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THE EXECUTIVE LIFE
An Island Of Options	Pamper Yourself

AN ISLAND OF OPTIONS

BY SARAH BROBERG

In Cairo, new restaurants sprout up like dandelions, and often disappear just as fast. The latest burst of growth has seen a crop of new restaurants in Zamalek. Business Monthly reviewed some of the island’s new arrivals.

The Living Room, a subterranean lounge and restaurant on a side street near the Fish Garden, is probably more sophisticated, though a tad less comfortable, than your own living room. Black leather sofas cluster cozily at the end of this stylish straight-line eatery, but the remaining length is somewhat awkwardly split by a high counter rimmed by bar stools.

The menu is inspiring – a selection of soups, salads, sandwiches and light entrées made from high-quality and sometimes exotic ingredients – at least for Cairo. Even the basic chef salad (£E 28) shows unusual flair, with a selection of tasty toppings complementing its otherwise ordinary base of iceberg lettuce. The salad comes topped with fresh mushrooms, carrot flakes, sweet corn, potato salad made with fried salmon and fish gnocchi, and lemon chili prawn sate, all smothered with a creamy Caesar dressing.

It’s worth trying the Baconita Sandwich (£E 12.5) – sliced turkey breast and pastrami mixed with homemade pickled cornichons and topped with cucumber, lettuce and hot tecino sauce served on fresh bread. The acclaimed Grilled Steak Sandwich (£E 17), meanwhile, is a grilled 1/4-inch-thick marinated steak filet served on lightly toasted, buttered panini bread and topped with two strips of grilled shredded beef ham, fried onion rings and garlic butter. Wow. Too bad the accompanying potato salad, made with a bit too much mayo, was disappointingly bland.

The Living Room gets all of its desserts from Trianon bakery and offers a selection of their best cakes and pastries including a decadent cherry cheesecake (£E 18) with a shaved almond crust and a luscious carrot cake (£E 13) with rich cream cheese frosting. The restaurant also has a full selection of juices and coffee drinks – and even serves breakfast.

On the opposite side of the island, Zamalek’s first Greek restaurant has found a home on the shore beside the ever-popular Le Pacha 1901 boat. Greek Taverna – with its whitewashed walls, checkered tablecloths and Mediterranean blue accents – aims to capture the feel of the sun-drenched Peloponnese islands.

Certainly it has with its Greek signature dishes. Starters include a tasty Melitzano Salata (£E 17.50) – an aubergine salad consisting of large slices of lightly fried eggplant topped with marinara sauce, feta cheese and oregano – and Keftedes (£E 22.5) – Greek meatballs made from minced beef combined with fresh mint and a small amount of yoghurt to maintain shape and moistness. Highly recommended is the Arni Youvetsi (lamb with orzo, £E 46), which arrives piping hot in a clay pot. The Greek Souvlaki (mixed grill, £E 46) is another safe bet – a platter of smoky lamb kebab, Vienna sausage and mouthwatering tarb (minced beef wrapped in lamb fat). The grilled chicken, unfortunately, comes out a bit too dry.

For dessert, be sure to try traditional baklava, or at the very least Rizogalo (rice pudding). Or just cozy up to the well-stocked blue neon bar. And while there’s no plate tossing or Zorba dancing, the flat-screen TV on the back wall adds its own cultural ambiance with an endless stream of Greek pop music videos.

For more Mediterranean fare, head for La Trattoria. The sharp-looking new Italian restaurant occupies a narrow ground-floor space that has seen high turnover in recent years. Previously an Asian restaurant and before that a bar, La Trattoria’s owners insist they’re in it for the long run.

The first thing guests inevitably comment on is just how white everything is. The stark white walls and tablecloths give the impression the restaurant is carved out of snow. When busy, however, La Trattoria is a sophisticated yet convivial eatery that could pass for its counterparts in Milan or Rome. Indeed, its impeccably organized bar, impressive drinks menu and framed Italian liquor ads suggest it has a strong pull from that side of the Mediterranean.

But unlike a traditional Italian trattoria, which has no written menu, the menu here is comprehensive. And if the management’s other restaurant – Charwood’s in Mohandiseen – is anything to go by, there are no “bad choices.” If you’re in the mood for pasta, try the potato gnocchi with tomato and sweet basil sauce (£E 29) or the green lasagna with bolognese sauce (£E 49) – both made using the finest imported and homemade ingredients. The beef brochettes in red wine sauce (£E 85), meanwhile, are a memorable house specialty, but if you’re in the mood for seafood it would be a shame to miss the baked shrimps with capers, gherkin and lemon sauce (£E 120).

Save room for the mouthwatering homemade desserts, including an almond apple tart (£E 29) and cassata with caramelized orange (£E 29). A good selection of local and imported alcohol is also available.

When the sun sets, Cairo’s smart set gather at Bora Bora, Zamalek’s newest open-air nightspot on the Nile. The split-level lounge offers brilliant river views from comfortable chairs and spacious sofas set beneath a canopy of palm fronds, and with plenty of oscillating fans providing a cool, albeit artificial, breeze. It’s relaxing enough, but if you want to shake your groove there’s enough room for that too and a high-power stereo system to make it happen.

But for many, Bora Bora is – like its tropical island namesake – just a place to chill out and relax. And what better way to do that than over a few drinks at the sleek, darkwood bar with a commanding view of the evening’s festivities and the Nile. And for those who prefer their views over a shisha, the full repertoire of flavors is available.

The menu has all the makings of a filling meal, including a sizeable Bora Bora Beef Filet (£E 52), but it’s not unusual for guests arriving late to skip straight to the dessert. Definitely don’t miss the chocolate crepe (£E 18), a fluffy crepe stuffed full of rich chocolate syrup, topped with cocoa drizzle and several dollops of real whipped cream.

Bora Bora’s management imposes a strict £E 50 per person minimum charge, exclusive of alcohol. It also insists on reservations, though tends to be more relaxed about the issue before the place heats up around 11pm.

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