Aswan is a small city in Egypt that has yet to make its mark on the world but nevertheless its roots are deeply engraved in Egyptian soil. Across the river Nile from Aswan lies Nubia. A region that thrives off tourism but presents an insight to village life and culture. One thing I distinctively remember were the murals painted on the houses showcasing the beauty of their lifestyle. Of course, the only true way to experience a culture is through the food - so that's exactly what we did. Recommended by the spice merchant himself, Kabaka, we headed over to Opal. The décor of the restaurant really added to the ambience; it was filled with different colours and paintings, giving a vibrant and warm atmosphere. It offered floor seating for those who really wanted to get a feel of the way of life in Nubia. What made this restaurant beautiful was the fact that it was humbly over looking the Nile.
What we ordered to the table:
Molokhia (a soup native to Egypt)
Grilled Chicken
Kofta
Tahina
Esh Baladi (Egyptian bread)
Chips
Rice
The molokhia was a good consistency and a vivid green colour, not like the frozen stuff we have back in the U.K. The grilled chicken was moist and cooked to perfection. Also, I enjoyed the fresh esh baladi with the tahina, you can never go wrong with tahina. I personally wasn't a big fan of the kofta but I'm fussy when it comes to minced meat and everyone else seemed to enjoy it. I know chips might seem like a weird thing to order but my coeliac sister wasn't able to have the bread or rice. After explaining this to the waiter he said they had ran out of potatoes but he would go get some from the market. It's this type of service you can't expect in England, the idea of being able to go that extra mile for your customers so they leave satisfied. It also emphasises the simpler life of fresh food and the common farm to table cooking.
The fact that you were surrounded by the Nile whilst enjoying your meal was so calming and reflected the relaxed aura of Nubia. Towards the end of the meal there was a power cut. Normally, this would be an issue but the servers came to the rescue with their flashlights whilst we finished eating - that's what hospitality is all about. My parents laughed when they saw my siblings and I startled because that was normal for them growing up. It's a different kind of humility and almost peaceful knowing that there's this disconnect unlike the Western world. In all honesty, the food wasn't anything out of the ordinary but it was that thing you try at least once to say you've done it. Would I go back? Probably not. Do you have to experience it? For sure. Opal gave me an appreciation for a world that was different to mine, but different doesn't mean bad - it was uniquely Nubian.
*More inspiration* Check out similar blog posts - The Road Less Travelled, The Nubian Spice Merchant, Coastin' the Red Sea
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