In a country that used to scoff at the idea of eating raw fish, the number of sushi addicts is growing faster than the number of outlets that can satisfy their cravings. Over the past year, Mori Sushi has become a favorite, and last week celebrated the opening of their Heliopolis branch on El Oruba Street. The new restaurant seats 20 inside the high-end clothing boutique Ego, and an additional 32 guests on a cozy outdoor patio. The opening event created a posh atmosphere of expressive sashimi and rolls made plentiful to a young crowd surrounded by pricey handbags and shoes (some on the store racks and some on the guests). When asked how much sushi was passed around that night, a very busy Tamer El-Leithy couldn't keep count: The free sushi night was quite popular, to say the least. Owners Hossam Fahmy, El-Leithy and their 24-year-old partner and Head Chef Wael Abdel Rahman are dominating the Egyptian sushi dining experience. By the end of the year they hope to have six branches between here and Alexandria. Heliopolis makes four. Years after New York City and LA's saturation of fusion sushi spots, sushi diets and dollar sashimi nights took root, the Japanese cuisine trend is still flourishing around the world. "We haven't advertised. Not once, El-Leithy told Daily News Egypt; and parties like Friday's launch make sure Cairo's trendsetters are well acquainted with the restaurant. After dropping LE 5,000 on a handbag from Ego, what's another LE 150 for a healthy and visually stimulating lunch? Despite its popularity, sushi is still a pricey dining option by Cairo standards. It's also quite dry by the time it's served, at least compared to the way it tastes in other countries. "Every time you freeze and defrost fish it loses flavor, El-Leithy said, defending the quality of his product. High-quality, freshly frozen fish is flown into Mori's central kitchen every few days for a one-time defrosting and vacuum pack. From there, it is distributed to Mori branches according their needs, reported by a daily fax. Young Head Chef Abdel Rahman creates colorful, tasty presentations easy for every diner to appreciate. Since the age of 14, Abdel Rahman has been dedicated to oriental cuisine and has been trained in Japan and France. "He's Japanese at heart, El-Leithy said. The delectable sushi on offer is some of the best in town, coupled with atmosphere and the friendly staff, Mori Sushi has surely found a formula for success.
