THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN SUPPORTING THE WOMEN OF EGYPT!
We hope meeting the inspiring women on our tour has been truly eye-opening. To complete your adventure, here's a list of all the incredible places we've visited together.
Your support has made a meaningful difference in our local community.
If you'd like to further support these amazing women, feel free to leave them a review on Google Maps or TripAdvisor—it makes a big difference!
STOP 1 - Oum El Dounia
Oum El Dounia, a nickname for Egypt that means “the mother of the world,” was the perfect name for this gallery with all of what it offers from craftsmanship from all around Egypt. In 2004, Sylvia Said, with other French partners, opened the Oum El Dounia gallery in Downtown Cairo, overlooking Tahrir Square. The gallery first opened with a dedicated selection of French literature alongside French translations of Egyptian literary works. Over the years, it expanded its offerings to have various rooms dedicated to different Egyptian crafts, from textiles to blown glass art, wooden pieces, and many other traditional Egyptian crafts.
Today, the gallery collaborates with hundreds of artisans from across Egypt, including individual craftsmen, and women's communities, providing them a platform to showcase their skills and preserve cultural traditions. Notably, Oum El Dounia's bookstore is the first in Egypt to be approved as a "Francophone reference bookstore" by the French Centre National du Livre in Paris.
REVIEWS HELP US GROW, We’d love to read yours!
Stop 2 - Om Hagar
Moussaka SANDWICH
Om Hagar’s humble eatery tucked away in a narrow alley in Downtown Cairo, where the aroma of her cooking fills the air and her spirit lights up the neighborhood. Despite a life of hardship, she found strength with her husband’s support to provide her daughters with the best education she could afford. With a heart as generous as her cooking, Om Hagar regularly prepares large amounts of food to distribute to those in need, even though her resources are limited she is a true philanthropist.
Egyptian moussaka sandwiches are a street food delight that combines rich flavors in a handheld treat. Unlike the baked Greek version, Egyptian moussaka features eggplant slices simmered with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and garlic, seasoned with aromatic spices. The mixture is then spooned into freshly baked Egyptian bread, where the juices soak into the soft interior, adding extra flavor. Often enjoyed as a quick bite in Cairo’s bustling streets, these sandwiches offer a savory, slightly spicy taste of Egyptian home-cooking, showcasing how humble ingredients can come together in layers of deliciousness.
STOP 3 - Fish & Chips
MIXED SALAD PLATTER
When eating fish, a side dish of salad is essential. This platter consists of various types of Egyptian salads:
Baladi Salad: The standard local salad consisting of tomatoes, cucumber, onions, parsley, and cilantro.
Tomato Salad: With a special mustardy dressing.
Beetroot Salad: Consists of boiled beetroots topped with lemon, vinegar, and olive oil dressing.
Baba Ghanoug: A creamy eggplant dip that packs a smoky flavor and lots of texture.
Eggplant Salad: This consists of fried eggplants topped with a mixture of white vinegar, minced garlic, and some parsley.
Tahina Sauce: A staple dip in Egyptian cuisine, made of tahina paste, lemon juice, white vinegar, garlic, salt, and water, whisked together until a smooth sauce is created.
Fish & Chips Special Sauce: The restaurant’s secret sauce.
GRILLED FISH FILLET STUFFED WITH SHRIMP
Egypt offers a diverse variety of fish thanks to its abundant sources from the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, and, of course, the Nile River. This makes fish an important part of many Egyptians' diets. This specific dish is prepared using a fillet of Greasy Grouper, also known as Arabian Grouper, a Mediterranean type of fish. The fillet is stuffed with shrimp and cooked using Randa’s secret recipe.
Molokhya
Molokhya is a beloved traditional dish known for its distinctive texture and earthy flavor. Made from finely chopped molokhya leaves (also known as jute leaves), the dish is cooked into a thick, vibrant green soup flavored with garlic and coriander. While often served with rice and paired with chicken or rabbit, molokhya can also be made with shrimp, like we tried on the tour, adding a delicious coastal twist to the dish. With roots dating back to ancient Egypt, molokhya is a staple in Egyptian households, where each family has its own version of the dish.
stop 4 (changEable)- Annie’s Kitchen
Since this is a home visit location cannot be disclosed for the residents' privacy.
(Please note that as with any home visit dishes might vary from one visit to another depending on what the hostess can prepare and the available ingredients she has. However, sausages will always be a staple dish.)
Annie's story is one of passion, resilience, and creativity. She fled Lebanon due to war and found a new home in Egypt, where she married and started a family. Annie's true love for cooking began while volunteering to prepare food for parties at the Armenian club in Heliopolis. What started as a hobby later turned into a business, as she began taking orders and selling her dishes to local shops. Annie always sought to innovate, mastering traditional Armenian sausages and later pastrami. Despite challenges, she continued to share her creations and bring joy to others through her food. Annie's journey highlights her dedication to constantly learning and experimenting in the kitchen, driven by her deep-seated love for cooking and hosting.
At Annie’s, we delve into Armenian cuisine, featuring a variety of sausages known for their unique taste. Armenian sausages are dried beef meat mixed with authentic Armenian spices. This type of dried sausage is typically sliced and cooked with eggs or pizza, and sometimes it can be cooked with pasta as well.
stop 5 - Diwan Bookstore
Please note that since the carrot cake comes from the city of Fayoum, the choice of cake might change to either lemon cake or cookies when unavailable.
Straight from Fayoum City, this carrot cake is infused with a rich cinnamon flavor and topped with soft cream cheese frosting, finished elegantly with a hint of orange peel. Paired perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea of your choice is an amazing way to wrap up this delightful food tour.
Diwan is not just a regular bookstore that happens to be a café, but rather the first of its kind in Egypt. In 2002, Diwan was founded by the Wassef sisters, Hind and Nadia, and their friends Nihal Shawky and Ziad Bahaa El Din. Many people told them that their store was doomed to failure in a country where such bookstores were rare, reading wasn’t prioritized, and an economic situation that made it difficult to even have a budget for books. Despite these challenges, the founders opened their first flagship store in Zamalek, offering English, Arabic, French, and German books. Their efforts have significantly influenced Egypt’s literary landscape, encouraging more Egyptians to value reading and books. The success of Diwan has led to the rapid expansion of their chain and inspired the opening of numerous branches throughout Cairo.
STOP 6 - Markaz
Markaz, which means “centre” in Arabic, serves as a vibrant hub where Egypt’s rich cultural narratives and diverse traditions come together. When looking for some of the best traditional Egyptian crafts in town, Markaz is a fantastic option. It is dedicated to helping preserve Egypt’s artisanal heritage all across the country by spotlighting traditional crafts and empowering local artisans. Still, it also infuses these traditional crafts into the contemporary lifestyle and home products. Each piece tells a story of cultural identity and contributes to the revitalization of Egypt’s heritage.
Other branches:
STOP 7 - Almah
Almah, inspired by the Arabic word “water” was founded in 2020. It emerged from the vision of Manal Saleh, CEO of The Egyptian Clothing Bank. After she graduated from the faculty of Engineering, Manal decided to be a stay-at-home mom and focus on her family until 2017 when she took on the challenge of transforming the organization when she joined. Her fresh perspective redefined how donations were managed, leading to a streamlined process that better addressed the needs of diverse recipients.
During this journey to categorize donations, she realized that many unique items were being overlooked, such as wedding dresses, pieces with unique patterns or fabric, and sportswear. This led to the creation of Almah, which now acts as a platform for selling these special pieces. The profits generated help purchase essential items not commonly donated, such as underwear and region-specific traditional clothing. Through Almah, Manal champions recycling and sustainability, hoping to inspire a broader movement that supports local brands and revitalizes Egypt’s economy.
stop 8 - up-fuse
Up-Fuse is one of the most popular brands in Egypt for upcycling and promoting conscious consumption. If you're interested in owning creative pieces made from plastic bags, tires, and other types of waste, Up-Fuse is a fantastic option.
The brand was co-founded in 2015 by Yara Yassin and Rania Rafie, both Product Design graduates. They have won several awards, including a $50,000 prize in the 2017 WeMENA Challenge, a business competition by the World Bank and YouNoodle. Yara was recognized by UN Environment as one of 10 young women worldwide contributing to a greener future, while Rania was awarded “Business Woman of Egypt 2017” by the Association of Business Women of Egypt. Together, they have grown Up-Fuse into a successful business, supporting over 80 artisanal women from Cairo’s garbage city, raising environmental awareness, and proving that resilient ideas can become profitable businesses.
Other branches:
stop 9 - Bulga
A bulga is a type of traditional Egyptian shoe that Gigi and Mona, the founders of Bulga, aimed to revive when they saw that this sector of traditional shoe workshops was declining. These shoes are crafted using age-old techniques to create vibrant, modern slippers and shoes that honour Egyptian heritage. Distinguished by their distinctive embroidery and sturdy construction, bulga shoes reflect a rich cultural history.
Gigi and Mona are committed to reviving this craft by utilizing the oldest shoe-making techniques to produce modern designs that retain the spirit of Egyptian heritage while ensuring practicality and functionality for everyday use.
