A popular venue on the local scene, Zamalek foodie haven Sea Salt Bakery & Café has just added some great new items to its gluten-free, dairy-free andsugar-free menu. Although this is already known as the ‘go to’ place for anyone who is battling food allergies, the food is so enticing it should be on everyone’s short list. Important to know, certified gluten-free baker and owner Passand El Hammami ensures that there is no possi

ble contamination of her products by making all products, including milling her own organic gluten-free flour, in-house.

Type of cuisine:

All-day breakfast, soups, salads, rice and gluten-free pasta, wraps, smoothies, bread and cakes for any occasion. This is a boon for kids with food allergies; party time can be a real treat with all the usual goodies, allergen-free.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

Zoodles with Shrimp Soup, Falafel Wrap, Shrimp Wrap, Crispy Falafel Wrap, Salmon Superfood Salad, The Monroe Salad, Chocolate Smoothie Bowl and pre and post workout smoothies to-die-for.

 At 9 am we needed something to energize us and kick start our day. The Espresso Smoothie did the job perfectly. A blend of espresso, cocoa, banana, almond milk and honey, it kept us humming along very nicely throughout our work-day, and interestingly seemed to reduce any mid-afternoon sugar cravings. We paired it with a Falafel Wrap, a generous portion of falafel, purple cabbage, mixed green leaves, carrot, cucumber, hummus and tahina.  Fresh and not the slightest bit oily, it proved to be easy on the digestion as well as filling.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

Suckers as we are for anything with chocolate, we would have to try Lu Lu’s Chocolate Pancakes, and the Eggs Benedict would be tempting as well. We have plans to try the bakery items, based on the easy digestibility of the wrap; maybe we had a hidden gluten intolerance after all! Takeaway and delivery are available.

Beverage options include smoothies, juices, herb and regular tea and coffee.

Décor & Ambience

Simple and contemporary, but still intimate and cozy. Indoor and outdoor seating.

Clientele mix:

Couples, friends, families, locals on the way to or from work.

Price range: Moderate

Opening hours: 8 am to 9 pm

Address: 6 Mansour Mohamed St. – Zamalek

Tel:  01093757305

Facebook / Instagram: Sea Salt Bakery

The mantra at Leonardo’s Italian Restaurant is simple: authentic Italian food, day in and day out. Chef Giuliano Truddaiu from the Piemonte region of Italy heads this fine dining establishment, bringing authenticity into every dish on the menu. Mr. Truddaiu has been a chef since the age of 18 and has worked and trained under some of Italy’s top chefs. With plenty of experience in the MENA region, the chef now calls Cairo home.

Signature drinks and dishes: Leonardo’s has won a spot among the prestigious 70 Best Restaurants with Pizzeria in the World award, which qualifies everything on the menu as signature.

Dishes and drinks sampled: To start we had the refreshing Insalata Di Mare Con Carpaccio Di Zucchine, a seafood salad with fresh flavors and a beautiful presentation: the perfect way to cleanse our palates and pique our gastronomic interest. Second, we had the colorful, Risotto Alla Crema Di Peperoni Rossi, a vegetarian pepper risotto with all of the colors of the rainbow, a great option as an entree to share or as a main course. Next came the famous Pizza Salmone E Rucola, from the award winning pizza menu with an unbelievable airy dough. Light and fluffy with the right portion of toppings, the pizza was definitely one of the best we have had in Cairo. To end our culinary tour of Italy, we indulged in the Carre Di Agnello in Crosta Di Menta E Gremolata Di Agrumi, melt-in-your-mouth lamb chops with a truly revolutionary flavor combo.

Other menu options that appealed: Over 12 types of pizza have diners wishing that Leonardo’s delivered! The extensive menu plus the other authentic entrées make it near impossible to decide just what to eat.

Beverage options: A wide variety of both alcoholic and soft drinks.

Décor: The decor is simple and elegant with hints of European elegance.

Ambience: The ambience of the restaurant is calm and inviting, as if you are being invited into Chef Giuliano Truddaiu’s own home. Leonardo’s mix of great food and delicious drink creates a warm and friendly ambience for diners.

Clientele mix: The restaurant hosts people from all over the world as they come to visit the historical city of Cairo. There was a mix of tourists as well as locals seeking out a small slice of Italy.

Price range: Splurge, but worth it for a nice night out.

Hot tip: Leonardo’s has a variety of delicious options for diners who require a special menu. Vegan, vegetarian, diabetic-friendly, and gluten-free options are available, so there is something for everyone to sink their teeth into.

Address:

Hilton Cairo Heliopolis

El Saheed Sayed Zakaria Street

Cairo, Egypt

Tel: 022 2677730

Facebook: hiltonheliopolis