Eating in Egypt
For sweet-tooth and the gourmet, which is the quality or taste of exotic food on vacation is always up in the first place, we have good news – Egyptian cuisine is very tasty and It further offers a variety of foods that you would seek in vain in Europe. (Here we have a bit mistake – that is, by looking – around the world, of course, the quantities actually find good Egyptian restaurant where you will prepare a menu indistinguishable from that of Egypt.)
Vegetables in Egyptian foods
Egyptian cuisine is characterized by several typical characteristics common to several countries in the region. For example, a very important part of the diet are vegetables, whether in the form of an appetizer dish called mezzeh, as an attachment or addition to lunch or as a distinctive main course.
Often this is served as a result of a lower standard of living of Egyptians, who can not afford a daily meal with meat, and is that part of the truth. However, it should be taken into account the moral aspect of Islamic faith, which emphasizes modesty and temperance. This is often unaware of those who called for the Egyptians and the mob should be so poor that do not go five times a week at the McDonald’s sandwiches :-).
Frequent use of vegetables in the Egyptian kitchen is a long tradition and if you spend more time in Egypt, and eat like a local, maybe you will come home and a bit lacking.
The Egyptian meat dishes – less, but that taste …
While meat is not dominant in the Egyptian dishes, does not mean that his preparation in the kitchens devoted little attention. Now the predominant mode of treatment – grilling or roasting prior loading, suggests such wonderful taste of food. Most often (and because of availability) in the dining room there are dishes of chicken, less then delicacies of duck or goose. Where there is good supply routes from the seas are widespread food fish (freshwater fish in the Nile number of lags).
Tradition in Egypt dishes prepared from lambs and kids – are those festive occasions when baked whole (honestly, we would wish to attend any such meetings – excellent taste of the roast you need a language even when reading this text, as in his writing the author: -). In restaurants, you can also order from a variety of modifications of this kind of meat – kebab (meat grilled on a skewer), kofta (meat patties on a skewer) or as svarm (lamb grilled on a vertical needle – like in the gyros).
Annex to the prevailing Egyptian foods are rice (domestic production), the restaurants are then available to other (eg, chips or potato croquettes). A separate chapter is then potatoes, but which are almost never prepared by cooking – give priority to local baking potatoes cut into thick slices and interleaved excellent vegetables.
… And finally, dessert
At the end of the meal then be sure to make great and original Egyptian dessert – local, without such a closing lunch almost can not do without. We recommended especially delicious baklava – puff pastry with butter, nuts and honey.
Meals in hotels, eating in restaurants or on the street …
All original Egyptian dishes taste best when, for example, if you invited the local home for lunch (lunch after noon, the Egyptians up to 15 hours). But it does not mean eat when in a hotel, you must be without this experience. While the hotel’s kitchen before the tourists came to accommodate to the extent that any food served consisted of ‘imitation’ as European food. This is now fortunately past, the owners began to gradually realize that the local food is great interest among tourists, so now they are an integral part of lunch or dinner, a growing number of hotels.
On their walks or trips to meet with plenty of street cafeterias, preparing grilled specialties. Definitely do not be afraid to taste – are prepared such as chicken or kebabs are excellent, and as a side dish you can put on the streets of fried corn.
Drinking in Egypt
As for beverages, of course you can drink anything from bottled soft (including bottled water), or local Stella beer – very nice by the way – wine (these are the exceptions to the prohibition Egypt serving of alcoholic beverages in restaurants, then expanded by mixing drinks). Of course there is then very well prepared drink teas and coffees.
Warning – the local water carefully
In connection with the drinks we will have some of the necessary warnings, and because they all have their origin in the use of local water. Sure, avoid the consumption of water from taps or water pipes of different ‘drinking troughs “- the water is not cleaned or adjusted! To drink just to be sure to give leave the ice, it will often be ready just in the water, just as you forgive ice cream (of course you can get wrapped lollies). Buy bottled water and always be sure that the cap “fits” – some local “entrepreneurs” tend to empty plastic bottles to meet again.
Diversity Egyptian Cuisine
Egyptian cuisine is excellent, it is also very diverse – whether it influenced such historical changes in the population of Egypt, or regional influences – Mediterranean cuisine in the north, then south to the Nubian. Finally, it affects modern society – all speak for a relatively extended network of international fast-food restaurants. In Egypt, of course, can get hot wings from KFC, Burger grilled by Burger King (Whopper is popular but a little diet flavor than in the Europe) or to know what he was talking about in Pulp Fiction – “Quarterpounder” is in contrast from Europe in McDonalds restaurants available.
It is clear that, as tourists are consuming in the restaurant, you will not be able to experience all the Egyptian original dishes. But as we have said previously, many hotels are already on their menu of local dishes enriched with time and definitely add even more. Well, if you’re not enough, the expression on the streets and … GOOD APPETITE!
Note: This introductory text will eventually be supplemented by additional information – např. jsme do not get to the great Egyptian soups … we also plan to publish our “caught” the Egyptian original recipes! Therefore, do not forget to occasionally return to this page and check for updates.
