Egyptian Food Festival, Kochi

"Khan el Khalili" – The Egyptian Food Festival!

@ Travancore, Trident Hotel, Willingdon Island, Kochi

By - Lt Col (Retd) D Purushothaman Pillay

Chef Ibrahem Ismail Mustafa, from the exclusive, white sand luxury beach resort on the Red Sea Coast, The Oberoi, Sahl Hasheesh, Egypt, has come down to India, and would be at Trident Hotel, Cochin for a fortnight. He is the guest Masterchef, for the "Khan el Khalili" - Egyptian Food Festival being hosted at the Travancore restaurant in the hotel. This wonderful festival goes on for another week, until the 10th of March.

The festival is presented as a comprehensive theme-buffet for both lunch and dinner. The whole restaurant has literally taken an Egyptian face. The Tutankhamun bust stares out from literally every glass pane on the various French windows that make the perimeter of the restaurant. He is also present on every table as a miniature cutout nestled in the table centerpiece, as if personally presiding over the meal. Queen Nefertari, wife of Pharaoh Ramses II, welcomes one and all, perched atop the faux-stone arch entry to the restaurant. On entering, one is greeted by the smart waiting staff who are also dressed for the occasion, in their Red Tailed-Cummerbunds, Black Embroidered Waistcoats, topped off in a typical Scarlet Fez. 

The buffet island is dominated by a huge Pyramid right in the centre. So much so, that the existing urns that embellish the environment, blends in with the theme, to create the aura of the historic civilization. Thoughtfully the aural stimulus is also catered for, as one catches haunting strains of the eternal melodies of the greatest female singer in Arabic music history, The Star of The East - Umm Kulthum, among other Egyptian tunes, which enhances the mood of the experience. To round off this food adventure, the adjoining courtyard wears a festive-look with fluorescent satin canopied desert tents, which host the Hookah Bar, where one can relax with friends, dragging at the Shisha savoring the various flavors of tobacco on offer.

Teaming up with Chef Ibrahem is the local Executive Chef Eeshaan Kashyap, and together they have conjured up an absolutely delicious and representative menu, that showcased Egyptian cuisine at its best. We started with the Fattoush Bread Salad and Salata Baladi a selection of cubed vegetables rich in leafy greens. My favorite however was the miniature green stuffed vine leaf wraps called Dolma. There was an assortment of dips like Sesame-Tahina, White Chickpea-Hummus, Aubergine-Baba Ghanoush and a delectable Garlic flavored Yogurt to complement the food.

This Middle Eastern cuisine is quite spice-intense and favors the abundant use of Red Cherry Peppers, Chickpea, and hand-picked spices like Dukkah, Allspice, Aniseed, Sumac, Paprika, Caraway Seeds, Cumin, Cardamom and of course Za'atar for the meats.

The baked breads included the thick glutinous pita bread called Aeish Masri, the white pita bread Aeish Shami and wheat based Aeish Baladi. There was also Roz bil Shagria a type of flavored rice with vermicelli. They were the perfect accompaniments, for the selection of succulent beef in gravy, soft curried chicken and the white sea-fish stew - Tagin Samak, which we all relished the most.

The desserts included the perennial favorites, Kunafa - sweet vermicelli burfis, Basbousa - sweet semolina, Kahk - stuffed date biscuits, Sheikalama - coconut-almond cookie, Roz be Laban - rice pudding and Umm Ali, the national dish of Egypt, a type of raisin cake soaked in milk, served hot.

This was one food journey, that ensured that all the five senses were taken over, by the Pharaohnic mystique of the Land of the Nile!

This sumptuous buffet experience costs only, a paltry all inclusive Rs 799/- Mind you this includes a complimentary beer/soft drink/juice and Shisha. What is anyone waiting for?

Trident Hotel, Cochin

Executive Chef Eeshaan Kashyap: Mob 89433 83132
Phone: 0484-3081000

Website: 
www.tridenthotels.com

The Oberoi, Sahl Hasheesh, Egypt: 
http://www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_sahlhasheesh/index.asp