No longer do the words “Israeli” and “cuisine” seem worlds apart.

Not only did star chef Yotam Ottolenghi and his Palestinian business partner Sami Tamimi win the readers’ award for best cookbook in the Observer Food Monthly’s annual awards. But the judges’ prize for best newcomer also went to Honey, the Middle East-flavoured café in London run by husband and wife, Itamar (right) and Sarit Srulovich.

“A breath of fresh air,” is how critic Jay Rayner described it.