Upon return from any overseas trip, my previous boss Tony used to ask, “What was your most memorable meal?” Just recently, after returning from Egypt and Turkey, my previous line manager Kate asked, “How was the food?” Well, it was great, was my mediocre response. I should have been prepared with a more comprehensive reply.

Food is always good on holiday – you don’t have to plan in advance or prepare it yourself – there are many delicious meals. So, in reprise, here are some alternate responses, highlights I should have provided Kate (or Tony, should he indeed ask!).

Hyatt Regency West Cairo – Trio Rigatoni – not a local specialty, but superb none-the-less. Pasta served with three sauces. A serving far larger than expected, very filling. Nothing particularly unique to the region, but highly recommended should you be staying at the Hyatt!

Kushari (the dish) at Koshary (the restaurant in Cairo) – a local restaurant which only serves one dish. Kushari – a mix of noodles, rice, black lentils, fried onions and tomato sauce. I loved it, Tom not so much. That’s probably because I like somewhat bland foods; without the sauce and optional chili, it can be quite bland. A great inexpensive lunch meal.

Chicken Shawarma at GAD (a local chain restaurant) – excellent! Strips of chicken sliced from a vertical spit, sizzled on a hot plate with chopped tomatoes and garnish, and then stuffed into shammy bread (like pita bread). Another filling, well-priced local meal. This GAD restaurant was within walking distance of the famous, hectic market, the Khan Al Khalili.

Airline-style evening meal and breakfast on the Watania Sleeper Train from Cairo to Luxor. A small, narrow cabin with fold-up meal “flap”. The evening meal was quite adequate, particularly as we had been waiting on the platform for over two hours for our late train. Beef, rice, vegies. No alcohol sales on the train, so a friend of our bus driver picked up some beers for us en route to the station. Breakfast – two bread rolls, croissant, cake, apple juice, coffee. Delicious? Not really. Memorable? Yes!

Ahwa Egyptian Coffee with lemon, an effective remedy for traveller’s tummy, as recommended by our M.S. Nile Premium bar waiter, Mango. Mango was his nickname; we met many Egyptian men named Mohammed, most of whom also like Liverpool FC because of the Egyptian player Mo Salah.

Breakfast bags … on mornings when the tour bus was setting off early (Abu Simbel – departure 4am, Aswan Airport – departure 4:45am). A pre-packed breakfast, mainly with bread roll, croissant, fruit, juice. Early morning sustenance!

Lunch at Sakkara Restaurant, Memphis. A “big tin shed”, able to cater for perhaps 200 guests (mainly tourists, I suspect). Well decorated, big fans to circulate the warm air. Only a few guests on the day we were there for a late lunch. Set menu of mixed grill, meze plates, flat bread and rice. So much to eat, and very tasty! Tried local dates from the Saqqara region. Also freshly prepared juice – mango lovely, and a lime/mint combination – very refreshing.

Not really a meal, but a final farewell drink (or two) with our tour group from Inspiring Vacations as we left Egypt. Our last night, at Sonesta Hotel in Cairo.

Oh, I nearly forgot Dalia’s birthday cakes. But, that’s another story … Birthday Month.