On the second day of Rosh Hashanah 2025, I attended a beautiful home-based service. The Kiddush afterward was a potluck, and I brought my go-to pareve egg salad. When I tasted the challah, it was so delicious that I asked the hostess where it came from. She pointed to her friend and told me he had a Jewish bakery, and that’s how I met Jérémie. I asked if I could visit the bakery to learn more, and he kindly agreed.
In November, my husband and I took the metro to République and visited MaMi Deli, where we spoke with the co-owners, Keren and Jérémie. The conversation that followed surprised me. I thought I was visiting a small, unique bakery, but I found two thoughtful entrepreneurs striving to bring modern Jewish food to Paris in a meaningful way.
I would like to introduce you to Jérémie Bankhalter and Keren Afriat, the co-owners of MaMi Deli, Levantine, and Vendredi Soir. You might be wondering, “Are they married?” The answer is no! That was one of my first thoughts when I met them in person as well. They are good friends and business partners.
The term "Levantine" refers to anything related to the Levant, a geographical region in the Eastern Mediterranean that includes countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Israel. In a culinary context, "Levantine" often describes the rich and diverse food traditions of this region, which include dishes like hummus, falafel, tabbouleh, kebabs, and various breads and pastries. The cuisine is known for its use of fresh ingredients, herbs, and spices, reflecting the cultural influences of the area.
In this interview, you will learn about their signature Jew-y dishes and their menus for a fantasy Jewish Food Day in Paris. You’ll also discover how they incorporate family recipes into their dishes, their favorite items that resonate with customers, and the story behind creating their unique culinary experiences. I hope you enjoy this interview and learn more about Jewish food in Paris.
Please introduce yourselves to our readers.
Keren: I was born into a family of Moroccan Jewish origin from Essaouira, and cooking has always been at the heart of all our family activities. From a very young age, I watched my grandmother and my mother spend long hours in the kitchen every day, especially as Shabbat approached, preparing delicious meals for the whole family and setting beautiful, generous tables. Couscous, dafina, shakshouka, pastilla, mechouia—and many more—were central to my childhood. I developed this passion very early on, and these skills were passed down to me naturally as I watched them cook for hours. It truly represents my complete experience of Jewish cuisine throughout my childhood. Even today, we still gather every Friday in the family home to celebrate Shabbat. After finishing high school, I began business school studies and joined ESSEC, where I met Jérémie. Besides cooking, my family, and my restaurants, my hobbies include dance and cinema. I spent six months in Tel Aviv during my studies, and it was there that my passion for Middle Eastern cuisine truly developed, building on the foundation of my existing knowledge. Today, I am married to an Ashkenazi (not Jérémie, someone else), which has further enriched my Jewish culinary culture.
Jérémie: On my side, I was born into an Ashkenazi Jewish family where Jewish cuisine was not part of everyday cooking. My maternal grandmother used to make kneidlers, klops, latkes, and of course, her legendary cheesecake, which is now on the menu at Levantine and MaMi Deli. It wasn’t something we had every day, but it was still very present. One day, I discovered Finkelstein on Rue des Rosiers and instantly reconnected with my childhood. I studied at ESSEC, where I met Keren. My hobbies are music and running.
How did you both meet, and what inspired you to launch MaMi Deli, Levantine, and Vendredi Soir? Why did you choose food as your career path, particularly Jewish cuisine?
We love sharing this story. As mentioned earlier, we met in business school, becoming close friends through the Israeli student association. During our studies, Keren lived in Tel Aviv for six months and discovered the richness of Israeli gastronomy. She returned with the idea of opening a houmousseriya—a hummus restaurant—in Paris.
At the same time, Jérémie had a strong entrepreneurial drive; his father owned restaurants back then (2015/2016). He suggested Keren meet him to discuss the restaurant business. Following that meeting, we began working together on a concept—initially event-based, then evolved into a restaurant.
We genuinely wanted to democratize Levantine and Middle Eastern cuisine, introducing it to as many people as possible. A cuisine that is rich, colorful, generous, and convivial deserved to be known by everyone. That’s how we opened our first restaurant, Levantine, in 2018, featuring hummus, shakshuka, halloumi fries, and pita falafels—all the essentials of Levantine cuisine in one place.
Following the success of this opening, we wanted to offer a more “to-go” establishment: a sandwich shop showcasing breads and brioches typical of the Levant. That’s how MaMi Deli was born in 2019—a bakery where everyone can find flagship products of Jewish cuisine: challah, babka, mouna, Tunisian fricassé, salmon bagels, along with a full deli offering. For us, it was a way to provide a complete experience of Jewish and Levantine cuisine.
But that wasn’t enough. We still needed a restaurant where guests could experience authentic Jewish culinary traditions, particularly Shabbat dinner. That’s how Vendredi Soir was launched in 2023—a restaurant where you can enjoy a Shabbat-style meal every night of the week. Kemias, couscous, pkaila, chicken with olives… every day feels like a celebration.
With these three establishments, we believe we’re offering a complete Jewish culinary experience to the Parisian clientele. We’ve also developed a full catering business, allowing us to support both individuals and companies during the important moments of their lives.
How do you incorporate family recipes into your restaurants, and how do you share these culinary traditions?
Almost all of our recipes come from our families. Keren imagines, perfects, and passes them on to our chefs. Our ambition is to share these original recipes while making them accessible and adapting them to today’s tastes, which is an extraordinary challenge.
She often involves her mother, Lydia, in research and development. In particular, it was Lydia who passed on her challah recipe—the flagship product of MaMi Deli—as well as her pastilla and couscous recipes. Customers can truly feel it: we cook family recipes that are approachable yet executed at an extremely high level. That’s the key to our success.
It’s important to note that at MaMi Deli, we celebrate Jewish holidays and offer products specially created for these occasions. We recently concluded the Hanukkah period, during which we produced more than 6,000 shufganiyots in a single week! These moments are always incredibly special for us—opportunities for sharing, joy, and celebration with our teams and customers.
If we had to choose one recipe that embodies our cuisine, it would undoubtedly be challah. More than just a bread, challah symbolizes everything we stand for: Jewish culinary transmission, family heritage, and the warmth of the Shabbat table.
Our challah comes directly from a family recipe (from Lydia, Keren’s mum) passed down through generations, kneaded, braided, and shared every Friday around the same table. It represents the moment families gather, when time slows down, and when food becomes a language of love and togetherness. For us, challah is inseparable from Shabbat—it embodies the spirit of celebration, generosity, and hospitality defining Jewish cuisine.
At MaMi Deli and Vendredi Soir, challah perfectly illustrates our philosophy: honoring tradition while making it accessible, contemporary, and joyful. It’s a recipe rooted in memory and emotion, yet designed to be shared by everyone. That’s why it has become our flagship product and a true signature of our identity.
Through this challah, we don’t just share a recipe—we share a story, a culture, and a way of bringing people together around the table.
What are some of your favorite signature dishes that capture your culinary vision? Are there dishes that customers cherish or that hold special meaning for you?
Our favorite signature dishes are numerous—almost everything we offer—but we must mention a few. First, of course, is the challah, which has made MaMi Deli famous and is Lydia’s historic recipe. We also highlight the tchoutchouka, which we distinguish from shakshuka and feature in several establishments. Jérémie will inevitably mention the keskir, his grandmother Lotti’s recipe, which serves as a daily Proustian madeleine for him.
These dishes embody the essence of our cuisine and our work, and sharing them with as many people as possible is the main reason we get up every morning. They are our best sellers, likely because they are made with a great deal of love.
Can you share more about your catering services? What types of menus do you offer, and what motivates you to bring Jewish cuisine to various events?
Response: Our catering service is deeply intertwined with our identity and growth. In fact, we were doing catering even before opening Levantine in 2018. From the beginning, we have loved being there for our guests—not only in our restaurants but also during the most meaningful moments of their lives, whether private or professional.
Today, our ambition goes even further: we truly bring the Levantine and MaMi Deli experience directly to people, wherever they are. At home, at the office, for intimate celebrations or large-scale events, we recreate our universe through miniature versions of our best sellers, as well as generous sharing bowls designed to foster the conviviality that defines us.
Our catering is not just about food—it’s about creating memories, emotions, and moments of togetherness. Every menu is conceived to be colorful, abundant, and irresistible, just like our cuisine. We work seamlessly with both private individuals and corporate clients, with the same level of care, precision, and passion.
Whether it’s a family celebration, a Shabbat dinner, a wedding, a product launch, or a company event, our teams put their heart and soul into delivering a warm, premium, and unforgettable culinary experience. This catering activity is essential to us because it allows us to share our values on a larger scale: generosity, authenticity, and, above all, pleasure.
For readers interested in Jewish food in Paris, can you suggest a food itinerary for MaMi Deli, Levantine, and Vendredi Soir? What are the must-try dishes, and when is the best time to visit?
Response: The ideal culinary itinerary with the Levantine Group? We love it!
Start your morning at MaMi Deli with a chocolate-pecan babka roll or a warm mouna fresh out of the oven, paired with great coffee or a hot cup of tea—the perfect breakfast. Take the opportunity to pick up your challahs for Friday night while you’re there.
Then enjoy a stroll along the Canal Saint-Martin until lunchtime, when you can head to Levantine. At lunch, we serve generous, well-balanced bowls made up of our best sellers: hummus, babaganoush, grilled vegetables, falafels, halloumi fries… everything you need for a complete meal that truly represents Levantine cuisine. Finish on a sweet note with the famous keskir or a slice of babka perdue (babka prepared like French toast).
Spend the afternoon exploring Paris, and in the evening, join us at Vendredi Soir for a festive dinner inspired by traditional Sephardic Jewish cuisine. We recommend starting with an assortment of kemias (hummus, tchoutchouka, artichokes…), followed by couscous, pkaila, or chicken with olives—dishes that will take you on a journey and evoke the flavors of childhood. End the evening with a delicious mint tea, and it will be time to head home and digest this wonderful day, entirely dedicated to Jewish cuisine.
How can readers connect with you or learn more about your work?
There are plenty of ways to reach us! The best option is still to come and see us in person 🙂 For any questions regarding our catering service, you can fill out the form on our website or contact us directly at hello@mami.paris.
There are countless reasons to visit Paris—and now there’s one more: the delicious, beautiful Levantine cuisine of Keren and Jérémie.
To Our Health & Inspiration,
Kenden
