Fresh air and a long day at the beach work wonders on the appetite.
So is it time to hit the sushi bar?
In the past five years, sushi has become part of contemporary Egyptian culture. In Cairo, the Japanese delicate cuisine has been rapidly taking over upper-class neighborhoods, and is now hitting the seaside too.
Mori Sushi opened its doors, or more like its pavements, last week at the entrance of the shi shi (meaning posh) “Diplo resort on the Mediterranean coast.
The outdoor restaurant is not an upscale fancy eatery. On the contrary it’s a laid- back place you can walk into with your wet bathing suit. The floor is made of white sand from the beach, although it is at least a kilometer away, so you can even walk around barefoot if you prefer.
The weather at the venue is just right after 6 pm. There is always a soft summer, almost chilling, breeze.
When you are seated you’re offered a nice cup of warm green tea, which is great for digestion. The fluorescent green menu is a little complicated for the average sushi eater. If the words Unagi, Sake and Ebi don’t ring a bell don’t fret because they are all translated underneath – although that may not help if you’re a beginner. If you fall into this category, the picture illustrations of some of the sushi, sashimi and rolls come in handy.
You may want to start with a soup, which is the only non-sushi section of the menu. Noodle, seafood or miso soup are all light and scrumptious.
Now for the sushi, unlike other restaurants this is the main dish. It’s always fun to order lots of different types. The variety is so extensive that you can probably experiment with different rolls every time you go.
The platter arrives over ice. Oishi so desu ne! (Japanese for that looks delicious ), the big central plate, bursts with colour. The salmon sashimi is plump and peach, the caviar surrounding the California rolls shining like rubies and the little sesame seeds dot the different shapes and sizes on the platter.
The scents of soy sauce, wasabe, ginger and teriyaki fill the air creating Asian temptation as you anticipate your very first bite.
Dynamite, Philadelphia and hot rolls are the most popular orders. The integration of flavors of fish, cream cheese, rice, avocado, tempura and strong spices are the height of contemporary international cuisine.
For vegetarians, or those looking for something new, check out Oishi sushi. The roll is a combination of cream cheese, cucumbers and rice that result in a cool flavor.
If after your sushi fiesta, you still have space for dessert (and there is always space for dessert) then don’t pass up the fried bananas covered in nutella.
The plates are modern black with white Asian style. The texture is a little scratchy on cutlery, but works fine with the wooden chopsticks.
“Who eats sushi in this heat? is a common question, based on a misconception. In fact, the opposite is true as the place is always full. Many skeptics keep their distance from the raw fish, not trusting its freshness in the summer.
One of the owners Tamer El-Leithy told Daily News Egypt that when it comes to quality control, customers should be reassured. “Most of the fish is imported frozen, and we don’t let it defrost until we are about to use it. Then it is vacuumed and put into a fridge, he explains.
New stock is brought to the outlet every three days.
Mori Sushi is originally a Brazilian franchise famous in São Paulo. Early this year, El-Leithy and Hossam Fahmy (owner of Min café) opened the first Mori Sushi on Gabalya street in Zamalek. Later they opened a sushi bar inside Sequoia, a popular Nile venue also in Zamalek.
The main chef is Wael Abdel Rahman, an established sushi connoisseur, who worked in Asiatique (Le Pacha) and Little Buddha (Sharm El-Sheikh), and later opened his own sushi place called Hanami in Giza. Abdel Rahman is also a partner at Mori Sushi.
A few times a year, chefs from São Paulo come to Egypt for general maintenance and menu updates at their local venues.
Mori Sushiwill be open on the North Coast until early September. Catering and delivery are also available in Marina and Haceinda resorts. For more information call (012) 2972222
