06/04/2026
We are incredibly proud and honored to be featured in the Summer issue of JLife Magazine. Thank you all for this wonderful opportunity to share the Sabbaba story with the community. We are grateful for your support and look forward to continuing to serve you with authentic Mediterranean cuisine, warm hospitality and heartfelt appreciation.
The article below has been transcribed here for easier reading.
Sabbaba…………….(which means Awesome!)
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A small business doesn't earn 185-star Google reviews by being just another eatery. Joel and Rachel Kirshblum, owners of Sabbaba Market & Catering in Altamonte Springs, earned those reviews by bringing a unique culinary gem to Central Florida.
“When we started in May 2024, we opened as a Makolet, )a small international grocery market”, Joel says. “But we have evolved into so much more. Today, we are a culinary fusion of a New York-style delicatessen and a Mediterranean cafe”.
Over the past two years, many customers requested that Sabbaba expand into meat catering. In response, the Kirshblums recently transitioned their commercial kitchen from a dairy venue to a strictly meat operation. Sabbaba now serves hot pastrami on rye, corned beef, braised brisket, and freshly sliced turkey alongside authentic Israeli shawarma and falafels made from Rachel's family recipe. The establishment continues to offer the wide selection of vegetarian salads and dishes that customers have come to love.
Sabbaba also continues to provide dairy catering for bris celebrations, B'nai Mitzvahs, shivas, and other occasions, all prepared at an off-site location.
Rachel, who was born and raised in Netanya, Israel, is trained in Mediterranean artisanal cuisine. The market at Sabbaba features a carefully curated selection of imported goods inspired by her childhood. Filling the shelves are Mediterranean spices, sweets such as baklava and halva, fresh pita bread, wines, and specialty products not easily found elsewhere in Orlando. Sabbaba's babkas, rugelach, and challahs are also baked fresh in-house.
The Kirshblums lived in Miami for more than 20 years while raising their three sons, Dani and Yoni, who are twins, and Benji, before moving to Orlando. Today, Joel and Rachel are proud grandparents to Esti, 10 years old, who attends Gottlieb Jewish Academy.
“We love Orlando and everything it has to offer, and we love all of our customers” Rachel says. “They bring us joy, and we love feeding people and making them feel at home”.
Sabbaba is certified kosher by the Greater Orlando Board of Rabbis (GOBOR), providing kosher food for travelers, tourists, and local residents alike. It has become a happy place for anyone who enjoys exceptional food served in a warm, inviting atmosphere with a relaxed vibe.
credits to Jane Edelstein, writer
J-Life Magazine.
