Business Profile: Cairo’s Kitchen

By Richard Martinovich

Think of Egypt and images of pyramids, The Sphinx, Nile River and one of the oldest civilizations come to mind: A civilization rich in architecture and culture, and food! Middle Eastern food, including Egyptian cuisine, has become increasingly popular in America in recent years. Many of us have tried hummus, which originated in Egypt in the 13th Century, and falafel; tasty fried balls of fava beans, also thought to have come from Egypt. Since antiquity, Egyptians have used an abundance of spices such as garlic, cumin, coriander, cardamom and dill to give dishes their distinct fl avor and aroma. Cairo’s Kitchen in Kalamazoo captures the uniqueness of Egyptian and Middle Eastern food. After working out of a space at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market for several years, Cairo’s Kitchen opened a location in downtown Kalamazoo on the fi rst fl oor of The Exchange building in July 2021. On Cairo’s Kitchen menu are sandwiches and wraps, like the always popular chicken shawarma. “Main Events,” which Cairo’s Kitchen’s refer to as their hearty dinner plates, include Koshary, considered the national dish of Egypt. With rice, brown lentils, chickpeas and topped with pasta, tomato sauce and fried onions, Koshary is taste-bud heaven! If you come in extra hungry, fi ll up on the Cairo Feast; a hearty combination of Egyptian cuisine; chicken shawarma, beef shawarma and falafel over a bed of rice, with savory sauces, and a side salad! The Fatta Shawarma Entrée, with thinly sliced chicken or beef over saffron rice and topped with pita chips, is a regular favorite. Every Monday, Cairo’s Kitchen posts a delicious new special for the week. It might be Cairo’s Beef Stew, Moussaka, the traditional Greek dish, a creamy breaded chicken wrap, Macaroni Béchamel – ground meat between layers of macaroni with a creamy sauce, Tajine or Shakshouka – poached eggs in a tomato sauce! There are desserts, like baklava, pastry made from phyllo dough, and drinks, including Egyptian coffee! Cairo’s Kitchen is a trip to the wonderful smells and tastes of ancient Egypt without leaving Kalamazoo!