Egypt showcases ambition, heritage at National Day Celebration in Expo Osaka    EGP inches lower against USD at Wednesday's close    Remittances from Egyptians abroad surge 70% YoY in July–May: CBE    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    World Bank proposes Egypt join new global health initiative    Egypt, India discuss expanding industrial, investment partnerships    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Famine kills more Gaza children as Israel tightens siege amid global outrage    Kuwait's Crown Prince, Egyptian minister discuss strengthening cooperation    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Egypt's FM seeks deeper economic, security ties on five-nation West Africa tour    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, Uruguay eager to expand trade across key sectors    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



A real Chinese restaurant in Cairo
Published in Daily News Egypt on 19 - 07 - 2012

On a dark side-street in Islamic Cairo, a white sign with bright red Chinese characters beckons patrons into one of Cairo's most authentic East Asian restaurants. The restaurant is over-lit and the walls are washed in white. But hanging Chinese decorations, the smell of steamed vegetables, and happily conversing clientele make the restaurant instantly comfortable.
One table consisted of a group of young Chinese men in Adidas, at another sat two Chinese businessmen with their suit jackets slung around the backs of the chair, and three Chinese students from Al-Azhar University shared a table and a meal. The restaurant belongs to an ethnic group from China's far northwest called the Uyghur people.
The restaurant is near Al-Azhar because the Uyghurs are the second largest population of Chinese Muslims. For years young religious Uyghur students have come to study at the Islamic university. “The country that we today know as China did not always include the eastern parts of Central Asia," clarified Uyghur expert Arienne Dwyer.
“China succeeded in colonising these eastern parts for good in the 17th century; these areas (now known as Xinjiang) hosted Indo-European and Central Eurasian peoples and a huge succession of religions, including animism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaenism, Nestorian Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Daoism and Islam. The oases of the Tarim Basin (now called southern Xinjiang) became largely Muslim between the 10th and 14th centuries." Professor Dwyer added that the “Uyghurs feel that their culture (including language, food, and daily practices including religious practices) is under strong threat of being assimilated to more dominant cultures."
Those in Cairo were making few sacrifices with their slice of life near Al-Azhar. Just as the sign did not bother to offer an Arabic translation, neither did the menu. But that is not to say the owners are not thoughtful. They took photo albums and filled them with pictures of every dish, so the linguistically challenged patron can still point to what they would like to eat.
The food is prepared two storefronts away and bussed over by a sweating boy who had to carefully balance every dish so as not to spill the sauce that was filled to the brim. The waitress was patient and sweet and wore a phenomenal outfit held together with a bum-bag and a see-through, glitter hijab.
The food was good, if not great. The best were the dumplings, served 25 to a plate and filled with beef and garnish inside a gooey shell. The deep fried tofu also impressed. The chicken had a lot of bones to navigate and the eggplant's appearance was questionable, but if you are not adventurous, then Cairo's very own Uyghur restaurant probably is not for you to begin with.


Clic here to read the story from its source.