Em Sherif: Fresh from Lebanon with Authentic Levant Cuisine in New Cairo

A landmark in authentic fine dining Lebanese cuisine, Em Sherif has recently opened its first branch in Cairo. Luckily we were the first ones to sample all the delights it has to offer.

Dishes Sampled

We had opted for a brunch menu on a midweek day. As we skimmed through the menu we were guided by a very attentive waiter. It is very helpful when staff is aware of the menu and able to make recommendations, especially when it is your first time.

Our order consisted of a selection of salads, cold and warm appetizers, followed by an omelet, mana’esh and a hot main plate. The idea was to have all the food served at once for true family-style dining.

We started off with the classic salads: tabbouleh, fattoush, lentil and beetroot. The tabbouleh salad was super fresh, served with a dash of lemon zest, which gave the salad an even more refreshing and tangy appeal. The fattoush was delicately cut in small pieces topped with crispy deep-fried bread, all served with clear attention to detail and beautiful presentation.

The simple beetroot salad was packed with flavor. A pleasant surprise was the lentil salad garnished with coriander and baby radish leaves. An addition of pomegranate sauce gave this salad to a deeper flavor profile.

In the sequence of the plates we were served our dips of hummus – topped with pine nuts, mutabal (Lebanese style eggplant dip) and goat labneh – served with caramelized crushed walnuts. As we scooped up our salads and dips, our cheese omelet, foul and falafel and mana’esh arrived.

Foul and Falafel platter was garnished with pickled olives, cucumber, radish and served with tahini and mint leaves dips as sides. Both mana’esh options, cheese and lahm bel ajin, were spot on. The cheese flatbread had its flavor enhanced by sprinkled nigella seeds while the lean ground beef went very well with a squeeze of lemon.

All our dishes were incredibly presented and flavorful and the highlight of our experience was the Hummus Shawerma – highly recommended by the management. Creamiest hummus spread on the bottom of a plate topped with savory meat shawerma served alongside charcoal grilled tomatoes and pickled cucumbers.

We were then treated to heavenly desserts served in jars and plates. Outstanding pistachio brioche, words couldn’t do justice to the softness of the pastry, the crunchiness of the pistachio and the sweetness of the ice cream in the middle. There was a touch of rose water which you can feel in other desserts as well.

The traditional Ghazl Banat was also served on a plate. In jars we sampled the Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Banana Halawa and the Rice Pudding. Desserts are quite large so you can easily share with the whole table. We wrapped it up with a cup of coffee and tea with mint.

Décor

The subtle lavender color of the walls along with the mirror oriental forms decorating the wall makes a clean and elegant impression. Oh, the plates are beautiful and a piece in the concept of Em Sherif, where the food is the main attraction. Situated on the street level, the restaurant makes the most of the natural light indoors, with skylight windows. The outdoor area is comfortably arranged, giving enough space between tables.

Beverages: Soft drinks, juices and coffee

Price range: Reasonable

Contact information

Opening hours: 9 am to 10:30 pm

Address: White by Waterway, New Cairo

Tel: 0102 250 0345

Facebook and Instagram: @emsherifcafe_eg

More Lebanese restaurants 

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Al Ismaelia For Real Estate Investment Provides a New Experience of Downtown Cairo

Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment, established in 2008, continues to preserve, restore and showcase the architectural heritage and grandeur found in Downtown Cairo (West El Balad) with their initiative “Dakhli West El Balad” by partaking in CineGouna’s fourth edition.

In addition to Al Ismaelia’s impressive efforts in providing a unique experience of West El Balad through acquisition management, renovation, and leasing of the monumental buildings, they do so through supporting art. Not only art, but its creators in different fields to immerse the audience in the history and beauty of Egypt’s city center.

Dakhli West El Balad is the first initiative of its kind, with a specialized platform that puts forward authentic locations, countless landmarks, and historical buildings found in Downtown Cairo and makes them accessible for art.

Art, where many photographers, filmmakers, and visual artists found inspiration and interest and chose Downtown Cairo as the backdrop of their projects, be its movie sets, photoshoot backgrounds, or exhibitions.

To continue highlighting West El Balad in an artistic and archeologic way, Al Ismaelia partook, for yet another year, in CineGouna.

CineGouna is the creative hub at the Gouna Film Festival that empowers and allows filmmakers, producers, and rising creators to pitch their ideas, gain recognition, find their artistic paths, and gain creative and financial support among Arab and International professionals.

And Dakhli West El Balad was part of its Springboard competition, where the competing projects were assessed by a jury of industry experts and a representative from Al Ismaelia. The winning project Bye Bye Tiberias by Lina Souelam was awarded a CineGouna Platform Certificate and a cash prize Dakhli West El Balad to help make Souelam’s film reach the public.

To date, Al Ismaelia has acquired a total of 25 signature heritage properties in the heart of the city, including the award-winning La Viennoise, Cinema Radio, Tamara, Kodak, Shourbagy, and many more historical buildings all set in the heart of Downtown Cairo.

Making use of these grand buildings with art is what drives Dakhli West El Balad and its mother company Al Ismaelia. Their vision is “to restore and revive Downtown Cairo to be the global face of Egypt through providing comprehensive contemporary experiences that merge Downtown’s historic legacy with modern culture,” Nada Hussein from their marketing team told us.

“Al Ismaelia is committed to the discovery of new talents and enhancing the arts and culture scene in downtown Cairo.”

What NOT to Miss on the East Side this Month!

Wondering what’s new on the eastside of Cairo? Tati Hafez takes us on a quick tour of all the new spots and services available to East Siders!

Amaretti 

New to east Cairo, but already a sweet staple in west Cairo, Amaretti is created and run by Cordon Bleu graduate Amie, whose passion for decadent desserts comes across in all her sublime creations. A delicious selection of cakes, tart bites, brownies, cheesecakes and cookies are baked daily and run out fast.

Address: Polaris – North 90th Street, 1st Settlement, New Cairo

Instagram: @amaretti_bymai  

Rdna Farmer’s Market

Rdna will be hosting a Farmer’s Market in the sunny and spacious garden of KMT, in Maadi, displaying products by local vendors. Taste products, check new items and support the sustainability of the local economy. The first Farmer’s Market is set to take place on Saturday, 7th of November.

Address: KMT is located at 73, Street 15, Maadi

Facebook and Instagram: @rdnastore 

Roof Flow – Scape above the city 

A peaceful roof-top outdoor studio offers an escape from the noise and frantic pace of city life. Practice yoga or participate in a healing workshop at The Roof Flow in New Cairo, with a lot more on its list of offerings. This month, you can partake in millennial Chinese Tai Chi, which is a combination of slow-motion martial art and meditation.

Telephone: + 201552256192

Facebook and Instagram: @roof.flow  

Trimoon

Trimoon is the first, super cool Egyptian brand specialized in children’s underwear. The brand’s characters Moon, Lila and Tri illustrate the collection of hipsters, boxers, strappy vests and shorts and more. A fun and playful line that you can shop online through the website.

Address: www.trimoon.org

Telephone: +2 012 05 514128 or +2 02 2641 1308

Facebook and Instagram: @trimooneg

 

 

Hisham Ghorab: How Home Design Should Function in 2020 & Beyond

As you head into your favorite trendy spots you may often be struck by a fresh, eclectic design edge. The new AUC Cafeteria? Or Italiano restaurant at ZED, the meeting point for those-in-the-know on the west side of town. Or soon to come, the new addition to the Pyramids project that has town abuzz these days.

Architect Hisham Ghorab consistently delivers innovation, cleverly understated chic and laid back minimalist sophistication in his designs, all with an unerring eye for detail and carefully sourced materials.

What are the strongest design trends at present in the Egyptian housing market?

Interior design is becoming a focus especially in 2020 due to more people spending time at home. Interiors have developed and people have started adopting new trends and aspects in designing their homes. Today we see more open plans, allowing room for more practical home solutions.

A home has become a multifunctional space accommodating different users and functions. Furthermore encouraging a healthier lifestyle and way of living, incorporating nature has been a huge trend, where homes are becoming greener connecting the indoor to the natural world seamlessly.

 

So homeowners are looking more for functionality than in the past?

It goes without saying that form must always follow function. When designing a home designers should aim at creating spaces that are equally efficient as well as pleasing to the eye.

Functionality comes in different forms: flexibility of the space, multi-functional areas and furniture, smart storage systems and designing for low physical effort. Moreover, functionality emphasizes equitable use: considering the diverse needs and abilities of all throughout the design process.

What new materials are being used?

In consideration of the times we are living, hygiene and cleanliness are a factor in considering which materials to use. This includes smoother surfaces and products that can be cleaned thoroughly. Commercial and public spaces should avoid crevices and materials that are difficult to sanitize.

New materials that need to be taken into consideration are those which meet the performance standards of a healthy environment. Now increasingly review materials for health risks and avoid those with damage to the environment at the end of their life cycles.

Tell us more about organic and environmentally-friendly products.

2020 has been an awakening year with regards to the environment; as designers and as humans we have to help sustain the places we live in. We are starting to make a shift for alternative resources such as biodegradable solutions instead of plastic.

Going for more affordable (long-term) options in solar and wind energy production. Consumers and designers must opt for less excessive consumption and turn to a more minimalist approach to raise awareness about the environment.

Smart housing and green construction is the new trend, we focus on how our building affects the environment, how we can minimize this effect and more importantly, keep in mind building and developing using materials that have less potential impact. The environment is changing, human behaviors are changing and so should our design strategies and approaches.

The Beauty of Recycling: A Villa in Sheikh Zayed Shows the Way

Interior design shops and services for new ideas to redecorate your home

Burger 1916: Gourmet Burger Heaven in New Cairo

Who doesn’t love a good burger? So, when the craving hits, it helps to know where to hunt down a tasty, juicy, mouthwatering burger.

Signature Dishes

Burger 1916 takes much pride in its’ secret bun recipe and a special assortment of sauces.

Menu Overview

The menu is essentially made up of meat and chicken burgers, hot dogs, fries and plenty of sauces. We began with choosing the Awesome Blossom Burger and the Mexican Burger while sipping on our bottles of Spiro Spathis, reminiscing about the past.

The Awesome Blossom is a fat burger patty topped with cheddar and layered with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and golden crispy onion rings. For this option, we were recommended the ranch sauce, which perfectly complemented the onion rings and the meat.

The Mexican Burger is also a melted cheddar cheeseburger on a bed of lettuce, topped by grilled bell peppers and onions, sprinkled with jalapenos and an amazingly rich, spicy sauce. You cannot say Mexican without being extra hot.

We were then treated to the Cranburg, a sweet and sour option made with cranberry jam, Swiss cheese and lettuce, a pleasant surprise. Overall, the patties were packed with flavor and reliably juicy. A meatless option is also available, which is a zucchini-based vegetarian burger. As our tasting continued we sampled the many different types of sauces (we counted 13 on the menu) with fries.

We must say it is quite impressive the number of sauces you can top your burger with, and your fries can be served Texas-style topped with chili con carne. A meal on its own.

Beverages: Soft drinks with a special mention to the iconic Spiro Spathis.

Reviewers Tip: As for sauce recommendations with the burger you chose.

Décor

Burger 1916 is located in a wooden container and is easily spotted from street level. The outdoor includes a few tables and chairs spread comfortably around the area.

Price Range: Within the average for a gourmet burger.

Contact information

Opening hours: 12 pm to 10:30 pm

Address: IC Group Life Mall (behind AUC), New Cairo

Tel: 0110 116 1916

Facebook and Instagram: @1916burger

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Mona Zaki is Back with a Bang in The Black Box

Screen star Mona Zaki is back this fall with the action-packed thriller The Black Box. In an exclusive interview Zaki shares, some insights about the much-anticipated film and about one of the hardest scenes she’s had to do.

By Mariam Elhamy

What were some of the most demanding scenes you’ve had to do in this thriller-action flick?

Action-packed movies can be very demanding on actors, most scenes were hard but I guess the most difficult one was towards the end, with four actors including myself, Farrag, Mostafa and a guest actor that I can’t reveal. There were a lot of emotional scenes as well that were pretty hard for me.

How does it feel for you to return to cinema after a long time?

I feel blessed to go back to cinema after staying away for a few years and I’m very grateful.

Do you think thrillers are something you would like to do again?

Of course, I’d like to do thrillers again. I like to do different genres but my favorite is romantic comedy.

How do you think the audience will react to the film?

I think people in general have become more cautious since the revolution, locking their doors and being wary of break-ins, so I think people will relate to the film in that way. They will feel for and be touched by some of the characters in the movie.

In your normal life, do you usually get scared of horror/thriller movies?

Well, I don’t get scared of horror or thriller movies but I do get very tense when I watch one and sometimes I can’t sleep as a result.

Is there a particular movie genre that you still fancy playing a part in?

My favorite genre is still romantic comedy. I love this genre the most from the rest of all the other genres in cinema.

What was your favorite thing about filming this movie?

Nothing specific, but a lot of things were really nice. I got to work with talented actors, a nice script, nice production company, direction, and art direction, everything actually was nice.

CIFF to Honor Mona Zaki with Faten Hamama Award for Excellence

Hoda El-Sherif x Miele: a lifestyle series

By Hoda El Sherif

“Work hard, party hard.” Who hasn’t considered adopting this as a rule at least once through their adult life, uttering it endlessly and spending months ‘manifesting’ it? With age (I admit I am getting older), my view of work-life balance has altered. What was once a difficult road to tread has recently become an attainable habit, a state I actively strive toward.

Waterboarded by pitches, emails, meetings and news all week long, I’ve come to appreciate a certain kind of quiet, the kind that accompanies weekends in Cairo. Weekends are a great opportunity to utilize free time, and by ‘utilize’ I mean really savor it by doing something fun, something profound, something that brings you joy.

For me, food is one such thing, so are family, close friends and neighbors who I have grown to consider a part of my family. I have long been a fan of entertaining, the non-performative “unfussy” kind, as put by the ever-inspirational Alison Roman. When I cook, the kitchen is my stage, a space for trial and error. And most important of all, it’s a space to be shared with loved ones, warm enough to hold their laughter and life’s messy stories.

My new kitchen is adorned with beautiful pieces by Miele, the high-end appliances brand that offers life-long, gorgeous household products. Miele’s kitchen appliances are resilient, dependable and as versatile as any recipe. From making my morning coffee while reading a book to baking cookies for my daughter’s bake sale, all the way to loading the dishwasher at the end of a dinner party, my kitchen routine is powered by Miele.

Before I have friends over, I skim my fridge and think of what wholesome, locally manufactured produce I can buy to complement what’s already there. Every foray into grocery shopping — whether it’s at the nearby Gourmet or a local market — is a moment of bliss. I immediately go for what is in season and build it up from there.

Scrumptious, juicy watermelon with a side of white cheese; fresh mangoes from Ismailia casually tossed on a bed of greens; salt-crusted salmon with wilted kale leaves; brie, crackers and homemade cherry jam; Karkade Mint Cooler. Yum.

Propelled by the sensory and the unconventional, throughout the coming months, I will be putting together recipes and easy entertaining tips inspired by meals I host at my home. Each article, aided with photography, will feature a local collaborator, from Makar Farms and the Butcher House to Lulu’s Kitchen and 30 North.

After months of social distancing, I am excited to be thinking about and sharing new ways to socialize around food. Thank you in advance to everyone who will take part in this journey.

Minka: Redefining Cairo Living

Minka is a self-proclaimed “forward-thinking” residential real estate company that creates boutique solutions for today’s homes. The company has disrupted the real estate market with new approaches to compound living.

Founder and CEO Abdallah Sallam walks us through the philosophy behind Minka.

Minka is an exciting new real estate concept, what motivated you to offer this service?

Minka is a real estate company that thrives on innovation. Innovation has been our motivator to start as well as our accelerator to grow. We invest in and develop properties that are meaningful rather than big and innovative rather than cheap.

The real estate scene in Egypt is already a busy and strong one, but also a very conventional one in terms of its offerings and metrics. A lot of new developers get tempted by the scale of business that real estate presents, but we were tempted by the value and innovation we can bring to the market.

We are not re-inventing the wheel, but rather defining customer needs and carefully and acting upon them.

Coming from a strong business background, how did you approach your feasibility study on Minka?

The feasibility of embarking on Minka and its projects simply relied on a tried intuition of solving problems and presenting our products to our audience in an innovative and meaningful manner.

The numbers and the scale of the market supported the intuition, but the opportunity to create something different and needed was the major support for our feasibility.

What can you tell us about each of the products?

KENSINGTON: For the first time in the exclusive West Golf residential quarters of New Cairo, Kensington Townhouses offer an exclusive and extensive living solution. Each unit comprises more than 600m2 of lavish English inspired modern living space with amenities and considerations rarely offered in the Egyptian real estate scene.

The HOFT is an innovative hybrid property that has 60m2 fully furnished residential studios, modular offices, co-working spaces, and a retail plaza all in one building. It combines the basic needs of today’s ambitious generation of entrepreneurs, business travelers and trendsetters in finding a haven that caters to all their basic needs. The HOFT is a new concept inspired by the emerging crowd economy and disrupting hospitality concepts around the world.

KINDA: This New Cairo project combines sustainability and livability to create a Canadian inspired quality of life. The approach is built on principles of resourcefulness and open-mindedness to different ways of living all adding up to social wellbeing. It is a 28-acre residential compound offering a diverse range of properties starting with 60m2 studios up to 500m2 stand-alone villas.

VILLAS

How successful have similar projects been in other countries?

Since most of our projects were inspired by similar experiences around the world, this in itself is living proof that these unique and innovative concepts are highly needed and add value to the markets they serve.

What is the next step?

Keep innovating and striving to make this country better and its people happier.

More real estate companies and projects

Layaly El Corona: iRead’s Short Story Collection by Aspiring New Authors

As difficult as dealing with the global spread of the Coronavirus and the world-wide lockdown was, it is these hard circumstances that inspire creativity and prompt artistic expression of the human condition.

iRead in partnership with Dar El Shorouk launched a writing competition to encourage young writers to free their imaginations and share their experience with us through stories.

The book will take you on a journey through the quarantine period from the various perspectives of gifted writers; their words paint magnificent pictures, and their characters capture your attention.

Let us take you behind the scenes of the making of Layaly El Corona competition, which challenged participants to write a short story that takes place during quarantine. The best 20 stories would all be published in a book by Dar El Shorouk. There were no specifications on the genres of the stories; writers had free rein.

The number of submitted stories exceeded 800 and were later filtered by the iRead team into 200 stories that met the terms and conditions of the competition. What was so distinctive about the second stage of filtering was the high number of imaginative stories. While the crisis the world was facing was so real, many of the writers chose to express their view on the pandemic through fantasy.

Furthermore, in many of the stories, the main characters were doctors and nurses, which reflects how people saw the medical team during this crisis as true heroes. Additionally, most of the stories were hopeful and promoted the idea that Coronavirus would be defeated, and it would become a story that we would tell future generations.

Finally, the best 20 stories were selected, ranging in genres from romance to thriller, comedy, and science fiction. In 1st place came Mirna Mohamed, with her story titled Life or Death, in 2nd place was Youssef Mohamed with The Last Message, and in the 3rd place was Ayman Saad with War Criminal.

Here are the names of the rest of the winners in no particular order, Jon Helmy, Ahlam Mansy, Ayaat El Sayed, Mariam Ahmed, Ahmed Kamel, Ahmed Saeed, Khaled Abdeen, Khaled Naser, Ahmed Mohamed, Tasnim Abd Alah, Amir Abd El Rahman, Mona El Mosalamy, Shady Aziz, Abd El Rahman Bomidin, Islam Abd El Bary, Hend Abd El Meguid, and Nardin Ezzat.

Layaly El Corona is available now in El Shorouk bookstores.

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