Yeah, I'm thinking the more Western the better, for this. :) They're pretty adventurous people, but I don't know if either of them know Arabic numerals very well, and I know my aunt's digestive system is picky enough that she really needs to be able to read the ingredients list or otherwise know exactly what's in it.
My memories are about as old as yours, but I don't remember any grocery stores around where she is either. I imagine that shopping mall next to the Nile Hilton which has a little international food court might have some options, just by virtue of having more variety than a lot of the country and there might be a little shop with some food staples at the Nile Hilton too. And local restaurants you can probably manage to get plain meat and rice. But otherwise, I'm not sure what would be best . . . I'd imagine the Zamalek restaurants might be her best bet.
Oh, I forgot to add, there should be no reason the grocery stores won't deliver to her hotel even if they're not super near by. She should probably be able to give a list to the concierge at her hotel and have them order it, which would at least save her a trip.
Oh, hey, I didn't even think of delivery! Shows that I was being a cheap student there, doesn't it?
I suspect she'll want to do her own shopping so that she can read ingredients lists; she has some pretty restrictive limits on what she can eat. But I'll definitely mention the possibility.
And I totally didn't remember the mall next to the Hilton, so I'll mention that, too. Thanks!
She might be able to eat ta'amiya (without the bread) - isn't that just fried chickpea balls? Not very healthy... there's also the souk, the veggie market on the street -- it's kind of picturesque to haggle although it might be difficult if neither of them can speak any Arabic.
Granted, I was only in Cairo for a grand total of four days, but I was with four people who were keeping kosher (which translated, more or less, as vegetarian), and we managed to subsist - we were staying in central Cairo, too, not quite as centrally located.
Yeah, if she'd asked about eating vegetarian, I'd have had all kinds of advice! Unfortunately, I'm a vegetarian who loves starch, and she's an omnivore who's gluten-intolerant (and I think maybe doesn't deal well with lactose either; that runs in the family, but I can't remember if she got that one too), which means our diets are often pretty well opposite.
Ta'amiya's a possibility, though I'm reluctant to direct her towards anything that doesn't have a clear ingredients list in a language she can understand. (Even if now I'm craving some.) I have no idea about her haggling tolerance, or my uncle's, but I'll totally mention the possibility of local markets if they feel like trying. :) Though they may get their fill of that in the Khan el-Khalili.
On an Unrelated Note...satyrbladeOctober 29 2008, 21:53:25 UTC
A few weeks back, I mentioned a friend of mine who also lives in Boston and who I'd imagine you'd like to get to know. Her name is Jennifer Hunter and her LJ is: http://anotherjen.livejournal.com/profile
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Thanks!
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I suspect she'll want to do her own shopping so that she can read ingredients lists; she has some pretty restrictive limits on what she can eat. But I'll definitely mention the possibility.
And I totally didn't remember the mall next to the Hilton, so I'll mention that, too. Thanks!
Reply
Granted, I was only in Cairo for a grand total of four days, but I was with four people who were keeping kosher (which translated, more or less, as vegetarian), and we managed to subsist - we were staying in central Cairo, too, not quite as centrally located.
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Ta'amiya's a possibility, though I'm reluctant to direct her towards anything that doesn't have a clear ingredients list in a language she can understand. (Even if now I'm craving some.) I have no idea about her haggling tolerance, or my uncle's, but I'll totally mention the possibility of local markets if they feel like trying. :) Though they may get their fill of that in the Khan el-Khalili.
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There aren't any of the big 'western' supermarkets in the downtown area. The closest is either Zamalek or the Alpha Market in Doqqi.
She can get tuna at any ba'al, but if she wants to be able to read ingredient lists and buy imported food, she'll need to go to Metro or Alpha Market.
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Still barefooting through the autumn leaves! :)
Cheers,
- Satyr
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