Eating with the pharaohs

HE’S ENJOYED considerable success with Tut’s, an innovative store at Terminal 21 that offers glittering jewellery and home decorative items inspired by antiques at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Now Egyptian entrepreneur Galal Abou El Enein has expanded his empire with the opening of a new branch at Paradise Park in the eastern suburbs where you can shop and enjoy Egyptian food and coffee at the same time.

Tut’s Cafe, as the new branch is known, is larger than its downtown counterpart and the interior looks more like a museum than a shop. The walls sport hieroglyphics and pictures from ancient Egyptian times while the furnishings include French salon-style chairs with gold frames upholstered in rich velvet. There’s even a corner designed to resemble King Tut’s tomb where visitors can snap selfies.

If anything showcased at the cafe takes your fancy, it can be ordered – no matter whether it’s an Egyptian-themed fence, resin pillar, the elegant salon chairs, wallpapers or even the staff’s attire, which comes in black with an Egyptian collar.

“As our jewels and other products take their inspiration from King Tut’s collection at the Egyptian Museum, customers tend to spend time at our shop learning more about the auspicious meanings of important Egyptian signs. We decided to make them feel even more welcome by offering a relaxing bistro under the same roof where they can sip coffee and sample some traditional Egyptian foods,” says the store’s marketing manager Wikanda Kamthong.

Most Thais are probably unfamiliar with Egyptian cuisine and the comfort food served here, prepared by an Egyptian chef, comes in snack-sized portions that are best enjoyed with coffee.

“Beans, breads and herbs are among three prominent ingredients. Our foods are kosher and halal. However, we have toned down some of the original dishes with a sharp, tangy taste as well as the sweetness so as to accommodate the Thai palette,” Wikanda says.

The meatballs known as Kobebah (Bt75 apiece) are made with minced meat and rice cooked with herbs and deep-fried. Hawawshi, stuffed pita bread, is filled with either chicken or beef (Bt110-Bt120) and the minced meat is spiced with onion, pepper and parsley before baking. 

Mahshi (Bt45) is steamed cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and herbs and the more familiar Macaroni Bechamel, with chicken or beef (Bt95-Bt125), is a satisfying mix of ground meat wedged between two thick layers of macaroni and smothered in a creamy bechamel sauce.

Fava beans, which are rich in carbohydrate, protein and fibre, also make an appearance at Tut’s bistro in a thick soup blended with olive oil, sesame, cumin and fennel and served with plain pita bread (Bt85).

For dessert, you can sample Oum Ali (Bt95), a bread pudding made with 

 ground beans soaked in fresh milk and cream and served hot with a sprinkle of cashew nuts.

Backlawa (Bt85) is a rich and very sweet pastry made of layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts –your choice of walnut or pistachio – and dripping in syrup and honey. The drinks list features Egyptian hot coffee and iced roselle and tamarind juices.

In between bites, diners can let themselves be tempted by necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and pendants, most of them in 18k gold plate, made to designs that reflect the detail and colour of this ancient land.

Also for sale are mugs, stone jars, vases, pens, perfumes and T-shirts with ancient hieroglyph patterns, plus sculptures inspired by King Tutankhamun, Thoth, Horus, Bastet, Seth and Anubis.

 

 

EGYPTIAN ELEGANCE

>>Tut’s Cafe is on the third floor of Paradise Park on Srinakarin Road. It’s open daily from 10am to 9.30pm.

>>Call (02) 787 1000 or visit Facebook.com/tutsasia.official.