Discover Cairo’s Culinary Revival: How Supper Clubs and Pop-Ups Are Transforming the Food Scene

It’s a weeknight in May, and chef Dina Hosny is cooking up something special in the Kodak Passageway, a unique space in downtown Cairo. This area, once a warehouse and Kodak store, has become home to The Corner Shop, a two-week pop-up dedicated to celebrating Egypt’s vibrant food culture.

Dina, who studied at Le Cordon Bleu in London, is preparing an impressive seven-course meal. Guests can enjoy dishes like duck with kumquat jus and smoked eggplant ravioli topped with creamy Roumy cheese. Desserts feature local ingredients, including a date paste kahk pie with milk tea gelato and hibiscus syrup.

Cairo’s food scene is witnessing a thrilling transformation. From pop-ups and farm-to-table events to fine-dining experiences, there’s a new hunger for innovative dining options. Chefs from diverse backgrounds, including self-taught cooks and culinary school grads, are coming together to create unique menus. According to Hosny, "It’s going wild. Everyone’s doing it." People are eager for fresh experiences.

The Kodak Passageway initiative is led by Flavour Republic, which also organizes the Cairo Food Week, returning for its third year this September. Hoda El Sherif, the founder, notes a significant change in dining preferences following the pandemic. Diners now crave more intimate and immersive experiences. A new wave of chefs is exploring their creativity and breaking traditional industry barriers.

Another chef, Kareem El Nagdy, hosts a small supper club in Maadi called Comida by Ken. He refers to this moment as a "food revolution in Egypt." The culinary landscape fosters experimentation, which is exciting for a city traditionally slow to embrace change.

One shining example of this evolution is NatureWorks, a hydroponic farm in Sheikh Zayed, known for its farm-to-table concept. Since 2017, NatureWorks has hosted pop-up lunches and dinners using homegrown produce like leafy greens and edible flowers. They started with chef Bobby Chinn and have collaborated with various talented chefs, including Giorgio Diana from Italy and Wesam Masoud who transitioned from medicine to cooking.

As the food scene in Cairo thrives, diners are eager to explore. From established names to rising stars, the culinary landscape is full of creativity and a shared vision of what dining can be. The excitement is palpable, and there’s no sign of it slowing down. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Cairo’s culinary experiences are definitely worth exploring.

Source link

places to eat & drink,food & drink,arts & culture