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

A queue six-people deep lines up at the cash register. Nearby, all five tables
are occupied with individuals ranging across all ages and social strata. Sweet,
savoury and kofta pretzel rolls are all devoured with the same reaction at the
recently opened Auntie Anne’s Pretzels in City Stars.

Yes, you read that right– kofta pretzel rolls. In a culinary experiment
worthy of Dr. Frankenstein’s lab, the Middle Eastern kofta has been placed
inside an American pretzel roll, albeit with less bloodcurdling terror and more
mouth-watering deliciousness. And unlike Dr. Frankenstein’s creation, there is
not a single green thing on the menu; unless you count the mysteriously named green
lemonade.

Navigating the crowd is a short woman bedecked in Auntie Anne finery,
offering samples of everything else that is on the menu, an image reminiscent
of Hans Christian Andersen’s gingerbread witch. No wonder she was so dangerous;
the samples are delicious.

For the past 40 years, Auntie Anne’s has grown steadily from a country fair
stall to a staple fixture at baseball parks and shopping malls all over the
world. It’s no secret that we love a good pretzel, so we couldn’t pass up an
opportunity to have an honest-to-God American soft pretzel on Egyptian soil.
From the classic salt pretzel to the more elaborate almond pretzel, and all
through the pretzel rolls sandwiches in between; every bite was pure childhood
enjoyment.

Now, you must be thinking that pretzels are a snack, but what Auntie
Anne’s wants you to know is that the buck does not stop there. Sure, for 6LE there
is not a better snack in town; but for 20LE you will get a kofta roll, potato
wedges and a coke; and a uniquely flavoured alternative to the basic and more
expensive fast-food options in City Stars.

Having been open for barely a few days at the time of this review, there
were some kinks that needed to be worked out. The potato wedges were not cooked
long enough in oil that wasn’t hot enough, and they were not salted. However, this
was quickly sorted out by the staff, who also informed us that there was a dry
barbecue mix that can be drizzled onto the potatoes– something that really sets
these wedges apart from other fried potato options.

The hotdogs themselves are some of the tastiest available. Other than
that, almost everything else is imported, from the dough to the salt used to
season the pretzels with.