Egyptian Cuisine

Of course every country has different customs, cultures and general beliefs but the need for food remains the same throughout. My favorite country, food wise, is Egypt. Did you know that only 5.5% of the total area of Egypt is cultivable? This small area must produce enough food to support the entire nation! Bread and onions are the staple provisions in Egypt due to the fact that they are relatively hardy and simple to grow. The most amusing thing I find about Egypt is that they use bread as a utensil. At first, I thought this meant they would shape the bread, before baking, into fork-like objects and bite off chunks along with the meal but after further examining this phenomenon I discovered that round pieces of bread, locally known as pita, are used to scoop food, much like a spoon. Some unique foods found in Egypt include flat bread (pita), fūl medames, mulukhiyah, kashk and falafel. These dishes are all based on either dough or beans.

Another cool thing about Egypt is its food customs. Dinner parties take place late in the evening, no earlier than nine o’clock, and require great knowledge of Egyptian dining etiquette. If you are invited to an Egyptian home be sure to bring quality chocolates, pastry or sweets for the host because failing to do so is an incredible insult. Flowers are not usually brought as gifts because they are reserved for weddings and funerals. Only bring flowers if you are certain the host will enjoy them. A token gift should be brought for the children to show affection. Two rules about gifts are that all gifts must be given with the right hand and that gifts should not be opened until after you leave. Remember to dress conservatively, as appearances are very important in Egypt, and remove your shoes immediately after entering the home. When speaking to the host, give high praise about their house and wait until she tells you where to sit at the table. Once eating, use only your right hand, do not salt your food as it is offensive to the host who has already seasoned the food, take seconds to compliment the cooking and if you cannot possibly eat any more leave a small bit of food on your plate or the hostess with continue to refill your plate.