Injy El-Kashef refuses to listen Having heard that Il Piccolo Mondo is one of the rare Italian restaurants in Cairo offering genuine Tiramisu, or as close a version of it as one is likely to find, I decided to take my visiting Parisian friend there for a meal. He had, again, raised the Felfela issue when we spoke of lunch -- this time I limited my reaction to a mere dirty look, pulled him by the sleeve and, mumbling a few unmentionable words, drove off to Le Pacha boat where my Tiramisu was waiting. Also waiting were a few of my wonderful friends who, upon our arrival, found themselves engaging in more French politics than they ever wished for themselves. This was a well-earned break for me (who'd been forced to discuss French legislative elections even as I was being dragged through Khan Al-Khalili streets) and one which allowed me a few quiet moments to study the surroundings. Il Piccolo Mondo is decorated to resemble a small Italian village plaza, with little windows, balconies, a small drinking fountain and street names -- and flowers everywhere one looks. Our table was situated right opposite the window, closely overlooking the Nile which seemed to flow right under our feet. The extremely friendly waiters took our orders and soon enough we were indulging in some seriously delicious dishes. My friend and I shared a rocket-based salad with mushrooms and Parmesan cheese for starters. The dressing was wonderful and the green was extremely fresh but the mushrooms were so thinly sliced that their taste was entirely lost. A great compensation for that were the bread slices that one could dip in tiny bowls of olive oil with balsamic vinegar along with the salad. The main courses, on the other hand, were faultless. His grilled chicken and vegetables were wholesome and pleasant, and fulfilled his desire for a healthy, tasty, filling meal. The chicken was grilled enough to boast an inviting, brown top layer covering moist and well-seasoned fleshy bits. As for my chicken fillet with mushroom and cream sauce and mashed potatoes (once a sinner, always a sinner), it was no less than perfect. The sauce was actually prepared of fresh cream and puréed mushrooms, contained mushroom chunks and completely covered the tender chicken strips. The mashed potatoes were creamy and thick, well seasoned and integrated so wonderfully with the sauce that I did not want my plate to finish. The plate did finish, however, and that was a blessing in disguise. My meal was actually heavy, I must admit, delicious as it was, and that brought about a sad realisation: there was no room left anywhere in my body for the Tiramisu. The only dessert I could swallow were some complimentary creme-sandwiched cookies presented with our coffees, which Il Piccolo Mondo insisted on offering free of charge for the mere fact that one amongst us had not finished her plate. My friend and I paid LE160 for our meal, plus a beer and a juice, and trotted off to more politic-ridden walks down the city streets. Il Piccolo Mondo, Le Pacha 1901 boat, Nile Corniche, Zamalek Tel 735 6730
