Lior Lev Sercarz knew he had to find the perfect grill for GCI by JNF’s restaurant. “Grilling is a national pastime in Israel,” he said. “People even have grills in the trunks of their cars because ‘ya never know when you might want to stop off and grill.’”

But the state-of-the-art restaurant couldn’t have just any grill; it had to be the best. So Lior found himself traveling to Lockhart, Texas, home to Mill Scale Metal Works, renowned for their fire-based cooking devices. The result of the trip? A fast friendship with brothers and Mill Scale owners Matt and Caleb Johnson and a bespoke grill that includes a shawarma spit—sure to be the first of its kind anywhere in Israel. “Their equipment is used all over the U.S. and across Europe, but this is the first time their BBQ culture has been brought to Israel,” said Sercarz.

Other Mill Scale equipment will adorn both the open indoor cooking area as well as the outdoor area allowing GCI by JNF to use culinary techniques from all over the world and Israel’s own 82 different cultures and cuisines. Delicious!