will be as good for the soul as a bowl of good, Jewish style chicken soup. Following are a few suggestions as to where you will find some good examples of this treat.

Batia: Dizengoff 197, Tel Aviv. The chicken soup here is so full of fat and flavor that it will bring tears of nostalgic joy to your eyes. Continue with gefilte fish, chopped liver and a portion of kishke and, if a main course is in order cosider the invariably overcooked but always delicious goose legs and thighs. Open daily 11:00 - about 21:00.

Beybele: Montifiore 42, Tel Aviv. The rich chicken soup with kneidlach here is a treat. Continue with chopped chicken liver, verenekas filled with potatoes and onions, and for a main course the beef tongue in a lemony herbed sauce or the chicken paprikas. Open daily from 12:00 - 24:00 or later.

Elimelech: Wolfson 35, Tel Aviv. This casual, sometimes noisy eatery serves up equal amounts of nostalgia and food from the Eastern-European Jewish kitchen. The chicken soup, bean soup and cold borscht are always good, the chicken liver has just enough goose fat and pepper, the cholent (with or without kishke) is a gift from the gods, and the baked beef served with carrot tzimmis and coleslaw is a delight. Open daily from 09:00 - 01:00.

Fink: haMelech George 13, Jerusalem. One of the best known and best bars in the world, Fink is to Jerusalem what Harry's is to Venice and Willi's Wine Bar is to Paris. No one has ever accused Fink of serving great food or original dishes but they do serve delightful meals, the components of which may be French, Yiddish, Russian or Mediterranean in origin. After a steaming hot bowl of chicken soup Go on to the Austrian style tafelspitz, (a dish of tender boiled beef, steamed potatoes and horseradish sauce). Open Sunday - Thursday from 5:30 p.m. - midnight and on Saturday night until midnight.

Ma'ayan haBiera: Natanson 4, Haifa. In this hyper-informal (and some might say not spotlessly clean) eatery, all of the dishes are worth trying. Follow your chicken soup with the chopped chicken liver that is so rich with goose fat that it will make your physician worry, the verenekis (traditional dumplings from the Jewish kitchen, some filled with meat and others with potatoes, both of which are served with fried onions), and then go on to the pastrami or beef ribs, both of which are as good as you will find anywhere. Open daily 10:00 - about 17:00.

© Daniel Rogov