North Texas Emigres Celebrating Egypt's Revolution Better Rely on Home Cooking

[Amerigo Vespucci]

North Texas Emigres Celebrating Egypt's Revolution Better Rely on Home Cooking
By Hanna Raskin, Mon., Feb. 14 2011 @ 2:40PM
Categories: Food News

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/cityofate/2011/02/north_texas_emigres_celebratin.php



Dallasites looking to express solidarity with protesters in Cairo have discovered traditional Egyptian food isn't readily available in North Texas. There's plenty of schawarma and tahini to be had, but meticulous celebrants craving ful or koshary are pretty much at the mercy of their own cooking skills.

"Egyptian food in Dallas?" asks Sam Merched, manager of Fadi's Mediterranean Grill in Frisco. "I don't think there's no Egyptian restaurant."

Merched's restaurant this weekend hosted a party for Egyptian-Americans celebrating the departure of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. More than 150 celebrants feasted on Fadi's regular menu, which fortuitously includes stewed okra.

Local groceries catering to Middle Eastern populations are similarly lacking in Egypt-specific edibles. An employee who answered the phone at Haji Food Market and Deli in West Plano said he wasn't familiar with koshary, the tangy mess of ditali pasta, lentils, fried onions, vinegar and tomato sauce that's sometimes referred to as Egypt's national dish.