U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently sat down with renowned Israeli chef Assaf Granit at the Machneyuda restaurant in Jerusalem, talking about Israeli cuisine, the diverse power of the capital city and the difficulty that Israeli chefs are now facing with the growing anti-Israel sentiment in the world.
“It is a blessing living in Jerusalem where ancient meets modern and tradition powers innovation,” the American diplomat tweeted on Wednesday.
Huckabee posted a video of him chatting with Granit at the restaurant, known for its vibrant atmosphere and a daily changing menu.
“It’s a very tricky time to be an Israeli chef around the world,” Granit, who also runs restaurants in London, Paris and the Caribbean island of Saint Barthelemy, told Huckabee.
“Our ticket was always the Israeli cuisine. [It’s] what we were known for. And now it comes with a lot of hated and criticism,” the chef went on to say.
“Food is the best way to communicate. Every restaurant is almost like an embassy,” he added.
“Wow, I never thought about the embassy being like a kitchen... I wish we made more people smile,” Huckabee replied.
Watch the men’s conversation below.
It is a blessing living in Jerusalem where ancient meets modern and tradition powers innovation. No one captures it better than chef Assaf Granit, whom I joined at his iconic Machneyuda restaurant for a meal and fascinating conversation. Watch it - I bet you’ll learn something. pic.twitter.com/Tj6dHxNxtD
— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@USAmbIsrael) December 3, 2025
