Shop Like a Foodie

If you asked my husband what I'd be watching if I were planted in front of the television he would give you one of two answers: an episode of Gilmore Girls (judge me if you must, but I liked Melissa McCarthy before Bridesmaids) or anything and everything on The Food Network; yes, even Paula Deen. In fact, I was watching The Food Network on Orbit when it was BBC Food where all they seemed to play were episodes of Ainsley Harriott's Ready, Steady, Cook and anything Nigella Lawson. While watching The Food Network I'm simultaneously making a mental note of all the things I want to cook and all the ways I'm going to have to alter the recipe because I'd never be able to find the ingredients for it in Egypt. Where exactly is one meant to find agar agar, tomatillos or pancetta here? I still don't have the answer to that question, but what I do have is a list of places you can go to find some of the ever-coveted foodie goodies. I will be the first to admit that it isn't comprehensive but it's definitely a start. Gourmet Egypt  www.gourmetegypt.com We'll start with this obvious favorite to whet your appetite. Gourmet is certainly the most convenient place to shop for imported goods like sushi-grade tuna and salmon, Australian beef, French and Italian cheeses and novelty items like camembert balls ready for frying. They are the only place I've ever found edamame, vanilla pods, blueberries (frozen, but still better than the ones you'll occasionally find at Metro all rotted and shriveled) and raspberries, sea salt and chanterelle and porcini mushrooms (dried). They've just opened a Zamalek branch as well as their Maadi and Dandy Mall ones so downtown deliveries are faster and more convenient.   La Fromagerie and La Bottega Italiana For me, these two delis go hand in hand, not just because they're almost literally across the street from each other, but because if I'm going to buy cheese it will indefinitely be of the French or Italian variety. At Fromagerie you'll find the usual fare of brie, camembert and gruyere, but they also offer up chevre, excellent roquefort and capris de dieu. It's not cheap, but for the quality and variety, it's certainly worth it. They'll make cheese platters for you and you could also pick up some of their baguettes, but at LE 30 a pop the bread isn’t exactly worth it. Bottega is my personal favorite. With a vast variety of Italian cheeses like pecorino, fresh mozarella and tubs of the coveted ricotta, there really is no other place in Cairo that offers up a selection like them. Also on offer is fresh olive oil, organic Italian honey and a plethora of fresh pasta. The deli counter also occasionally offers up Italian hams and salamis. La Fromagerie: 9 Road 231, Degla, Maadi • Tel: (02) 2521-0406 La Bottega Italiana: 39 Road 231, Degla, Maadi • Tel: (02) 2521 0065   Miriam Market Sure you could go to the likes of Petro Supermarket in Mohandiseen and Oscar in Heliopolis to get your imported food fix, but Miriam has arguably one of the most varied selection of imported American and Asian products. Here you'll find everything from rice flour, tapioca balls, glutinous rice cakes, rice paper, nori sheets and an incredible variety of noodles to vats of Vlasic pickles and American-style franks. Unlike the majority of supermarkets, you will also find turkey bacon, canola oil, soy milk, vanilla extract and every kind of candy and snack food you could possibly imagine. They also recently started stocking panko breadcrumbs for all you avid foodies who realized no one uses regular breadcrumbs anymore.   7B, intersection of Road 205 with Road 253, Degla, Maadi • Tel: (02) 2519-6499, (02) 2519-6488, (02) 2516-5833   La Gourmandise www.lagourmandiseegypt.com While this is technically not a spot for those hard-to-find grocery items, I have to give this French bakery a mention for one thing: its bread. Yes, TBS bakery makes a decent loaf and Jared's has their bagels, but there is no other place in Cairo that serves up crunchy, dense artisan breads at the prices Gourmandise does. Their LE 10 baguette is absolutely on point with a crisp crust and soft interior that does not turn rock solid if not devoured immediately. The LE 12 “old-fashion” bread as they call it is what many will recognize as a sourdough: dense, salty and tangy on the inside, thick and crusty on the outside, this bread makes the perfect bruschetta or homemade crouton. They also make a killer quiche and to-die-for salted caramels.   Makar Farms HYPERLINK: www.makarfarms.com I think perhaps the thing I miss most about living abroad is the sheer variety of produce available. Forget year-round vegetation, I mean those freshly-grown seasonal fruits and vegetables you can get in bulk at the farmer's market. I concede that Egypt has me spoiled with mangoes, guavas and dates, but there are some things I haven't eaten in years simply because we don't grow or export them. Enter Makar Farms. This local farm has been growing fresh produce using European farming methods since 1880. Some of the things they grow that you wouldn't find at your local Metro are radicchio, lemongrass, sorrel, mustard greens, and tomatoes of all shapes and colors (fried green tomatoes, anyone?). You woild also find kohlrabi, escarole, daikon (perfect for a radish kimchi or Korean radish soup) and brussel sprouts. You can fill in their order form online and have them deliver anything they're currently growing whenever you want it. European science mixed with Egyptian convenience; it can't get much better. What are some of your favorite places to shop for those hard-to-find eats? Know someone who makes or grows their own artisan products that Egypt has to know about? Need to know where you can find a product I've missed? Comment or contact us on Facebook or Twitter or get in touch with me personally on Twitter at @rehaam. Happy shopping and, invariably, eating!