We’ve been taking part in Nestle‘s challenge ‫#‏اخترت_صحتى‬, which is all about making small daily changes toward a healthier, more active and nutritious lifestyle.

Recently, we challenged four of our favorite magicians in the kitchen — @chefandrewmitchell, @luluaskal, @midoeats and @mattersofthebelly — to share with us healthier versions of one of their recipes. Here are the delectable, drool-worthy creations they came up with:

For this challenge I put together a wonderful salad. I started with fresh field greens, cherry tomatoes, button mushrooms, crispy lean veal bacon, Parmesan cheese, crushed pecans, soft boiled egg, red onions and light mustard vinaigrette with virgin olive oil. It’s a healthier version of a traditional Swiss salad with my twist! #eathealthy #cairo #egypt #chefandrewmitchell @scoopempire with @repostapp. ・・・ Join us on our journey to be more conscious about #nutrition. We challenge some of our favorite magicians in the kitchen – @chefandrewfatafeat @mattersofthebelly @midoeats @luluaskal – to share with us a healthier version of one of your #recipes! Can’t wait to see what you come up with #اخترت_صحتي #standoutscoop

A photo posted by Chef Andrew (@chefandrewmitchell) on Dec 8, 2015 at 6:08am PST

Brown Fettucine in Curry Yogurt Sauce – my contribution for the mini chef challenge @mattersofthebelly @chefandrewfatafeat @midoeats, by @scoopempire It's really easy, takes minutes and is super light! #اخترت صحتى Recipe here below : – Handful of Fettucine – 1 cup of yogurt – 1 tsp curry powder, 1 clove garlic minced – 1/2 tsp chili powder – 4 tablespoons olive oil – 1 tsp brown sugar. – pinch of salt & pepper – Boil pasta for 5 minutes and drain, whisk all ingredients in a bowl and add to pasta in a pot. – Over medium heat, pour sauce over pasta and 4 tablespoons olive oil and stir. – Remove off heat after 5 minutes and serve with a bay leaf or a spoon of yogurt as garnish (optional).

A photo posted by Alia El Askalany (@luluaskal) on Nov 25, 2015 at 1:16am PST

*Recipe post* @nestleegypt Banana Pancakes with Cinnamon Ice-cream A healthy Friday breakfast, using just 3 ingredients! #اخترت_صحتي 1 banana 1 egg 1 scoop of Kaju Cinnamon vegan Ice-cream (from @earthly.delights.eg) 1- Mash up the banana in a bowl. 2- Add the egg and mix well 3- Heat a flat non-stick pan on medium-low 4- Pour about a third of the batter in the center of the pan. Adjust the heat if the pan is too hot. 5- Wait for 4-5 minutes before trying to flip the pancake over. You will know it's ready to flip, when you start seeing bubbles form on the top side. 6- Flip over carefully with a spatula and cook the other side for about 3 minutes. *(make sure the batter is cooked through!) 7- Serve with a big scoop of ice-cream. 8- Enjoy! Can't wait to see yours! @chefandrewfatafeat @luluaskal @mattersofthebelly #StandOutScoop #recipes #Chef #healthy #fit #Paleo #diet #food #cook #breakfast #nutrition #GoodMorning #MidoEats

A photo posted by Mido Eats (@midoeats) on Nov 20, 2015 at 5:22am PST

After plenty more sidetracking, I finally got that recipe for my Wholewheat Purple Carrot Cake with honey-cream cheese drizzle up on the blog! This cake is so easy to make, made with 100% wholewheat flour, beautiful light olive oil & sweetened entirely with honey, making it an ideal breakfast cake can i get a woohooo??! The gorgeous purple carrots i used were generously gifted from @foragersandco link to mattersofthebelly.com in bio

A photo posted by Noha Serageldin (@mattersofthebelly) on Nov 24, 2015 at 9:13pm PST

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss 5 Workout Hacks You Can Do at Home with #اخترت_صحتي.

Aprille Muscara

News and culture junkie interested in human rights, new media and politics. Former aspiring astronaut. Third Culture Kid. Don’t call her a millennial.

http://scoopempire.com

The post #اخترت_صحتي: Mouthwatering Yet Healthy Recipes From Egypt’s Top Foodies appeared first on Scoop Empire.

Friends mania has reached its peak in Egypt and we’re not complaining, Egypt is now opening it’s very own Central Perk and people are going crazy. It seems like the people of Port Said are making dreams come true, by creating a carbon copy of the much beloved café. This café is sure to be a hit, I mean everybody loves friends and if you don’t, not only are you in the smallest minority known to man but there is probably something wrong with you.

This café is opening on Christmas day, so do yourself a favor, head down to Port Said and give yourself a treat. We’ve all dreamt of going to central perk since we saw the first episode whether it was last year or twenty years ago.

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss 18 Types of Friends We All Have in Egypt

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The post There’s a Replica of the Cafe From ‘Friends’ in Port Said appeared first on Scoop Empire.

“The burger is omnipotent and irresistible, it can never be weakened, it can never be slowed down, it can never stop its ever increasing growth in popularity. It is the single most powerful force in the food universe.”

What are you doing tonight? If you don’t have any plans, do you want to grab a burger with me? I was thinking we could eat and talk about how the Earth’s surface is drying up like a Premium saltine. Could we take a few minutes and weep for the penguins while we feed each other great walls of burgers? How’s 9:45?

No, but for real! The end could come any day now, so let’s talk about all the fabulous new burgers that have appeared on our menus in 2015. Buttery, towering icons have erupted from the ground! Burgers griddled and delicious from great wizards of meat! There may be loads, but let’s give burger credit where it’s due. I give you the best 11 burgers of 2015.

The Mighty Butcher – Butcher’s Burger

It’s called the Mighty Butcher for a reason! We suspect dem jalapeños have to do something about it. Not many have tried this burger and lived to tell the tale. P.S. Have lots of water ready to drink next to you.

The Honky Tonk – Fat Cow

Not only is this burger from a place called Fat Cow (AKA a place that would never ever judge you for being, well duuuh, a fat cow), Honky Tonks are where it’s at. Imagine an angus burger with onion rings, cheddar cheese, beef bacon and BBQ sauce. Exactly!

Juicy Lucy – Mince

The actual burger patty is filled with cheese, OKAY?!?! Enough said.

Onion & Gravy Burgers – Mermaid

Not your typical burger experience, but certainly one that demands to be experienced. This dish consists of four burgers grilled with mushrooms, onions and gravy, and served with fries. No buns are included.

BF Monster – BurgerFuel

Imagine all the ingredients that make a perfect burger, plus sliced beetroots, juicy mango and fresh avocado. #NOMNOMNOM

The French – Burgerque

At least we can say the French got one thing right. But then again, our thanks should go to the BGQ sauce instead.

Triple B – Burger Joint

Most of us don’t mind which burger we have from Burger Joint because it’s usually 1 AM and we’re a little bit intoxicated and absolutely don’t care what we’re having, BUT — Triple B will make you care. Walahy!

Ostrich Burger – Gourmet Burger

Yup, you read that right. A freakin’ ostrich! This is not for everyone, but you may need to try it at least once to know if it’s for you (which it probably will be).

Brgr Fries – The BRGR Truck

THOSE AREN’T JUST ANY ORDINARY FRIES! THEY ARE FRIES MIXED WITH BURGERS AND MELTED CHEESE!! THIS IS WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!!!

Sushi Burger – Burger Factory

If you love sushi and burgers, Burger Factory have combined the two for you in one epic dish. No chopsticks will be necessary.

Ace Burger – The Ace Club

This is probably one of the new places you can get some actual real (haram) bacon in your burger. It’s also topped with a fried egg and you can add melted cheese on it. Your tastebuds will surely be foodgasming for a while after you have this dish.

 
WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss 24 Spots in Egypt That Serve Amazing Breakfast

Kurt Galalah

Found in a box of bananas from the Philippines on the River Nile at an early age, Kurt is born to a Filipino mother and an Egyptian father which means emotionally he is completely screwed. Kurt is a bubbling cauldron of masculinity aside from his girly hair, camp voice and passion for One Direction.

The post The Best 11 Burgers of 2015 in Cairo appeared first on Scoop Empire.

Part of being Arab means that every occasion needs to be celebrated with lots and lots of food! Even Christmas!

For your Christmas dinner this year, try one of these exquisite appetizers (or all of them) and have a very merry Christmas.

Ricotta and Spinach Dip

Get Recipe

Onion Brie

Get recipe

Sauteed Black Olives with Tomatoes 

Get recipe

Spicy Pecans

Get recipe

Mini Christmas Quiche

Get Recipe

Cheese Balls Three Ways

Get recipe

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Get recipe

Seafood Cake

Get recipe

Potato Pancakes and Smoked Salmon Canapes

Get recipe

Baked Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Dipping Sauce

Get recipe

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss 10 Recipes to Add to Your Ultimate Christmas Dinner

Nada Kabil

A kid at heart, Nada Kabil finds herself a little in all forms of art. As a kid her main dream was to be a writer. She studied product design and finds herself attracted to anything she can unleash her creativity in and express herself, be it, art, design or writing. Making her laugh or putting her up to a challenge is just one of the many ways of making her day.

The post 10 Appetizers That Will Make Your Christmas Dinner Sensational appeared first on Scoop Empire.

We all love sushi and steak, but what happens when you combine both in one place? One Oak has the answer!
Located in Sheikh Zayed’s Tivoli Dome and soon to open in the 5th Settlement’s Point 90 Mall, One OAK (which apparently stands for “One Of A Kind” and has nothing to do with wood) is the first ever sushi and steak bar in Egypt where you will get to create your one-of-a-kind experience by enjoying your own creations!

The place itself has a very nice fine-dining atmosphere and is very spacious and elegant, perfect for pretty much anything from work meeting to dates. The walls are filled with instructions about the many different steps to shape your experience at One Oak, like the different items available, the steps of customizing your very own steak and even how to eat sushi and how to dip it in soy sauce.

For sushi, One Oak offers many rolls based on your preferences from nigiri sushi, maki rolls, gunkan maki, classic rolls, hot rolls, sashimi and more. They also offer combination platters of 12, 24 and 40 pieces at reasonable prices. One of their most famous rolls is the “Salmon Rocket Roll,” which is a salmon roll with cream cheese and rocket, however we personally fell in love with their “Mango Roll,” which is made of crab shrimp mayo, smoked salmon, avocado, cucumber, black sesame and mango chutney.

Now, when it comes to steak, One Oak lets you shape your own steak, choosing the cut — from ribeye, tomahawk, striploin, t-bone, topside, tenderloin and even veal and lamb chops — then weight: 180-210gm, 220-260gm, 390-470gm and more. You also choose the temperature: well done, medium well, medium, medium rare, rare and for the first time in Egypt, One Oak offers blue rare steak, which is completely red throughout. Then you get to choose how to marinate it: salt and pepper, herbs and mustard or other mixes of special liquid marination and spices, then pick the sauce that goes along with the steak, from balsamic sauce to herb sauce, lemon butter sauce and many more. Finally, you even get to pick the knife of your choice to devour that steak with from a wide variety of premium knives.

Their most popular steak item on the menu is their “Quatro Steak Skewer,” which is 300 gm of four different cuts of steak: beef tenderloin, beef rib-eye, beef striploin and rump cooked to the temperature of your choice, offering you a chance to try out multiple different cuts all at once.

Now aside from the steak and sushi, One Oak offers a variety of other items to go along, with many options of salads, appetizers, soups, desserts, hot and cold drinks, cocktails and even milkshakes.

Their most popular appetizers platter is the “One Oak Surf’n’Turf,” which consists of asian chicken lettuce wrap, beef satay and lemon grass prawns from the steak bar and seared tuna, cucumber gunkan roll and new style salmon crispy rice from the sushi bar. We also loved their “Red Bull Cherry Bomb,” which is a Red Bull cocktail with cherry syrup, mint leaves, lemon and blueberries.

Finally, for all sushi lovers out there, One Oak is giving you the chance to win free sushi for a YEAR. To win, you simply need to be creative. All you have to do is take the most creative, attractive and colorful photo of your sushi order at One Oak, post it on Instagram, tagging @1oakeg and using the hashtag #1oakrolling. The most creative sushi photos with the most likes will win free sushi for a year (once a month). That’s 12 free orders of sushi in 2016, so get snapping now!

WE SAID THIS: Check out One Oak on Facebook and Instagram.

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The post One Oak: Egypt’s First Ever Steak and Sushi Bar appeared first on Scoop Empire.

No one should ever complain that we don’t have anywhere to hang out and feed our inner party, tummy, artsy-fartsy animal because the city keeps giving birth to so many venues by the second, every year. The problem is knowing the actual places that are worth getting off the sofa for and actually dragging yourself, which is why we’re here. You’re welcome.

Vapiano – Cairo Festival City

Germany’s very own pizza and pasta experts graced us earlier this year at Cairo Festival City with a *screams Mamma Mia* bang. Yes, the very same place that Kate Moss was caught by the paparazzi eating at, AKA you can now go and do the same exact thing and feel like a motherf****in’ Kate Moss.

Cheers – Maadi

This newly-opened English bar is the brainchild of the country’s Jazz-meister Ahmed Harfoush, deckslayer Amr Hosny and the king of everything design Rafik Bassel. It hasn’t been over a week yet since it has opened, but this place is already on our favorite places to go to in Maadi. From its chilled out vibe to its delicious sangria, amazing karaoke nights, exquisite wine collection and more.

Antique Khana – Zamalek

If Tumblr and Starbucks made a baby, it would be Antique Khana. This place is every hipster’s wet dream. There’s beautiful artsy paintings that most of you will probably not get, music by bands you probably never heard of being played and fabulous coffee that will make you come back for more.

Zigzag – Downtown

From some of the brains behind Vent (may it rests in peace), Zigzag came into our lives and mended that broken bit in our hearts that Vent made when it shut down. This place is perfect for after-parties or after-after-parties, and other things…

One Oak  – 6th of October

Sheikh Zayed have been rolling with some fresh sushi since the start of this year, thanks to One Oak, but thanks to our little Scoopie spies we’ve found out that they’ll be opening in the 5th District’s Point 90 mall very soon! What makes this place amaze-balls is that it doesn’t just serve sushi, IT ALSO SERVES DELISH STEAKS!

So if you ever find yourself with a partner that is not a sushi lover (blasphemy), you don’t have to compromise anymore. You can bring them to One Oak and both have your own thang going on.

Dos Cañas – Garden City

Set atop the place formerly known as CCC (Cairo Capital Club), Dos Cañas is a laid back, open air tapería that makes you feel like you’re in Spain with its food but also in Egypt with its totes Instagrammable view.

Dunkin’ Donuts – New Cairo

Okay, so we’re not gonna lie, we did indeed go OH EM GEE all over the place when we found out that Dunkin’ was coming to Egypt, even more so when went to the opening and had to elbow a stampede of people to get a bite (or ten) of  their glorious donuts. It has been a few months since it opened now and we still go there on most mornings to get donuts and coffee to make us survive our days, and so should y’all. Even if we make fun of anyone who does.

3elbت alwaن – Zamalek

If Sufi Bookstore is so mainstream for you right now, then 3elbet Alwan will do just the trick. Many new hipsterly-awakened people have already invaded the place so might wanna hurry up a little bit before it gets Sufi-ed. Oh, and their tea with milk is a must try.

Loft 21 – Garden City

With sweeping views of the city and a fusion of outdoor living and indoor comforts, Loft 21 bar literally takes Garden City to new heights, well, to the 21st floor to be exact.

Place Des Arts –  Maadi

Maadi so needed a place like this since Bikya shut down last year and it finally got it. Expect everything Bikya did and more, from art exhibitions and classes, to good coffee and more.

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss 15 Things to Do in Egypt 2015

Kurt Galalah

Found in a box of bananas from the Philippines on the River Nile at an early age, Kurt is born to a Filipino mother and an Egyptian father which means emotionally he is completely screwed. Kurt is a bubbling cauldron of masculinity aside from his girly hair, camp voice and passion for One Direction.

The post The 10 Best Cairo Venues that Opened in 2015 appeared first on Scoop Empire.

Get the traditional Christmas experience without lifting a finger – except when dialing Tipsy Teapot’s number. They’re offering catering, cooking up a full stuffed turkey as well as traditional Buche de Noel desserts.

We threw our very own office Christmas party last week and we were just bombarded with absolute deliciousness. From having orange pecan salad and garlic mushroom with pesto for starter, roast turkey served with sweet potato and pan seared brussels sprouts with gravy for main and a triple berry cobbler served with ice cream for dessert. And possibly a few tipsy teapots here and there. All of that and more will cost you 1,000LE and it’s enough to feed a small army of 10 people.

They won’t be just catering this weekend for Christmas, but also for NYE if you’re planning a quiet, civil and cute way to enter 2016 with family and friends, as well as Coptic Christmas on January 7th. Bottom line, Tipsy Teapot have got your back and tummy this holiday season. Reserve by calling them on 01016669907 or 02 23599414.

WE SAID THIS: For more info about Tipsy Teapot, click here.

Kurt Galalah

Found in a box of bananas from the Philippines on the River Nile at an early age, Kurt is born to a Filipino mother and an Egyptian father which means emotionally he is completely screwed. Kurt is a bubbling cauldron of masculinity aside from his girly hair, camp voice and passion for One Direction.

The post Tipsy Teapot: Enjoy the Perfect Christmas Dinner Without Cooking! appeared first on Scoop Empire.

If there’s one cuisine everyone seems to love, it’s Chinese cuisine. Who can turn down some good noodles or sweet and sour anything. Cairo is home to a large number of authentic Chinese restaurants. Here are a few of them:

Joy Luck- Maadi

If you’re from Maadi, there is no other place you eat your sweet and sour chicken from. Although we’ve just discovered lately that their shredded beef and chili game is so strong. BONUS: everything is so cheap!

Zo Asian Restaurant – Tagamo3, Dokki

If you like Chinese noodles, Zo Asian restaurant is the place for you with their 15 types of noodles! Yes, FIF-FREAKIN-TEEN! It doesn’t even matter if you like noodles or not, you’ll definitely find something that you want to nomnomnom on.

Peking – Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed, Tagamo3, Rehab, Nasr City, Maadi, Dokki

By far one of Egypt’s most famous Chinese restaurants, Peking‘s hot pots are to die for, especially their Prawn Kun Pao and their Chicken with Mushrooms and Bamboo.

Zentro- Maadi

Zentro offers food from many Asian countries, but their Chinese food is a must-try. Try their Shanghai Hot and Sour Soup followed by their Shredded Duck with Soy Bean Paste for the ultimate meal.

Genghis Khan- Maadi, Rehab

Genghis Khan are particularly known for the authenticity of their lemon chicken. Give a try if you ever find yourself in Maadi or Rehab City.

Dumpling Restaurant- Maadi

Even a toddler can guess what’s the best thing you can munch on and devour at this eatery if you can’t! Yes, you guessed right! Assuming if what you’ve guessed is steamed dumplings.

ZenZen- Maadi

ZenZen offers a wide range of Asian cuisines such as Thai and Korean food, but their Chinese food definitely stands out the most. Make sure to try their sweet and sour lobster and their Beef with Broccoli and Oyster Sauce.

Dragon House- Maadi

Dragon House’s mouthwatering soups are a must-try for any Chinese food lover. Their spring rolls are also some of the best in Cairo.

Chopsticks – Mohandessin

Chopsticks is one of the most authentic Chinese places in Cairo. Their Bano fish makes for the perfect dinner.

Chinoix- Tagamo3

Chinoix is another high-end Chinese restaurant for when you’re feeling fancy. Their Dim Sum is the best in town.

Lan Yuan – Maadi

No one does duck like Lan Yuan. Make sure to try their Duck in Pepper Sauce.

Noble House – Heliopolis

If you’re feeling fancy, Noble House is the place for you. Their dishes are on the pricier side, but they’re well worth the extra cash. You’re missing out if you haven’t tried their Oyster Beef or their Xin Jian Lamb.

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss The Best Authentic Eats in Cairo

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Alexandria is known for its delicious fish and Instagrammable view, but there’s more than just those two. From Chinese to Greek, Egyptian and more. We give you the best eateries in the pearl of the Mediterranean that you can get your food game on at.

Chez Gaby

One of the oldest restaurants in Egypt, Chez Gaby is known for its calm and cozy atmosphere and incredible food. If you go there you must try their macarona béchamel because it is to die for!

Jars and Jazz

This new place has captured the hearts of Alexandrians because we all know that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and you don’t really need to find the way to a girl’s heart because they’re mostly just mafgou3in. Also, they serve everything in JARS, so YAY!

Brew and Chew

Everyone knows Alban Swisra in Alexandria, well this place implements the same concept but in a more sophisticated way. You should definitely go there because CHEESE!

Sea Gull

We all used to love going to sea gull to play in the awesome playground and ride the pony and camel. Sea Gull has made a great comeback after the tragic fire that took place there, and we are happy to announce that the animals are back!

Déjà Vu

Because it’s okay to want to eat sushi and party at the same time! AND they have a wings and beer night… enough said.

Malek El-Seman

In the months of September and October everyone rushes to Malek El Seman for the best grilled Quails. You can enjoy a good meal while chillin with the grumpiest cats in town!

Jungle

If you want to go somewhere exotic and relatively weird, this is the place to go. You will definitely be surrounded by animals; you might even find a few flamingos wandering around.

Samakmak

To answer your question, no, not the cabaret! Just some old fashioned boring fish with no belly dancers or music to distract you from devouring half the amount of fish in the Mediterranean!

Cecil

If you are bored of all the traditional food, go to Cecil to enjoy good Chinese cuisine, while contemplating the beauty that is Alexandria. If you ignore the traffic, who wouldn’t want to eat to that view?

White and Blue AKA Greek Club

One can never go to Alexandria without passing by Greek Club. It has a variety of foods and hands down, the most amazing view in Alexandria. Even though you’ve

seen the view a billion times before, every time you go there you will probably take a picture of the boats in the sea. While you’re there, you might want to pass by Olive Island as well.

WE SAID THIS: Check out 10 Signs You Were Born and Raised in Alexandria.

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The post 10 Restaurants Everyone Must Eat at in Alexandria appeared first on Scoop Empire.

Who doesn’t love a hot, fried spring roll dipped in sweet spicy sauce? The problem is where to find them. With new Asian restaurants opening up in every corner to restaurants that have them, BUT SHOULDN’T REALLY HAVE THEM (but that’s a problem for another day) and more. We have scoured the city so you don’t have to.

Genghis Khan – Maadi

Located on Maadi’s Road 208, Genghis Khan is run by Chinese people and only Chinese people, so you know they definitely know what’s up. Genghis Khan also have another branch on Maadi’s Road 233 and Rehab City’s market.

Bua Khao – Maadi

This place is literally a hole in the wall. If you didn’t know about it, you would literally just pass it by without knowing that there’s a hidden gem of a Thai restaurant there that serves some nomnomnom spring rolls.

Rooftop Bar – Zamalek

Don’t judge us just yet. We know this place’s only purpose is to have cheap beer and a beautiful view, but believe it or not, their beef spring rolls are actually amazeballs.

Sabai Sabai – Zamalek

Many people go to Sabai Sabai for their amazing red Thai curry, not knowing that they serve one of the country’s best veggie spring rolls. You’ll find this restaurant on El-Gezira El-Wosta street.

Joy Luck – Maadi

We are so grateful that this gem of a place is a walkable distance from our office – Maadi’s Road 233. We’ve pretty much tried every single thing on their menu. so believe us when we say their spring rolls’ game is oh-so strong.

Peking

We genuinely hate how Peking gets a lot of bad reputation because it’s the token “Egyptian Chinese” place. Say what you will, their chicken spring rolls are hands down one of the best things that can enter your mouth.

Pinoy – Maadi

Filipino spring rolls may not be the same as your average spring rolls as they are usually not fried and massive, but oh my, when you pop your Filipino spring rolls cherry, you will know exactly what we mean.

Mori Sushi

Can we take a second to forget about their over-hyped sushi and focus on their shrimp spring rolls that deserve more attention than anything they have at all of their branches? Kthnxbai.

Golden Dragon – Zamalek

Located on Brazil street, this Chinese restaurant may look a little bit dodgy, but in our experience, the more sketchy a Chinese place looks, the better the food is. Make sure to try their beef spring rolls.

Manchow Wok

It saddens us that this restaurant only exists in the food courts of malls (City Stars, Cairo Festival City Mall, Mall of Arabia and Carrefour Maadi) because we seriously need it elsewhere, where it’s easy to go. WE NEED THIS NOW! PLEASE!!!

Gu Bar – Zamalek

There’s alcohol, an Instagrammable Nile view, belly dancers and delicious spring rolls. What more do you need?

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss Top 12 Chinese Restaurants in Cairo

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The post Top 11 Spring Rolls Places in Cairo appeared first on Scoop Empire.

There are a few things Egyptians are famous for: the Pyramids, Fifi Abdou and FOOD. It’s no secret that Egyptians absolutely adore food and that why there’s no shortage of new restaurants opening up every single day in Cairo. With so many restaurants, though, they all start to look and feel the same and they start to blend in together and it’s hard for one restaurant to stand out among others, but that’s exactly what Kazlak decided to do.

Located in The Courtyard in Maadi, Kazlak just opened less than two months ago with a goal of trying to stay authentic to its Egyptian roots and to break out of the plastic restaurants image we’ve gotten used to. So instead of having all the restaurant décor and utensils bought from IKEA like a lot of restaurants we know, the people of Kazlak actually went all around Cairo to have all the plates, utensils and everything you find in the restaurant handmade and custom-made by local Egyptian workers especially for Kazlak.

There’s no one bowl or plate that looks like the other and instead of serving plastic water bottles, Kazlak tries to go green by serving water and all of their beverages in their very own custom-made water jars and glasses. They also make their very own sparkling water to use in their different drinks.

Kazlak offers a variety of items on the menu from pizza to ribs, duck to fish and even lobster with all of their ingredients being local and fresh except for the chocolates and a very few ingredients which are imported.

To start off your meal, Kazlak offers a few soup options like the “Onion and Cheese Soup” and the “Watercress and Smoked Salmon Soup”. It also offers a number of salads and starters to prepare you for the main course with the “Beef Potato Espuma” standing out, which is a potato mousse over beef and caramelized onions creating a unique texture that you’re going to absolutely love. They also have smoked chicken wings with garlic dip that are absolutely mouthwatering.

For the main dish, Kazlak offers a wide range between pizza, steak, burgers, chicken, fish and even duck. Standing out among the many options is the “Spicy Chorizo Pizza,” which is topped with hot tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, chorizo sausage, beef bacon, roasted garlic and oregano and made in an old traditional pizza oven.

Their “Smoked Short Ribs” are also to die for: slow smoked short ribs with mashed potatoes and caramelized onions and served with a mini salad.

Their “Duck 2 Way” — pan-seared duck breast glazed with ginger sweet sauce and confit duck leg with a side of lemon roasted gnocchi — will make your tastebuds explode.

Also, for all of the fancy people out there, Kazlak offers “Brown Butter Lobster”: 400-700 gm of fresh red sea lobster poached in brown butter and lemon served with pasta linguini tossed with olives, sundried tomatoes and bisque sauce.

To finish off your meal, Kazlak offers desserts, our favorites being the “Crème Brûlée” served on an Italian biscuit and the “Hot Chocolate Mousse” with homemade vanilla ice cream that just melts in your mouth.

To wash down your meal, they have many options of cold and hot beverages, sparkling beverages, smoothies, fresh juice, yogurt drinks and cocktails.

Kazlak is a must-visit, with its friendly staff and its finger-licking dishes. It’s definitely one of our new favorite places in Maadi that we’ll be going back to over and over again and we highly recommend that you do the same!

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss The Best 11 Burgers of 2015 in Cairo.

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Some days, you don’t necessarily want to believe in humanity, but then people do stuff like The Taste of Maadi and you just can’t help but believe in it. The latest charity event from Maadi’s top restaurants has them all joining forces to create a progressive dinner to help African children in Egypt on Jan. 23. For those of you who don’t know what a progressive dinner is, it’s a social occasion at which the different courses of a meal are eaten at different people’s houses, or in this case, restaurants.

“We are just trying to raise enough money to give those teachers a 100LE monthly raise,” says Amy Wideler, one of The Taste of Maadi’s organizers. She explained that the teachers working in the African Hope Learning Center live on less than a 1,000 LE a month, which leads them to quit the second they are offered a job that offers slightly more money.

The purpose of this charity event is not only to raise money, but also to direct people’s attention towards the school. The African Hope Learning Center hosts more than 500 students from all over Africa; most of them have escaped civil war and related problems in their countries and have lost at least one parent and other family members.

The progressive dinner is set to begin in Tipsy Teapot and work its way through five different restaurants: Vittorio’s, Al-Dayaa, Little Swiss and Villa Belle Epoque. As it is a relatively small charity event, they will be moving in two groups of 20 people in coach busses. With that being said, you will be able to enjoy a good meal, meet new people, try FIVE of the hottest restaurants in Maadi that are all different but amazing in their own way and, most importantly, help the children keep their beloved teachers.

WE SAID THIS: Get your tickets by clicking here before it’s too late. 

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On Sunday, December 10, Maadi witnessed the opening of a new ice cream shop on Road 9 — Gelateria Sociale, funded by Waqfeyat Al Maadi Community Foundation.

What is so special about this store, other than its incredible ice cream, is the fact that they built it around a tree. There is literally a tree passing through the shop.

The shop’s motto is “Ice cream for all,” which isn’t surprising since Waqfeyat Al Maadi funds it — an NGO that is known for its charity work. The aim of this foundation is to reduce the social gap between the rich and the poor in Maadi.

Gelateria Sociale will give you rare chance to enjoy a taste of equality in this world. Everyone is loved and respected there, even the tree!

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss The Taste of Maadi: Top Restaurants Join Forces to Help Local School.

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Ahmed and Noha are the couple that was cool enough to break the stereotype and go sell batata in the street. Noha shared her story on Facebook on Friday and we couln’t help but be fascinated by the idea.

The couple sells batata smothered in Nutella because who doesn’t love batata and who doesn’t love Nutella. They travel around Cairo selling this batata that we are dying to try with the aim of raising money for their upcoming wedding.

Noha explains that her fiancé’s field is dying in Egypt, as he works in tourism. Let’s not get sucked into the tourism hole right now! *sobs* Yet they did not just sit there and sob like we just did, they got creative and introduced the street food concept in Egypt. Yes we know, there are 3arabeyat foul w kebda but this is BA.TA.TA *Minions voice* and Nutella!

They have already been noticed by the media and have done many interviews in a noticeably short period of time.

Ahmed and Noha, you rock and we hope you have a wonderful life!

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss Hipster Freska Guy Came to Our Office and Here’s What You Need to Know.

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There has never been a better time to be a coffee drinker in Cairo (no, decaf, just stop) thanks to an influx of fabulous caffeine-eries armed with beans serving up your not-so-average cup of joe. We’re not talking about Starbucks (even though we swear by their Pumpkin Spice Latte), but coffee shops that use high-quality, roasted beans to make your pour overs, cold brews and cappuccinos.

These spots also serve as a great space for you to hang out, grab a quick one to go and get pastries and breakfast goods that will keep you sated until your next coffee fix. We give you our favorite places, and as always, let us know yours in the comments.

Place Des Arts – Maadi

Place Des Arts is not your typical coffee house as it’s also an art center where they provide artistic, cultural and educational workshops. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone. Excuse us while we drink coffee and be Picasso at the same time.

Kafein – Downtown

Hipsters flock there like birds when they migrate, except they never leave. Their vanilla lattes are a must.

El-7ara – Zamalek

Whether you go there during the morning, afternoon or night, El-7ara is always gonna be crowded, obviously for their amazing black coffee and shisha.

Greco – Maadi

EVERYTHING IS FABULOUS AT GRECO! EVERYTHING WE TELL YOU! IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU GET, IT WILL BE GLORIOUS AND WILL TASTE LIKE THE BEST THING YOU HAVE EVER TASTED!

Qahwa – 6th of October

If you live in 6th of October, Qahwa is your best chance to have some goddamn good coffee. They also do things like this where they give you free coffee in exchange of you promising them to hug your mother, smile to a stranger or some other adorbz things.

Kotob Khan – Maadi

There are books. Lots of them. Two stories. Loads of space. What more do you want? Get their Americano and thank us later.

Costa – Everywhere

Yes, we get it! Why is Costa on this damn list. Well, believe it or not, their cinnamon lattes are the whiz! They also deliver so you don’t need to go there to get yo damn coffee!

Cilantro – Everywhere

Again, Cilantro is here for a reason! We would climb mountains and cross borders for their latte frappe.

Coffee Corner – Maadi

They will always be there for you as it’s 24/7. Go for their cappuccinos. Enough said!

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss The 10 Best Cairo Venues That Opened in 2015.

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What is brunch other than code for “celebrating yo goddamn life,” right? It’s the weekend, and you have all day to drink with no regrets, catch up with your favorite people and gossip about the basic biznatches from work. At brunch, life is beautiful. *cough* That is, until someone has one too many mimosas and gets white girl wasted — GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER CAROL!!! *cough*

The one problem with boozy brunches is that they could get a little bit pricey. We here at Scoop Empire know how y’all feel and are here to the rescue. It don’t matter if you’re a broke recent college grad, everyone deserves a fabulous Friday morning/afternoon brunch – and a drink or ten – for a reasonable price. We scoured the web to bring you the best places to get your drink on with your squad while brunching.

Garden Promenade Cafe – Zamalek

Credit: @cairomarriott

You and your friends will get to feel like mothafreakin’ royalty upon entering the Garden at the Cairo Marriott Hotel. Their bloody maries are to die for and will help you get into that “lezz get drunk” mood.

Citrus – Haram

Credit: @kurtgalalah

The view looks so Photoshopped that you will think you got drunk really fast (which you probably will do) BUT THE VIEW AT THIS BAR AT MERIDIEN PYRAMIDS HOTEL IS ACTUALLY REAL! They also make a mean mimosa!

Villa Belle Epoque – Maadi 

Credit: @mohabr

This hidden gem in Maadi may not have alcohol, but the corkage is free and they can fix you up whatever drink you want with their excellent staff. Basically, all you have to do is just bring the booze and leave the rest to them.

Le Deck by Laurent Peugeot – Zamalek

Credit: @sofitelcairoeg

Located at the Sofitel Gezirah Hotel, Le Deck is the ultimate place for anniversaries, monthaversaries, hell even, weekaversaries, if that’s your thing. So when you go there for brunch, you’ll know for damn sure that you’re gonna have a great freakin’ time. *downs all them mimosas*

Loft 21 – Garden City

Credit: @illofteg

The city’s newest go-to spot has just started doing brunch every Saturday and we couldn’t be more happier. Sip on a bloody mary while snackin’ on some delicious nibbles and feasting your eyes on an Instagrammable view of Cairo. *preach emoji*

Beetroot – Zamalek

Credit: @beetrooteg

Gone are the days of The Lemon Tree & Co, but some wise person once said: “When one door shuts, a Beetroot freaking opens.” And it does. Beetroot is the newest concept from The Lemon Tree crew that is actually located at the same spot as old The Lemon Tree. With their team of professional bartenders, you will be able to get every damn cocktail under the sun, with even little, itsy, bitsy umbrellas in them.

Gigi Burger Bar – 6th of October

@gigiburgercairo

We didn’t forget about you October people, just because you live at the end of the world it doesn’t mean you don’t get to brunch like the rest of us. Arkan Plaza’s Gigi Burger Bar doesn’t particularly sound like the best place to brunch at, but think of this, it’s a burger place and it’s also a FREAKIN’ BAR! Oh, and their brunch menu is superbly nomnomnom.

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss The Best Brunch Spots in Cairo.

Kurt Galalah

Found in a box of bananas from the Philippines on the River Nile at an early age, Kurt is born to a Filipino mother and an Egyptian father which means emotionally he is completely screwed. Kurt is a bubbling cauldron of masculinity aside from his girly hair, camp voice and passion for One Direction.

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We all love chocolate so much it hurts to even think of a world that does not include chocolate. We wouldn’t mind going out of our way just to get a little taste of the closest thing we have that resembles heaven. We tried to overcome our pain and imagine a world without chocolate. It was hard — very hard, but we attempted to do it!

1. We might actually be able to lose weight

2. We will never be able to look like that, but let’s face it, we will never look like that either way!

3. There will be nothing to get excited about

4. There will be nothing but sadness because we would always be neutral because nothing can compete with chocolate

5. We would be so stressed out that we will flee our planet and go look for chocolate somewhere else

6. Just like Gwen Stefani taught us how to spell “b-a-n-a-n-a”, chocolate taught us how to behave, and without it we’d be animals!

7. The only time we look like this is when we dream of chocolate. We will have to kiss this *adorable* sleepy look goodbye

8. We would be as confused as Taylor Swift’s love life because chocolate is the only thing that keeps us balanced and focused

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss How to Eat Nutella Like a Pro.

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We all love to brunch, but now there’s a new movement in town that aims to elevate our favorite meal to another level. Brunch 4 A Cause will be throwing delicious monthly meals with all proceeds going to charity.

“We selected Madaya in Syria as our first cause. But we do not take a political stance in who our aid goes to, we are a group of humanitarians who see human suffering as the issue, and aim to share our part in the alleviation of human suffering regardless of political affiliation,” says Mariam Abboud of Brunch 4 A Cause with a sad yet happy face.

“Since last October, which was the last shipment of aid we sent before the blockade, 35 people had starved to death in Madaya, others had to resort to eating leaves, dogs and cats for nutrition to survive. In order to make sure the aid makes its way to Madaya, we have selected the Syrian Arab Red Crescent as our charity of choice. We took careful consideration in the selection of the receiving charity, as we want to insure transparency and delivery with the money we ask our guests to pay,” Abboud reassures us about the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

Their first-ever brunch for a cause is launching this Saturday, Jan. 30 at The Bear in Palm Hills with the help of chefs brought in from The Cookery Co. to make sure your brunch game is strong. Also coming from the land of Fayrouz is Lebanese DJ Hadi Sabaa with his unique brand of Nu Disco. And, last but not least, the corkage is going to be free in case you want to get a bottle *cough* or two *cough* with you.

Call 01001615000 or 01229401158 for table bookings (lounges are already sold out). Meanwhile, tickets for 400 EGP will be sold at the door.

WE SAID THIS: Check out Brunch 4 A Cause on Facebook here.

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While we all love those oh so delicious items on the fast food chain menus in Egypt, there are many more mind-blowing items around the world that we just wish we could try. Here are ten exotic fast food items that we wish they would add to the Egyptian menus!

1. BBQ Rodeo from Burger King (New Zealand)

A flame-grilled beef patty topped with a simple layer of melted cheese, crispy golden onion rings and smoky, smoky BBQ sauce. All on a toasted sesame seed bun.

2. Nugget Burger from Burger King

A delicious sandwich with crispy 100% chicken breast nuggets, with crunchy lettuce and mayo in a sesame seed bun.

3. El Mexicano Chicken Nachos from Pizza Hut (India)

Cheesy jalapeno sauce with corn, onion, tomato, jalapenos, red paprika and chicken keema topped with nachos!

4. Gracoro Burger from McDonalds (Japan)

Tis weird creation is made up of a breadcrumb-crusted patty made out of macaroni, shrimp and a creamy white sauce!

5. Kuro Pearl Burger from Burger King Japan

Comes with black cheese (dyed with bamboo charcoal) and a black bun. You’ll also find squid ink in the onion-garlic sauce.

6. Zinger Double Down from KFC Korea

This includes a beef patty topped with bacon and barbecue and white pepper sauces sandwiched between two fried chicken fillets.

7. EBI Filet-O from McDonalds Japan

If this item was in Egypt it would be called a Fillet O-Shrimp.

8. Chicken McDo with Spaghetti from McDonalds Philippines

Because who doesn’t love friend chicken and spaghetti topped with some marinara sauce.

9. McLobster from McDonalds Canada

We don’t even need to explain this one!

10. Flaming Hot Doritos Quarter Pounder from McDonalds Mexico

This very special quarter pounder is made with flaming hot Doritos and guacamole!

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss The 11 Best Burgers of 2015 in Cairo.

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Who can’t resist a good curry or butter masala? We sure know we can’t. If you’re in the mood for Indian food, there’s a large number of restaurants right here in Cairo that have you covered. Here are a few of them:

Maharaja (Ramses Hilton)

With their flavorful meals and outstanding service, Maharaja at the Ramses Hilton is consistently top-rated. Their vegetarian dishes are a must-try.

Maharaja (Maadi, Mohandeseen, Rehab)

Maharaja is by far one of Cairo’s most authentic Indian eats. Make sure to try their Rara Gosht as well as their Shami Kebab.

Indira (Heliopolis)

If you’re feeling fancy and craving Indian food, Indira is the place for you. They have some of the best soups in town and their Navratan Korma is to die for.

Begum (Maadi)

Nothing beats Begum’s Paneer Pakora or their Chicken Butter Masala. Either way, all of their food is mouth-wateringly good.

Raj (Heliopolis)

Another high-end Indian restaurant to try is Raj in Heliopolis. Their naan is always freshly baked. YUM.

Nawab (Zamalek)

Nawab has some of the best Indian desserts in town. Make sure to try their Rabri or their Gulab Jamun.

Maharani (Zamalek)

Maharani at le Pacha has some of the best Biryanis in town. Their curry is also worth trying.

Raoucha & Kandahar

Raoucha & Kandahar have some of the best lamb in the city. Make sure to try their Ras Malai.

Nile Bukhara (Maadi)

Nile Bukara are one of the best Indian restaurants around. Their tandoori is as authentic as can be and they have an endless variety of curry.

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss The 12 Best Chinese Restaurants in Cairo.

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