28 March - 3 April 2002
Issue No.579
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 28 March - 3 April 2002 Issue No.579 |
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Shelling out
Injy El-Kashef indulges in some gastrotherapy
There are times I am almost sure there is a sweet little fairy sitting on my shoulder -- like last week, when I was so blue I could have just dug a hole in any empty corner to lie in. At such times, one question creeps persistently to mind as one frowns upon one's life and what has become of it: what have I done to deserve this? As I wallow in my misery, however, a voice often tinkles in my ear (that will be the sweet little fairy, by the way) urging me in dulcet tones to forget my attack of spleen and somehow spend a pleasant evening. I heeded it this time, and announced to a dear friend of mine (with such determination that she dared not contradict me) that we were going out. "The night is young and so are we!" I exclaimed, displaying an almost hysterical enthusiasm.
We grabbed another depressed friend and headed straight to the Nile Hilton's Rotisserie Belvedere, not yet aware of what goodies were in store for us. The place is elegant and comfortable, with a splendid Nile view, and packed with merry diners. Perfect. The maitre d' handed us the regular Rotisserie menu, appetising I am sure, I cannot say, though, for we did not even glance at it, for we were also given another little item that changed the mood: lo and behold, a menu devoted exclusively to coquillages. And, yes, it included fresh oysters. Do not be fooled: I was not exactly calm and collected when I saw Fresh Australian Rock Oysters in black and white on the menu in my hands. It took us a good 20 minutes to settle on our choices, aware that this was no time to be making any wrong decisions, for they would cost us dearly (one Oyster with Butter and Spinach was LE17 -- everything has a price, but compare this to a lifetime of therapy).
The prices generally required a certain financial leap into the void, and that night we were ready to jump no matter where we landed. Our bottle of red Omar Khayyam standing proud on the table, we attacked the mollusks with gusto. The rock oysters were huge, fresh and simply delicious. The best way to have oysters, if one is with friends and not with a loved one, is while one is engaged in conversation. You bring the shell to your mouth and, interrupting an enthusiastic argument you are making, you slurp the contents up deftly and swallow, slowly but nonchalantly. You pause. You close your eyes. You emit sounds of satisfaction. You open your eyes again. You forget what you were saying and move on to the next oyster.
The oysters with spinach and butter were simply divine; no other word for it. Our order also included Marinated Mussels, Mussel Ragout, and Black Mussels in their shell with a butter sauce that made all our troubles simply vanish. Who were we to feel miserable when the world was full of such wonderful creations?
We arrived at 9pm. By the time we had finished our mille-feuilles and the last drop of wine, it was about 3am. And we were very, very happy people, even after paying our LE600 bill. Yes, 600 -- but worth every piastre.
Rotisserie Belvedere, Nile Hilton, Nile Corniche, Downtown.
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