| A culinary trip around the world without ever leaving the capital |
| By Rehaam Romero |
| Ten years ago, Egypt was culinary wasteland. Sure there were a few good places to eat, mostly at hotels, but Chili’s was where you went if you wanted to complete your dinner-and-a-movie date. Today the scene is completely different. Who would have ever thought sushi would gain popularity here? How is it that a new cupcake store opens up every two minutes? Just this past year, Cairo gained about a dozen new bakeries and dessert stores, an authentic Mexican restaurant, a local frozen yogurt joint and not one, but two Dairy Queens. To say nothing of the fact that our little hole-in-the-wall Lucille’s boasts what Time magazine calls the best burger in the world and that Tivoli Dome is now the largest food court on the planet.But this isn’t just an Egyptian trend. Globally, people are much more concerned with what’s on their plate and where it comes from. Tourists travel to eat local specialities, not spend their time in hotel lobbies, and a thirst for authentic food has gripped the world. People have become obsessed with eating food, cooking food and even just looking at food. Just open up foodgawker.com and tastespotting.com — sites dedicated purely to just pictures of food fed from food blogs — if you want to really understand what we mean. Food blogs are the hottest new trend, with everyone and their dog seemingly dedicating their time to cooking more, particularly with locally farmed and organic products. Movies dedicated to food have become blockbuster hits — think Julie & Julia and Eat, Pray, Love. While Egypt hasn’t quite jumped on the food porn bandwagon yet, we’re well on our way there. With more Egyptians coming back from year-long stretches abroad (where Chili’s is not a golden standard), an increased interest in food by way of Arab food network Fatafeat, and just a general increase in connectedness with other cultures and cuisines due to globalization, Egypt, and Cairo in particular, is an entirely new country food wise. The average Cairene is so much more culinarily informed now, that we would be hard pressed to give you a better idea of what your palate would or should like. But we can give our two cents about what we feel are this year’s ten best eateries in town. ABU EL SID An oldie, but a goodie. Abu El Sid doesn’t skimp on portions or flavor. Their cuisine tastes like what you would imagine your grandmother’s food would taste like if she’d gone to culinary school. 45 Rd. 7, Maadi • Tel: (02) 2380-5050 8 Oman Sq., Mohandiseen • Tel: (02) 3749-7326 157 26th July St., Zamalek • Tel: (02) 2735-9640 City Centre, Omar Ibn El Khattab St., Nasr City • Tel: (02) 2480-2231 Dandy Mall, KM 28, Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road • Tel: (02) 3539-2205 VITTORIO'S Great, authentic Italian food at even better prices. With a sea of Italian restaurants in Cairo, could one ask for more? 14 Rd. 231, Degla, Maadi • Tel: (02) 2521-0310 MORI You really can’t beat the freshness and variety of Mori’s sushi. Consistent quality, great service and delicious sashimi too. Down Town Mall, Road 90, New Cairo 76 Rd. 9, Maadi • Tel: (02) 2380-5030 Tivoli Dome, 70 Almaza Sq., Heliopolis • Tel: (02) 2415-3004 19 El Gablaia St., Zamalek • Tel: (02) 2735-0206 30 Gezeirat Al Arab St., Mohandiseen • Tel: (02) 3302-3870 Dandy Mall, KM 28 Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road • Tel: (02) 3539-1031 46 A, El Orouba St., Heliopolis • Tel: (012) 2297-5555 LA MAISON BLANCHE If you’re feeling like your wallet’s a little heavy, let La Maison Blanche relieve some of the pressure. This restaurant has some of the best French cuisine in the capital, so it’s well worth it. First Mall, 35 El Giza St., Giza • Tel: (02)3570-0210 LITTLE SWISS There are few places serving up fondue and raclette in Cairo, and this small Maadi eatery is the best. The cheeses are 100 percent Swiss, just like the proprietor. 21 Rd. 254, Degla, Maadi • Tel: (02) 2519-7655 CHARWOOD'S Many try to make a good, solid steak in Cairo and many, many fail. Charwood’s never disappoints when it comes to the two Ss: steak and service. 53 Gamaet El Dewal El Arabia St., Mohandiseen • Tel: (02) 3749-0893 AQUA This predominantly sushi venue (and their sushi is quite good) also features a vast seafood menu — with a Japanese twist — that’s hard to beat in Cairo. Four Seasons Cairo At Nile Plaza Hotel, 1089 Corniche El-Nil, Garden City • Tel: (02) 2791-6876 MOGHUL ROOM Indian food seems to be the longest-standing ethnic cuisine in Cairo, and no restaurant could beat the Moghul Room’s grandiose offerings. Mena House Oberoi, El Haram St., Giza • Tel: (02) 3377-3222 CHINA WINDS If you want authentic Chinese food, this is the place to be. The owner even makes her own noodles and hand-prepares the Peking ducks. 5 Rd. 208, Degla, Maadi • Tel: (02) 2519-6039 MARIA'S Forget everything Tex-Mex cuisine has ever taught you, this is the real deal. Maria’s offers up Mexican food at its finest — and in Cairo nevertheless. Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers, Uruba Street, Heliopolis • Tel: (02) 2267-7740 |
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