“Saknah Bey”-A Success Story in the Making

By Shahira Mehrez

Visitors to the historic Medieval extension of the Fatimid Qasabah, called El Share’ El A’zam,  linking  Al Qahirah with the earlier Capital of  Misr El Fustat can absorb much of the area’s past glory through viewing striking 19th century Heritage houses. Previously neglected for many years, several ancestral homes are now being restored with the help of EHRF, the Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation.

They are actually owned by  a company,  SAHEM, (Safeguarding the Architectural Heritage of El Mahroussa) having as mandate the purchase and protection of buildings with  heritage characteristics threatened by speculative demolitions. EHRF and SAHEM are setting out to prove to owners in the historic corner of the city that they do not need to demolish their ancestral homes and replace them with ugly apartment buildings to make money. Once restored and reused these houses could become the talk of the town as well as becoming touristic and cultural landmarks.

One of the most iconic gems is “Saknah Bey”, a 17-room palace offered by the Khedive Ismail to the Um Kulthum of his time, Saknah, to whom he had  officially granted the title of Bey. This is the only case of such a title being granted to a woman. Covering some 750m2, this is an impressive construction without parallel anywhere else in Egypt.

It is built around a central spacious courtyard of some 180m2 with several large ground floor reception rooms with beautifully decorated ceilings typical of the late Ottoman period.

Because of the palatial dimensions and  character of the building the EHRF in agreement with SAHEM the owning company is considering multi-purpose usage. The larger, richly decorated rooms of the first and  ground floors would be exhibition rooms for a “rotating” Folkloric Museum, displaying each month one aspect of  the different traditional Crafts of the Egyptian country-side, oases and deserts. This space could be rented for  special events, conventions parties, receptions and musical performances, as happens now in all museums of the world. Other spaces could be used for lectures and workshops, while the courtyard with its  tatkhtabosh   (partly covered area ) could be used for musical performances.

Saknah’sprivate apartments, refurnished in the style of the time, could themselves be kept as a small museum to show visitors what a typical Cairene apartment of the 19th century looked like. This apartment could also be rented as a very special short time service flat.

Le Riad Hôtel de Charme, Revisited

There are some places that are destined to linger in your memory; a short visit can become imprinted in your very psyche. Such is the Le Riad Hôtel de Charme. Since Cairo East Magazine’s visit nearly two years ago, we knew that a return to this iconic and charming boutique establishment in the heart of Islamic Cairo was long overdue.

Would it still exude the glories of times past, with exquisite and carefully sourced period pieces setting the mood throughout the myriad rooms? We let the pictures tell the story…

By Nahla Samaha

More and more parents are giving their kids’ nutrition thought and consideration. With awareness of the dangers of added chemicals and preservatives increasingly on the rise, many parents are working hard to balance their busy schedules with the time it takes to prepare a wholesome meal for their kids. This is where ventures like N.Republic come in. The small home-based start-up recognizes that hectic lifestyles today don’t allow for the required time it takes to prepare a balanced nutritious meal for the family. So, N.Republic does it for them. With an array of meals, snacks, and sauces made with healthy, wholesome ingredients, parents can now stock their freezer with quick-to-prepare lunches, snacks, and dinners. Cairo East Magazine chatted with founder Tarek El Dars to learn more about this food savior.

N.Republic

“The idea of N.Republic first came about when I had my kids,” El Dars begins to tell us, “my wife and I became interested in what to feed them. With the very busy lifestyle we led, it was very difficult to find healthy food that is easy to prepare, and that our kids were willing to eat.” It was at this point that El Dars’s wife, a child nutritionist, began experimenting with some recipes that encompassed all essential nutritional elements. With their children as their test subjects, El Dars and his wife perfected the recipes, and began offering them to their friends’ children. The recipes were a hit, especially with fussy eaters, “This is when I realized the huge need and potential for healthy food that is easy to prepare,” says El Dars, “I realized that our family challenge was a challenge for every other family as well.”

The N in N.Republic stands for Natural, Nutritious and Nourishing, while Republic is, “An imaginary country where everyone is united under the objective of healthy eating,” explains El Dars of his vision behind the brand name.

“All our recipes are unique because they are our own creation not recipes in books. And since we are fully aware of the culture and the taste that Egyptian families are used to, we are able to offer a wide range of products to suit different tastes. We have vegetarian options, lean meat options, chicken, turkey and fish as well! All with hidden vegetables inside,” says El Dars. Some of the items on offer are ready-to-serve like the oven-baked Turkey Meatballs with hidden spinach and oats, while other products are very easy to prepare like the Chicken Nuggets with hidden apples and sweet potato. “Our products, which include a red sauce , a white sauce, chicken strips, burgers, and more, all with hidden veggies and/or fruits inside are delivered frozen to ensure their safety,” says El Dars. Other non-freezer items include peanut butter, almond butter, and hazelnut butter.

“We are very pleased that our clients always tell us they can’t believe that their kids are finally eating veggies and fruit along with clean and premium ingredients. They are so happy that finally this standard of premium quality ingredients is available,” says El Dars. “It started off as kids’ food but now we are feeding the whole family which makes us so proud because we do the same at our house as well. We all eat the same kind of food together!”

N.Republic delivers everywhere in Cairo, from east to west, and this summer N.Republic delivered to the North Coast and El Gouna too.

“My family and I, we all eat from the N.republic menu, so we are very cautious about the standards of cleanliness and the quality of ingredients we use. Unlike so many food venues, our biggest investment is in the most premium and selective quality of ingredients we use. We offer you and your family the most select ingredients in the Egypt market, and if we don’t find ingredients up to standard locally, then we import them.”

N.Republic are not the only entrepreneurs to commit themselves to producing healthier eating options. Recently we have seen more and more great initiatives pop up around town.

We are listing just a few that are worth checking out, whether for gluten-free baked options, or a healthy snack ‘to go’.

Baked

Using premium ingredients from all over the world, Baked makes delicious cookies, cookie bars and healthy desserts. Delivery service is available.

Corn’n Rice

Specialized in producing high quality homemade gluten-free food, and sometimes dairy free and egg free. Corn’n Rice  eliminates wheat and gluten from a wide range of products and depends mainly on corn and rice in addition to some other types of flour that suit people following a gluten-free diet. Dairy-free and egg-free products are made upon request. Delivery is available to any location inside greater Cairo. >>

Earthly Delights

This Maadi based store offers a vegan and gluten-free catering service with whole grain, raw, dairy-alternatives, paleo, and allergen-friendly options. In their own words, “Delicious healthy food made with love.” Delivery is available on a weekly schedule.

Kcal

Kcal’s mission is simple. To make the world a better place through outstanding service and healthy, fast, tasty food. Each dish is calorie-controlled and has been carefully created to comprise a perfect combination of energizing carbohydrates, complete proteins, healthy fats and essential vitamins and minerals. All dishes are under 300 calories, and a weekly food plan comes with a special discount. Outlets are located in Mohandessin and Sheikh Zayed, and delivery is available.

Lettuceat

Lettuceat gives your average idea of a salad an exceptional twist. Also offering a handful of authentic dips, fresh juices  and guilt-free desserts, you can enjoy their fresh and tasty items in the warmth of your home, the comfort of your office, or the lively ambiance of their restaurant. Delivery is available.

 A SPOOKTACULAR Birthday Party

By Tati Hafez

As Halloween becomes an integral part of the calendar year, children anxiously await the occasion. The month’s festive atmosphere and ghostly spirit sets the tone for the perfect Halloween themed birthday party for your child. Cairo East Magazine has rounded up some inspiring tips from The Little Party Co. crew to provide you with some party planning inspiration on the theme of the month. It is time to put on your spookiest party planning hat and get started!

Invites – First impressions are everything. So set the tone with a spooky invite! Ask your guests to come in their finest Halloween costumes. Many games and competitions can be spun-off from that!  It’s ok to specify a time duration on the party invites to avoid late-comers and late-leavers!

Decoration – Halloween is all about pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts, spider webs, flying bats and witches. Start collecting these must-haves as soon as you spot them in the market. For color go for the most popular duets of orange and black; orange and purple; black and white or all black. Start your party right at your front door with some welcoming Halloween decorations out front.

Games and Activities – Activity stations are always a good option to balance the amount of children playing around. A few suggestions are, (1) Creepy Craft: Children can decorate their own trick or treat canvas bag to take it trick-or-treating or they can make their own Halloween masks. (2) Musical statues Zombie-Style: Dance along spooky tunes and get everybody in the Halloween spirit. (3) Mummy Wrap Races: Arrange children into two-person teams and have one wrap the other mummy-style in toilet paper. The mummy then has to walk to the other end of the room without ripping the paper. You’d be surprised at how much fun the kids have! (4) Gross Out: Creep out the children by blindfolding them and having them plunge their hands into a bowl of grossness texture and get them to guess the object inside; “witches’ intestines” can be made out of cold spaghetti doused with olive oil; “zombie guts” from the seeds and flesh of a pumpkin; eyeballs from peeled grapes. Don’t forget to have prizes for all children. Finally, if children are older but not into craft or traditional games, set up a spooky garden witch fest and screening a scary movie.

Photo booth – They have become very trendy and customized. It is definitely worth setting up a photo-booth with Halloween props so that kids can keep the memories of a celebration where every guest went the extra mile with their costumes.

Party Food – It is always playful to plan the food accordingly and a lot of Halloween food can be the same old stuff you would serve at any gathering, pizza, hot dog, spaghetti bolognese can be labelled after ghoulish names. Name your menu Gruesome Grub. Ask your kids for ideas. They often have the best suggestions, and it will make them feel involved in the planning as well. As for drinks, make the most out of colors with drinks like hibiscus (karkade) to make a blood-orange cocktail and of course hot chocolate with mini marshmallow is always a big hit.

Dessert Table – You cannot go wrong with a traditional orange and black pumpkin-themed dessert table. Dress up your table, the highlight of any party is the cake, and dessert tables are getting more elaborate. Check with your favorite baker for cupcakes, cake pops, push pops and themed cookies. Set a side table for a candy bar with jars of Halloween candy and marshmallow and some gourmet popcorn.

Goodie bags – Besides the traditional candy, add some themed gifts to your party favour like glow sticks, spider rings, face paint sets or fill in vinyl gloves with sweet goodies and finalise it with a spider ring.

The Little Party Co. “taking parties to another level”

Recently opened in Mohandessin ,Creative Egypt is a Veritable treasure trove of colorful and highly covetable products, all with a distinctly Egyptian twist. Cairo East Magazine chatted with the Creative Egypt team to learn more.

CEM: How did Creative Egypt come about?

In a country known for its rich and unique cultural heritage, Egyptian ethnic and craft industries are considered to be a sustainable source of income for a large percentage of the Egyptian labor force.

Since its establishment in 2009, IMC (Industrial Modernization Center) has maintained its support for the Egyptian handicrafts sector. The Creative Clusters development program has the objective of engaging small and micro enterprises, artisans and marginalized people at the base of the pyramid into a business value chain. The program integrates creative clusters into the national and international supply chains of ethnic products and handicrafts, through increasing competitiveness and market penetration opportunities. The program focuses on product development; it provides small producers with the close assistance and technical support to develop and promote their products.

In 2014, IMC revisited the program looking at reviving it and giving it more sustainable grounds to grow. Accordingly, it launched the first website for Egyptian creative industries and handicrafts entitled Creative Egypt and finalized the legal registry of Creative Egypt trademark as the first Egyptian brand for handmade products from Egypt. >>

What inspired Creative Egypt to open a new space at Omar Effendi?

By February 2015, the feasibility study came up with a market plan that acclaimed a more sustainable and continuous access to the market. Accordingly, there were talks with Egypt’s Prime Minister during his visit to the Creative Egypt Pavilion at Furnex, requesting an outlet for those producers to display their products. The PM, witnessing the effort and development of the clusters, took immediate action and facilitated the provision of an outlet at Omar Effendi, one of Egypt’s largest state-owned department stores. The new phase has now been implemented and the grand opening was on the 15th of September.

How many artisans do you have displaying their items?

Creative Egypt features distinguished handmade products made by more than 16,000 craftsmen and entrepreneurs representing 45 of the oldest crafts in 17 governorates across Egypt, all of which use authentic Egyptian materials as well as unique crafting methods and techniques.

How often will it change? Is it seasonal?

Our efforts are to keep Creative Egypt products dynamic and innovative to meet the customers’ expectations. Product development is at the core of Creative Egypt market approach. A proactive technique to stimulate the market with novel and inspiring products takes place regularly in an adequate manner that bears in mind that the production cycle of handmade products is of specific nature and is lengthier compared to manufactured products and requires special attention to details and quality. On different national and religious occasions and celebrations, we welcome our guests and customers with products of limited editions especially designated for such days. This is in addition to a continuous update of handmade products and the introduction of new designs and ranges, giving customers the luxury to pick and choose from different alternatives.

Counselor

         Maryam Maafa

                  Answers Important Questions

Parenting in a two-person household is tough enough as is. Single-parenting on the other hand, is another level of adversity that is far more demanding on the parent. Cairo East Magazine elicited the help of counselor Maryam Maafa in giving us a golden guide to live by as single parents.

CEM: What is single parenting?

MM: Single parenting is also known as solo parenting and this is when one or more than one child depends on one parent or caregiver. Reasons for single parenting could be due to divorce, separation, one parent passing away or actually both parents passing away leaving a grandparent to take care of the child. Also, in our culture this may happen when one parent travels to work abroad having to leave his or her family back home.

What is the best approach for explaining the situation of divorce to children?

The best-case scenario for explaining divorce to children is when both parents cooperate for the mutual benefit of their child. Both parents should sit together to discuss the important details of such discussion and be prepared for answering their child’s questions in the same way. It could be an opportunity to initialize a co-parenting agreement that may help you answer some of your child’s expected questions. It is best to be honest as possible to your child but bearing in mind his ability to comprehend based on his or her age.

You must inform them that the decision for divorce is a mutual agreement and that the child has nothing to do with the decision for divorce. Explain that this situation is not something easy and it will take time to adjust, discuss new arrangements and give them simple examples of such changes they may be facing, for example, changing homes or moving between homes, if so explain to them how this will be handled. Remember to confirm to your child that both parents love him or her very much.

It is crucial to ask your child how she or he is feeling about the situation, if she or he has worries, concerns or fears. Most importantly, listen to your child and empathize without avoiding their concerns and fears, or belittling how they may be feeling. If your child has questions make sure you answer them honestly, and in the case of divorce make sure you do not express your negative opinions about your ex-spouse, as this is still your child’s parent too. Do not apologize and make sure you emphasize that you are still family and still his or her parents regardless of the situation. Make sure you give promises that you can keep. Allow them to get upset or even angry.

In the case of divorce where the other parent is not cooperative, it is essential to confirm that the other parent loves them but is unable to be here at the same time, and again without being negative about the other parent.

How important is it for divorced or separated parents to try to maintain good communication and mutual agreed parenting styles for their children?

Based on research when divorced or separated parents maintain good communication and mutual agreed parenting styles it usually helps children adjust better after divorce. This is what we call co-parenting, when both parents have an active role in their child’s life, and that does not mean just taking them out for lunch or to the movies but rather be involved in their day-to-day life by being there emotionally, physically and economically. This is done be being present in their life through knowing their friends, teachers, attending important events for them, having constant communication with them, supporting them financially and guiding them to making the appropriate decisions. Based on research co-parenting helps children feel stable and connected to both parents rather than being torn between them.

Co-parenting may differ from one family to another but it is crucial that the parents do not argue in front of their children and this could be avoided by agreeing together on a co-parenting plan away from the child. This usually includes; how will decisions be made, setting household rules that have to be somehow compatible in both homes, how will they implement discipline, who will make decisions and many more minor details.

Setting a parenting plan on paper and sticking to it. By imposing the agreed plan, especially for discipline, will assist parents in not to allowing children gain power over one parent. For example, when the agreed bedtime is 8 pm during school days if one parent becomes flexible the child may tell the other parent, “Dad lets me sleep whatever time I want.” Also, remember that even married parents disagree on how to discipline or parent their children, to help you both keep focus is remembering that both of you want what is best for your child.

both keep focus is remembering that both of you want what is best for your child.

How can parents help their child adjust after divorce and parent them in a healthy way?

Some children adjust faster than others after divorce or separation.

Some basic tips to help your child adjust are:

• Be a positive role model. Parents are role models for their children regardless if they are single parents or married, so make sure you become your child’s positive role model, as it will reflect in their behavior.
• Show your love to your child. Make them feel supported and give them time and your undivided attention so you can play and converse with one another on a daily basis. Parents should be available to answer the child’s questions and put the child’s needs before anything.
• Plan a structured day that he or she is involved in planning (depending on the age of course), this helps the child know what is to be expected.
• Consistent parenting is a must; do not spoil your child thinking that you need to compensate for the divorce. Set limits and impose agreed upon rules and expectations.
• Always check in on how she or he is feeling.
• Be involved in your child’s life. Get to know their friends, teachers, their likes and dislikes.
• Constantly remind him or her that both parents love them.
• Avoid negative statements related to his or her behavior about resembling the other parent. For example when you are angry, “You remind me of your father.”
• Never criticize the other parent, not even when the child is not around.
• Do not ask inappropriate questions when your child visits his other parent, for example, “Who else was with you when you were at your dad’s place?”
• Do not yell, even though single parenting and co-parenting can be stressful.
• Make sure you do not make negative statements about the opposite gender, but rather point out positive examples of the other gender for your child.

What are tips that can help single parents deal with stress?

Single parenting can be challenging financially, emotionally and physically for the parent.

Some crucial tips for single parents would be:

• Make sure you schedule time for self-care and plan calming strategies for difficult situations.
• Stay positive and do not feel guilty or blame yourself about the divorce.
• Ask for help from friends and family when you feel you need support.
• Be prepared and plan in advance for emergency situations for child care, for example if you may have to stay at work late, who can pick up your child and take care of him or her until you’re back?

Maryam has a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from The American University in Cairo. Maryam works with individuals, couples and families who are having relationship struggles; provides parental guidance and couples therapy to parents of children with behavioral problems as well as group therapy. Her experience is in helping stressed or anxious individuals and couples gain a better understanding of themselves, and learn skills that will further enhance their personal and professional development. Maryam has developed workshops on various mental and emotional health and also co-led a group for social anxiety. Maryam practices in her private office in Zamalek, and also at Nūn Center and can be reached through her Facebook page Reflections by Maryam maafa