© irene waters 2018
As we drove past the piles of rubbish on the way to lunch our guide warned us about eating Egyptian food – putting the disclaimer that anywhere he took us was quite safe to eat everything but we should avoid lettuce until we had acclimatised to the food. He told us that if we did have a problem there would be no need to suffer as he had medication that would block us up, unblock us and stop us throwing up.
© irene waters 2018
The difference between the outside and the inside of the place we ate the first day was a stunning contrast. Here we had an Egyptian smorgasbord. I ate everything, as did most other people. It reminded me of a Mediterranean diet with lots of tomato, egg plant and olives. There were all kinds of meat and falafel. The kebabs were done on a barbecue. Although it was quite edible it was nothing out of the ordinary.
© irene waters 2018
We were up early for the trip to Alexandria. The hotel had decided to open the restaurant early instead of giving us a box of pre packed goodies. I prefered the look of the fairy floss crossing the bridge across the Nile in the early morning mist to anything the hotel was offering for breakfast.
© irene waters 2018
We got down early only to find the hotel had forgotten to tell the kitchen we were coming to breakfast early.`
© irene waters 2018
Eventually the food came out only to find that there was nothing there I fancied.
© irene waters 2018
© irene waters 2018
We ate at Swiss Restaurants, Italian and many that didn’t have a set nationality. None were Egyptian but all had an Egyptian flare and most gave a choice of beef or chicken. None were worth writing home about but they were all okay.
© irene waters 2018
Breakfast at the Cecil Hotel in Alexandria gave us the best breakfast. The strawberry juice was delicious and everything top notch with a feel for a colonial era past.
© irene waters 2018
The honey was served in a way I’d not encountered anywhere else in my life – dripping directly from the honeycomb into a bowl at the base. If I could have had every breakfast during our trip here I would have been in heaven
© irene waters 2018
Once we boarded the boat we had every meal in the ship’s dining room. It was always a smorgasbord and always had a dish of each type of meat, a carvery, vegetables a salad bar and a bread table with a variety of different breads. Potato was the only item that you could say was superb – the rest mediocre at best. The deserts were strange to say the least. Everything we recognised but none with the taste of consistency of the item we had thought it to be. After a couple of days there was a sameness to the meals and although they were more than edible we found we were decreasing our portion size. Until the Egypt night came along.
© irene waters 2018
We all filled our plates to the brim with food that we don’t normally eat.
© irene waters 2018
© irene waters 2018
We did experience a high tea at the hotel, The Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile. It was superb and if it wasn’t for manners preventing me I would have eaten a stand by myself.
© irene waters 2018
The hotels dining room was in stark contrast to
© irene waters 2018
two local kitchens we were priviledged to see in a Nubian Village.
© irene waters 2018
In summary I would suggest that you don’t travel to Egypt for the food. Although we didn’t eat at street vendors and only restaurants recommended to us, having seen the hanging meat without refrigeration I would not have been tempted. The food we did have was extremely edible and plenty of it however there was little variety in the dishes. Let’s face it though – Egypt is not about the food but rather the antiquities that were jaw dropping in their magnificence.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Truly fascinating. My travels usually revolve around food, so it is a little disheartening to hear the recommendation not to travel to Egypt for the food, but it looks like you managed to find some tasty eats, especially at The Old Cataract Hotel. I love afternoon tea. Love all the pictures and descriptions! 🙂
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Thanks. Although there was nothing wrong with the food we ate it didn’t have that little edge to it to make it something special. 😃
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Your last comment, that you don’t travel to Egypt for the food but for the antiquities, is really interesting. I suspect you ate much better than most of the locals. Did you encounter anything considered a national dish?
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I’m sure we ate better than the locals Sharon. The local Egyptian diet is predominantly vegetarian with lots of beans and falafel, tomatoes and olive oil, rice, lentils and chickpeas. What is considered the national dish is called koshari and we had it at our Egyptian nights and possibly the first day (but I was unaware of it) and is made of a mix of rice, lentils and chickpeas and pasta with a topping based on tomato.
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it sounds as if you found your food jewels mixed within, and had a lovely visit. all good )
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Absolutely all good. Thanks Beth.
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I agree Egyptian food isn’t as interesting as say Indian, but I enjoyed most of what I eat there. I was lucky enough to stay with locals in Cairo and was invited to eat in other people’s homes in a couple of places, and I also enjoyed street food, particularly mashed beans in pitta bread for breakfast. I think it’s generally easier and safer if, like me, if you don’t eat meat. Both were definitely agree you don’t go there for the food. Happy New Year, Irene.
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Happy New Year Anne. It would have been great to stay in a local home and have food everyone was eating. I enjoy vegetarian so it wouldn’t have worried me either.
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I’m glad you finally found something you liked to eat. Food is a challenge when we travel. You’re prepared to dress in style!!
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I am not a fussy eater at all which makes it easy to travel and I have a cast iron stomach which makes me less inclined to get sick. In fact I have never had food poisoning when I’ve travelled but I do use a bit of common sense. Hope you enjoyed your travels Miriam. Are you home yet? Happy New Year.
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Hi Irene, we have been in Hong Kong for 4 days, arrived on the 10th, the wedding is on the 19th, we’re going to Japan from 20th to 25th. Home on the same day, 25th. You’re fortunate to be able to eat all kinds of food without getting. You’re made to travel.
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Yes I am lucky. Enjoy the wedding and Japan. It is on my list of places to visit so will be interested in your thoughts.
I spent three weeks in Hong Kong just after it returned to the Chinese. If my memory is right you were born there? I bet you can see big changes as probably I would also.
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Yes, a lot of changes. I can’t recognize many places, but many names of streets are the same so I try to remember what they were like before.
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Beautiful write-up!!
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Thank you.
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Pingback: Were the Pyramids everything I expected: Travel Thoughts 5 | Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist)
Enjoy reading your Egypt travels, Irene!
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Thanks Amy. I love reading about places I haven’t been and many I’m unlikely to visit. Gives us greater perspective.
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Well sorry but i have to disagree with u.. I m european And lived in egypt many years.. Trust me egypt is About food But u have to try food from homes not restaurant.. The touristic place are not good at all And u Will not meet the originál taste or egyptian cuisuine.. Next time stop by And u Will be in paradise with me 😀 anyway ur photos R amazing
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I hope I didn’t offend you with my comments and I agree – home cooked food in any country is far different from that given to you on a tour. If I return to Egypt would love to try some food with you. Thanks for dropping by and commenting. I loved Egypt – I would have said as a destination it sits at the top of the list of places that had a real impact on me and an enjoyable time whilst there. You are lucky to live there (although if you are in Cairo I don’t know how you manage the traffic.) 😀
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Not at all.. I Just passed by ur site and had to comment it :D.. U are right in any country home cooked meals are the Best.. Well u are welcome anytime.. I Will love to meet u And host u 🙂 anyway i live in Alexandria but the traffic is the same 😀 hahhaha.. Its something only egyptian understands 😀 anyway my blog is About Egypt. Come visit i guess u Will love it… (theniqabgirl.com)
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Glad you commented. We went to Alexandria and I didn’t find the traffic near as bad – that means I managed to cross the road without fear for my life. We did however get lost and saw parts of Alexandria that were very different from the waterfront area that we had stayed. It was one of the highlights of our trip but then there were so many of those. We both thought Egypt was one of our best destinations that we had visited and next time, if there is one, I’ll look forward to a home cooked meal. Australians do tend to just drop in. I’d love to visit your site and will see you soon.
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