Restaurant review
Under the blanket
Injy El-Kashef makes herself snug as a bug
A couple of weeks ago a piece of news spread like wildfire among the Muqattam community: the Marriott Bakery has opened a new branch on Road 9 up on the hill. The event was received with excitement, almost disbelief, and became the instant, albeit brief, topic of conversation of the hour. Why disbelief? Because we, proud Muqattam residents, previously had been duped on several occasions about the imminent opening of numerous restaurants or fast-food chains of a certain reputation -- something we desperately need, just like any other community. Luckily, we have Bon Appetit, which has remained faithful to its name since its opening, yet Bon Appetit is all we have.
When I heard the news of the Marriott Bakery, my first reaction (following, of course, the wide, round eyes and jubilant smile) was to ask my informer, "Are you sure? Have you seen it with your own eyes?" She replied that she actually had eaten there earlier in the afternoon. The next day, before returning home after long, stressful hours at work, I passed by our new treasure and ordered some take away sandwiches to nibble on while giggling at sit-coms -- definitely the best way to end the day, following the contradictory updates on the war from the various news channels.
So our very own Marriott Bakery is spacious, spotless and endowed with all the usual fare: sandwiches, quiches, cakes, gâteaux, chocolates, bread and other baked goodies, cheeses, cold cuts and ice-cream. I did not wish to have my food there since, other than not wanting to miss the day's episode of Grace Under Fire, I also felt rather uncomfortable at the idea of being the only customer there so late. True, it may have been pleasant to sit at one of the window tables overlooking the street and read another chapter of Ovid's Metamorphoses while I munched away; but at that hour, dumb comedy wins over Graeco-Roman mythology.
Once home, the TV on, feet up on the pouf, snug and comfy under the blanket, apple juice on the side table, all of Cairo asleep except for me, it was time to sample this smoked salmon sandwich. I had, needless to say, ordered it in brown bread, which was very fresh. The Bakery had been generous in the amount of salmon and onions they placed in my sandwich, and, combined with a lemony taste and the butter on the bread, it made for a wonderful midnight treat.
After the sandwich, accompanied by potato chips and pickles, it was time for dessert: a delicious chocolate éclair, with a rich filling between the fresh pastry, topped with fudgy chocolate coating.
Of course there will be many, many other trips to the Marriott Bakery, and many home delivery orders once they begin their delivery operations, but for a beginning, I could not ask for more. Any other restaurants wish to make Muqattam residents happy? Come to us, our arms are open.
Marriott Bakery, Road 9, Muqattam.
