For many years, Egyptians were unimpressed by Japanese food. But now they have changed their eating habits and are happy to eat sushi, the famous Japanese dish, which has, to some extent, changed the country's eating habits. Many well-to-do Egyptians have become very enthusiastic about Japanese culinary delights such as sushi, for which more than 150 bars have sprouted in upmarket districts in Cairo, Alexandria, Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. Egyptians, according to chef Mohamed Attiya, have a love affair with food and a good meal is part of their culture. "The Egyptian food market is versatile and accepts new dishes, the latest of which is Japanese sushi," says Attiya, a sushi chef at a five-star Cairo hotel. Attiya, who has acquired substantial expertise in Japanese food, adds that the sushi bar in his hotel attracts hundreds of visitors every day, both Egyptians and foreigners. "Although the prices are high, Egyptians and tourists come to the bar to eat their favourite types of sushi for lunch or dinner," explains Attiya, who has a BA in accounting. Ahmed Abdel-Aleem, Attiya's assistant, says that their customers enjoy eating sushi rolls, watching him making them from boiled rice, fresh vegetables, fish and fresh seaweed straight from Japan. "The Egyptians have built up a fond relationship with sushi, which they enjoy because it is healthy," he stresses, adding that one roll of sushi, which is made from vinegar, red rice and high-quality ingredients, such as fish, shrimps or caviar, sells for between LE10 and LE70, depending on the filling. Sushi, which can be eaten with one's hands, comes with different fillings and toppings. "The toppings are usually fish such as salmon, tuna or other seafood. Certain toppings are typically bound to the rice with a thin strip of sea eel and squid," Attiya explains. Abdel-Aleem says that many Egyptian artists, business owners and ordinary people have become sushi-lovers, coming to the bar almost every day to enjoy this Japanese delight. Egyptian actor Khaled el-Nabawi, opera singer Hassan Kamei and wellknown Lebanese pop singer Samozein are among his faithful customers. Abdel-Aleem adds that sushi, a purely Japanese dish, is becoming increasingly popular in Egypt. "Sushi is becoming one of the most popular types of Japanese food eaten in Egypt today," he says. "It's all over the country, an example of how a foreign approach to food can take off here," he comments, adding that his restaurant, the first in Egypt, has been serving freshly prepared sushi of every variety since 2005.
