What’s New in Ghazala Bay – July/August 2018

Lavender is a beach lounge and restaurant where you can enjoy a fun day with friends or family, making it your ultimate getaway in Sa7el. Great food, an amazing beach and one of a kind ambiance.

Location: Ghazala Bay Village Km 142

Tel: 0120 436 1004 – 0122 557 6202

Facebook: Lavender Beach Ghazala Bay

Instagram: @lavender_beachlounge

El Safa Hospital is proud to announce the return of EL Safa specialized medical clinics in Marina, Ghazala Bay and Hacienda this summer to serve the North Coast community.

Locations: Marina 4, Hacienda & Ghazala Bay

Tel: Marina 0102 322 2225 – 0464453941-2-3 / Hacienda 0122 533 3111 – 16181 / Ghazala bay 0122 53 3111

Facebook: SafaClinics

Concha is a seafood restaurant with a beautiful seaside view and drinks courtesy of Ocha Beach Bar.

Location: Seashell Playa’s Beach Club

Instagram: @ocho.concho.playa

Fathy Abdel Wahab: An Actor’s Perspective

When you’re as talented as Fathy Abdel Wahab it is difficult to avoid the spotlight and the fame, even if it’s not high on the agenda. We caught up with the otherwise private actor to pick his brain on acting, his choice of roles and on honing his craft.

CWM: How did your acting journey begin?

FA: It happened purely by chance, while I was studying commerce at Cairo University. I enjoyed being involved in theater and I was offered a role in a TV program. That was followed by various film roles and it all took off from there.

Your roles have been very diverse, from comedy to action to drama. Which genre are you most comfortable with?

I don’t like melodrama, I prefer comedy. Comedy offers the hardest roles to play. Laughter is based on mental paradoxes and not emotional ones. It’s not easy to make someone laugh. You need to address the broadest mindset of your audience, and be able to make sense of the absence of logic in irony.

Ramadan was a busy season for you. How did you juggle your time, and manage to immerse yourself in so many characters?

This Ramadan I starred in Awalem Khafeya with Adel Imam and also appeared in a guest role in Abo Omar El Masry. I also did a scene in Rob’ Roumy with my friend Mostafa Khater, and another scene with my lifetime friend Yasser Galal in Rahim.

I know it seems like a hectic schedule, I had never taken on so much before, but I believe in important roles like the scene with my friend Yasser Galal; that scene is dramatically powerful. In addition to that, the scene creates a glimpse of the events going forward and their effect on the main actor.

I think the idea of character creation comes from live theatre, as theatre makes an actor detach from personal life and the outer world before coming on stage, and fully immerse himself or herself inside the character he or she is about to portray before an audience. Theatre must take the greatest credit in the concept of character portrayal. A saying among us actors is that “theater keeps the [acting] machine well-oiled and running”.

We hear that you are working on two new films; can you tell us a little about them?

I have a film called Diesel, directed by Kareem El Sobky, which is currently finishing filming. It will be out after Eid El Adha. I will be involved in another film that will be getting under way once Diesel wraps up.

Which actors do you admire most?

Many of my acting colleagues. I am dazzled by their performances and I learn a lot from them. I can’t specify, as there are so many names in our industry. Our members of the film community are very talented and they have reached very high levels in all aspects of our industry, professional and sophisticated as they are, in photography, directing, montage, acting and soundtracks.

How do you cope with your workload?

Staying fit is not only about working out, but also about being vigilant about what you eat. I stopped having dinner, and I avoid fatty foods. Also working in itself is a workout as our job makes you move a lot on set.

I have not been a smoker for the last four years, which has made a huge difference in my fitness level, and no, quitting smoking does not make you gain weight. I am following a certain diet. I don’t eat meat, I eat fish and seafood, or maybe a little chicken.

Quickfire Round

Pet owner?
I have dogs and horses. I love pets. I have indoor dogs as they give me positive vibes and create a good mood.

Dream filming location?
I would love to film in Korea, in other African countries, in the North or South Pole in snow and cold conditions, in all the virgin areas no one ever filmed in. It may not happen, but I wish it would.

Favorite city?
Amsterdam

Favorite App?
WhatsApp as its very beneficial for my work and connects me easily with everyone.

Comfort food?
Fruit and vegetables.

Coffee or tea?
Both, anything with caffeine in it.

Favorite quote?
“Curiosity killed the cat”.

Tabibi: An Egg a Day Keeps your Heart Doctor Away!

Eggs are NOT bad for you! Recent research out of China, done on over half a million people has shown new evidence to support that eggs are actually GOOD for you. For years we have been told that eggs can do more harm than good, because of their cholesterol content, but this latest Chinese research suggests that an egg-a-day may contribute to your overall heart health, and may even help to prevent heart disease and stroke.

These tasty, versatile oval gems are a rich source of about 13 vitamins and minerals plus an average of 6 g of high quality protein; overall they pack a punch in terms of their contribution to muscle and brain development and now we know, heart health too.

Like any other food, nutritionists and health experts recommend that you incorporate eggs into a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, so scrambled, fried or boiled, go whip up an egg or two!

This article was brought to you by Tabibi 24/7, Cairo’s leading Family Medicine & Pediatrics group practice. Tabibi home visits in Sahel (covering from marina to ghazala)
 
 follow up on more summer tips from Tabibi. For more information, call 16724 or visit  www.tabibi247.com

Crave’s Homemade Smoothies in 5 Easy Steps

Putting together a smoothie at home is easier than one might imagine. It’s all about choosing what goes in, and how to sweeten it!

THE BASE

You need to have 1-2 cups of liquid as your base to set the way for your smoothie. It all depends on your caloric intake whether you want to cut down the sugar intake or not. Some of the healthy and low fat options include water, soy/coconut milk or yoghurt. Other creamier and richer options include full cream milk or fruit juice with the preferred taste of fruit.

FRUITS & VEGETABLES

When adding your main ingredient, there are two things to keep in mind. Firstly, the more frozen your fruit/vegetable is the less use you will need to add. Secondly, the more juice the fruit/vegetable has the less liquid you wilal need to add for your base.

It is now up to you to choose what fruit/vegetable you want to add to your smoothie some of the more popular choices are bananas, strawberries, peaches and mangoes.

SPECIAL EXTRAS

Give your smoothie that special kick by adding a special extra ingredient that will add both density and flavor. Some of the special extras include: honey, cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla extracts, ice cream, peanut butter, oats and many more.

THE ICE

If you are using fresh fruit/vegetables, you will need to add more ice to give it a cooler temperature and thicker texture (5 to 6 cubes of ice should do, but adjust to your preference). If you have more frozen fruits/vegetables, you won’t need as much ice (1 to 2 cubes of ice should do)

BLEND

You will need to blend your ingredients until all the components are completely liquefied and are freely moving throughout your blender from top to bottom. This may take up to a minute based on how strong your blender motor is but make sure to not over fill your blender to make space for the components to move freely.

You are now ready to enjoy your filling, refreshing and healthy homemade smoothie and feel free to experiment as much as you want because you can never go wrong with juicing!

El Masyaf Eats’ Summer Watermelon Salad

A twist on an Egyptian summertime favorite … watermelon! Enjoy this light and tasty salad, perfect for those days when you can’t handle a belly full of heavy food.

Ingredients:

200 g watermelon
60 g Feta cheese
5 g basil leaves
20 g white onion, blanched
30 g avocado slices
5 g olive oil
5 g lime juice
10 g honey
2 g sesame seeds

Preparation:

Slice the fresh watermelon into cubes, let it drain in a colander to remove all excess water and chill in the fridge. Cut the Feta cheese into the same size cubes as the watermelon.

To make the dressing, mix the olive oil, lime juice, honey and white onions in a bowl.

In a salad bowl, gently mix the watermelon, Feta and dressing. Garnish with basil leaves, avocado slices and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

 

 

Salt’s Hot Summer Burger

 

Proven as one of THE places to be in Sa7el this summer, Salt’s team shared the recipe for their tender, juicy, flavor-packed burger! Can’t make it to Salt for lunch this weekend? Try grilling at home and impress your friends!

Ingredients: (per serving)

1 bun
180 g coarsely ground mince meat, seasoned with salt and pepper
50 g Emmental cheese (1 slice)
20 g rocket leaves (a handful)
50 g (1/3 cup) onions, sliced
2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar
10 g (2 teaspoons) of butter
½  teaspoon brown sugar
150 g French fries
Mayonnaise pesto (add pesto to mayonnaise according to taste)

Preparation:

Caramelize the onions by placing in a heated pan with a splash of oil and the butter. Toss until translucent. Add the brown sugar and balsamic vinegar. Set aside.

Form the burger patty and cook on the grill at 180 oC, turning once, for 2 minutes on each side until cooked.

Cook the fries in the fryer or frying pan and keep warm.

Place the burger on the bread after cooking and add the cheese, caramelized onions and the rocket leaves and serve with the fries and a mayonnaise pesto.

 

7 Ideas for a Perfectly Summery Party

Get in the mood for gathering friends and family together for brunch, lunch, dinner or supper during the height of midsummer. Create your own pizzazz with personalized touches, keep it relaxed, be adventurous, and don’t be afraid to think outside of the box.

Create a feast for the eyes

Mix all of your favorite goodies together on a simple wooden bench or bo-ho style table. The brighter and more colorful, the better.

Mis-match your crockery

Create a laid-back mood by using different plates and glassware. Who said things have to look the same, anyway?

Powerful pink

Shades of pink bring a touch of fun when you want to create an upbeat mood. Play with color to achieve maximum impact.

Go natural

For a more upbeat mood use cotton shawls as table runners, natural straw mats, and loads of bright rustic glassware and crockery.

Creative food presentation

Use wood or slate for eye-catching food displays. It works!

Go floral

From a simple bunch or wildflowers in an empty jam jar to over-the-top fantasies, a table in bloom adds charm to even a simple meal.

Beach picnic

Cushions, rugs, a hamper crammed with your favorite snacks and salads… What more could you want? Just the gentle lapping of the waves to set the mood.

4 Healthy Beach Snacks for Summer Body Fuel!

By Amira Azmi
Health & Fitness Consultant

Who doesn’t love summer? The breezy days, the golden tan, the beach sunsets … the snacks? Summer is a lot more enjoyable with your nutrition in check. Although an occasional pizza won’t kill you, it won’t leave you feeling light and at your best. Enjoy your summer – eat what you love – just tweak it in a healthy way! Keep in mind that our bodies crave refreshing and hydrating goodies in this heat and you’ll eat accordingly. No one wants to feel bloated at the beach, right?

Keep it simple, keep it light and eat for fuel! Pack healthy beach snacks so you’re not tempted to binge on the junk food that is easily available at the beach. Here are my picks for summer eats that can be easily made.

Refreshing Watermelon Salad

The ultimate hydrating summer fruit to have on hand during the hot summer months is watermelon! Whether eaten alone, frozen in slices or in a salad.

Ingredients

  • 5 cups arugula, roughly chopped
  • 2 cups watermelon, cubed
  • 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled*
  • 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, halved

Vinaigrette

  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • Low sodium salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Combine arugula, watermelon cut into cubes, feta cheese and olives
  2. Prepare the vinaigrette separately. Combine all ingredients and whisk until blended.
  3. Drizzle half the vinaigrette over the salad. Toss the salad and add more vinaigrette if necessary.

* You can replace the feta with more olives if you want to make it vegan or dairy free.

Summer Smoothie

Stay hydrated and boost your metabolism while getting a tan! Try this yummy smoothie packed with vitamin A, C and antioxidants. It protects your skin from UV rays and boosts your collagen production.

Ingredients (makes 4 cups)

  • 1 grapefruit
  • 3-4 slices of pineapple
  • 2 peaches
  • 4-6 carrots
  • 6 apricots
  • 4 oranges
  • A handful of sliced raw almonds
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Chop all fruits and place them in the blender and blend.
  2. Add almonds and cinnamon.
  3. Serve chilled.

Banana Bites

Bananas actually fight bloating because of the potassium they contain. Always choose whole wheat bread, or foods that are packed with fiber, as they keep you full for longer.

Ingredients

  • 2 whole wheat/low carb toast slices
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ½ sliced banana
  • 1 teaspoon chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon coconut flakes

Instructions

  1. Spread honey thoroughly on both bread slices
  2. Add sliced banana
  3. Add chia seeds and coconut flakes

Energy Protein Balls!

Packed with protein, minimal prep time, and keeps you energized for longer.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups oats
  • 2 teaspoons chia seeds
  • ½ cup unsweetened peanut butter
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 2 cups zero fat milk

Instructions

  1. Mix peanut butter, honey, cocoa powder in a food processor
  2. Add milk
  3. In a separate bowl add oats, chia seeds, dark chocolate chips
  4. Add all ingredients together. Mixture should be slightly sticky
  5. Add more low fat milk if the mixture is dry. Be careful not to add so much that it won’t hold shape
  6. Roll into balls using hands
  7. Set in the fridge for minimum 30 minutes
  8. Bite and enjoy! Try to not eat them all at once though.

If you don’t want to prep anything, you can still have some handy eats!

  • Grapes: Freeze them for extra cool! Super easy beach snack and rich in antioxidants.
  • Almonds: Craving some protein after your beach swim? Get a handful of unsalted almonds. A quarter cup of almonds has about 5 g of protein and 5 g of fiber.
  • Granola Bars: Choose the right ones though, avoid added sugars, corn syrup or ingredients your body doesn’t need.
  • Dried fruits and nuts: Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants provide you with a healthy nutritional combination.

 

 

Contact Details:

Amira Azmi
Certified Health & Fitness Consultant
Personal Nutritionist

FITCORE Production
Instagram: @fitcore.production
Web: www.fitcoreproduction.com

Sa7el 2018: Fatfish at Stella di Mare

Fatfish serves grilled and fried seafood, seafood sandwiches, sides and desserts from a cozy beach shak on the Stella di Mare beach. We visited for an afternoon feast of seafood delights.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

The menu at Fatfish is refreshing in its simplicity. Mix and match between grilled and fried seafood to create a seafood basket, or opt for seafood sandwiches with the sauce of your choice. We started off with a Prawn Tempura and it was exactly how we like it, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, and chockfull of flavor. With the Prawn Tempura comes a serving of fries seasoned with their special spice mix. It’s rare to see fries of this quality, crispy, and without a drop of oil in sight.

We then moved on to the Fried Shrimp Sandwich, and once again it really hit the spot. The bread was fresh, and the shrimp cooked to perfection. We added some sauces to the sandwich, a dash of mayo, a bit of sweet chili, and were left speechless for a couple of minutes as we devoured bite after bite. Then came time for dessert, and we already knew exactly what we wanted: The Fried Snickers, an absolute must-try. We spoke to the owner who recounted the story of what inspired this eating spot, a night out at a fish ‘n chip shop in Scotland years ago. All orders were served in paper baskets, making it very convenient to carry to the beach.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverage Options

Next time around, we want to try the Grilled Calamari Rings and the Salmon Croquettes. For dessert, Fatfish also serves Fried Mars and Fried Twix, and we’re still debating which one to try next time!

As for the beverage options, they keep it simple with cold soft drinks and water.

Décor & Ambience

Fatfish is a beach shack oozing with personality. Only serving to-go, so there’s no seating available. Customers just grab their seafood and head back to their sunbeds, or just order straight from the beach as waiters are always on the lookout.

The ambience is beachy, the waiters and cooks are very friendly and you can tell they’re all friends and excited to be part of this new venture.

Clientele mix: A bit of everything, whoever is on the beach that day, but the crowd seemed very outgoing and friendly in general.

Dress Code: Beachwear.

Price Range: Inexpensive.

Contact Information

Opening hours:  Lunch to sunset, when people are leaving the beach.

Address: Stella di Mare beach

Tel: 0100 500 5587

Facebook/Instagram: @FatFish