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There is a wide range of food in Egypt- dishes are a cross between Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. You may eat in restaurants or at street corner stalls and snack bars. Smaller snack-bars and cafes usually offer inexpensive lightly-spiced Egyptian food as well as sandwiches, pizzas and French fries. Tasty falafel, fried patties made of beans, is available everywhere. Before buying, check for cleanliness, running water and refrigeration. The traditional Egyptian breakfast is 'ful' (bean stew), but most hotels will offer a buffet breakfast with fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, pastries and eggs. Smaller hotels usually offer a continental breakfast and and sometimes eggs. The main meal of the day in Egypt is lunch and chicken or beef with rice and vegetables and sometimes soup is served. Vegetarians should have no problem in Egypt- you can find falafel everywhere as well as a delicious assortment of "salads" - sauces made from eggplants, chickpeas, sesame and more to eat with soft, round Egyptian bread. For the most part, Egyptians, as Muslims, do not eat pork. Egypt is famous for its coffee shops where men spend evenings playing dominoes or backgammon, and often watch a soccer game on tv. In these pavement cafes you can have a cup of coffee (Nescafe or Egyptian coffee), tea or a soft drink and watch the world go by. Western women are sometimes tolerated now in these places but you will rarely see Egyptian women. Women may not feel comfortable going alone. Tea is a traditional drink in Egypt made by boiling tea leaves in water until stewed, and then adding a lot of sugar. It is served in small glasses without handles. Try mint tea or Karkade, hibiscus tea served either hot or cold. Coffee, unless you ask for Nescafe, will be similar to Turkish coffee, served in tiny cups with a thick residue of coffee grains in the bottom. This will also be very sweet unless you ask for only a little or no sugar. Traditional Muslims don't drink alcohol, but you can find it in larger hotels and tourists restaurants. It can be very expensive. Try local beer Stella, or Stella Export which is stronger and more expensive. Egyptian wine for the most part is not of excellent quality. Naturally, bottled water and soft drinks are available everywhere. Try juice stalls on the street where you can get freshly squeezed fruit juices depending on the season. Mango, guava, sugarcane, or strawberry are just a few of the many to tempt you on a hot day. |
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