Google Arts & Culture Initiative Celebrates Egyptian Cuisine

Egypt has a unique relationship with food. It is an integral part of the city's landscapes, with its colorful food carts, open-air markets, and coffee shops spilling into the streets. The quality of the food itself is judged by the intangible concept of "nafas", which translates to "breath", relating to how much the cook's soul can be tasted in their food. With a culinary heritage richer than "molokhia" and as diverse as "koshary", Egypt's food culture deserves to be preserved and documented.

This led to the creation of 'Sofret Masr - A Taste of Egypt', a digital museum showcasing Egypt's culinary heritage. Developed by the Google Arts & Culture initiative, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Rawi Magazine, and Nawaya, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Egypt's food heritage, this virtual exhibit provides an in-depth and immersive look at how food has fueled Egyptian life since the days of the Pharaohs.

Recently launched, Sofret Masr is a significant step towards documenting Egypt's culinary culture. It comprises over 1,700 high-resolution photos, more than 60 curated stories, and 30 videos. The exhibit's stories are perfect for those new to Egyptian culture, as well as for Egyptians who want to learn more about their heritage.

For example, the 'Lunch at Setto's' section takes viewers on a trip to an Egyptian grandmother's house for a traditional Friday lunch. The page shows a high-resolution image of a table set with a variety of dishes. By scrolling, guests can explore the dishes and learn interesting facts about them. Dishes like mahshi, baladi salad, molokheyya, and stuffed pigeon, so familiar to Egyptians, can now be experienced virtually by global audiences. Similarly, the immersive photo collection 'Bellies En-Route' takes a virtual tour through Downtown Cairo's eateries, making it possible to access Egyptian street food from anywhere in the world. The site also provides in-depth profiles of popular Egyptian foods and instructional videos of chefs that anyone can use to bring incredible Egyptian dishes into their own homes.

While these "exhibits" are somewhat geared towards those not in Egypt, this curated virtual experience provides ample opportunities for Egyptians to learn more about their heritage. For example, one photo collection tells the story of Cairo's takeout culture, which dates back to the 9th century CE and the rule of Khumarawyah ibn Ahmad ibn Tulun. The palace cooks ran a side business selling the royal household's leftovers to the public. Other immersive articles give insight into Egyptian food production, the processes archaeologists use to learn about ancient food practices, and the trade routes that gave rise to the flavors Egyptians enjoy today.

The scope of this online exhibit is remarkable, with coverage that is both geographically and historically extensive. It is a reminder that everything, from a bowl of fool to a plate of mahshi, is connected to a larger story.