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Al-Ahram Weekly 24 Feb. - 1 March 2000 Issue No. 470 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 24 Feb. - 1 March 2000 Issue No. 470
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Focus Heritage Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters The price of ecstasy
By Injy El-KashefBecause there was so much talk around the First Residence project -- so much controversy, criticism and debate -- it came as a surprise to me that this exclusive space should include a mall accessible to the public at large. One would expect that just walking on the same sidewalk as the famous building would require some sort of pass or security guards secretly investigating how much money one has to one's name.
It turns out that there is something called the First Mall in the residential building and that at its centre, by way of a food court where weary shoppers may enjoy a quick bite, is La Gourmandise. Needless to say, the whole affair is quite grand. Although the layout is generally reminiscent of the World Trade Centre situation, there are a few touches to the benefit of the First Mall, the most obvious and noteworthy of which are two beautiful glass domes, which bathe the court in light.
A very extensive (and expensive) menu includes every food category, both sweet and savoury, that one would find at a "regular" restaurant. My dining partner chose the Le Gourmet Sandwich (with smoked salmon, shrimp paste, guacamole and cocktail dressing, served with salmon salad) while I settled for the Tagliatelle Fresche al Pesto (fresh pasta with basil pesto, garlic, olive oil and parmesan cheese). Not only did the food take quite some time to arrive, but our strawberry juice (LE10) and lemonade (LE5) were only delivered with the desserts. Why the delay, we wondered, when there was merely a handful of customers to be looked after?
Our food was great. The pasta was al dente, the sauce exquisite and the portion reasonable. As for the sandwich, it enjoyed a generous helping of smoked salmon, a little shrimp paste and barely any cocktail sauce, while the promised guacamole came in the form of avocado slices. It would be fair to note, however, that the combination was on the delicious side.
Our sweet tooth was getting impatient, especially considering the menu's three-page dessert section. Between a variety of crêpes, spécialités à l'assiette (including crème bržlée à la vanille), viennoiseries and traditional breads and pastries, it was indeed rather difficult to make up one's mind. L'embarras du choix, as they say.
My dining partner finally settled for a Feuillantine (crusty hazelnut sponge, chocolate and hazelnut mousse with crispy praline feuillantine) and how right he was! Absolutely miraculous beyond any doubt. As for my Opera (coffee, chocolate and vanilla ice-cream topped with whipped cream, chocolate and coffee sauce) it was a definite delight. The vanilla and chocolate ice-cream were not legendary but the coffee was good enough to have been dreamt; the whipped cream was the real thing, not some instant supermarket powder mixed with chilled water. La Gourmandise has our blessings.
Le grand total was LE118.
La Gourmandise, First Mall, 35 Giza St, opposite Giza Zoo entrance.
Tel 569 2557
