The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

In 2012, Egypt was acknowledged as the most prolific producer of dates in the world by the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation. In the grand scheme of things, that may seem like a trivial crown to hold, but it’s an indicator of the peculiarly deep history that this country, and the region, has with a fruit that is seldom appreciated in other parts of the world – particularly the west.

It also provides some insight into the country’s agriculture – something that the Cairo chapter of global non-profit organisation, Slow Food, has been championing with a series of food-related events that puts the focus on local produce.

One of its landmark annual events is the Date Festival which is set to return this month on Friday 26th of September at Fagnoon Art School in the Saqqara area of Haram, Giza, in collaboration with “responsible and inclusive business hub”, ice_ribh, and local NGO, Nawaya, whose approach to permaculture has slowly but surely made an impact in a country where recycling and gardening culture is at a premium.

Celebrating that simple yet versatile little fruit called a date, the festival is set to feature a range of activities and entertainment including cooking lesson – for both adults and children – , lectures, live music and, of course, plenty of treats to taste. The latter is made all the more appealing by the fact that Zooba’s Chef Moustafa el Rafaey will be working the same magic that has made the restaurant so popular.

For more information on the Date Festival, click here.