On the streets of Cairo, one of the most popular dishes you can order from a vendor is Hawashi. This minced meat stuffed inside of a pita is deceptively simple, but incredibly delicious. The thin bread of the pita combines with carefully seasoned meat to make a perfect, unique, sandwich.

After the food is combined, the food is then baked until the outside is golden, crisp and crunchy. This makes an extraordinary combination of flavors and textures while enjoying this food.

Compared to many other popular menu items, these delicious snacks have relatively modern roots. The sandwich only goes back about as far as the 1930s, with the earliest evidence of its existence a receipt selling one.

The receipt is somewhat disputed however, with some saying the sandwich was invented as late as the 1970s. Either way, this sandwich was invented less than 100 years ago, while many other popular foods can go back thousands of years.

What is known about this sandwich is that it was invented by an Egyptian butcher, either by the name of Mohamed al-Hawawshi or Ahmed el-Hawawsh. At some point, this man chose to combine meat, onions and seasonings with the super thin pita like bread called baladi.

Baladi is the colloquial word that simply means ‘rural bread.’ It’s typically used for things like falafel and mashed fava beans—not for slicing up as sandwich. He began selling these thin sandwiches anyway, which quickly took off in popularity.

While there’s no doubt as to how good they are, it’s not entirely clear why he put these ingredients together. Baladi is a very thin bread and is usually not used with fillers. It was an innovation at the time and is still highly popular in Egypt as well as around the world.

Why Hawashi Is So Loved

At a glance, Hawashi is similar to other foods like gyros. What makes Hawashi so special? Here’s a quick rundown of reasons that may be behind its popularity.

Both Crisp and Juicy
Hawashi is stuffed and then baked. The outside is golden and crispy, the inside is bursting with juicy meat. This combination of flavors and textures make it very popular.

Affordable
Hawashi is made with simple, affordable ingredients. This means it doesn’t have the high price tags of some of the fancier foods out there, while still being just as delicious.

Flavorful
Hawashi is carefully seasoned to be as delicious as possible. Seasonings vary depending on the shop. They can include chili seasoning, paprika and cumin. At Aladdin’s Mediterranean restaurant, roasted red pepper sauce is a key ingredient.

In some locations, the bread is cooked on a grill and has a smokey flavor as well. Grilling Hawashi is a popular choice, and can change the flavor depending on what sort of wood is used.

Conclusion
Hawashi is a beloved snack food in Egypt, and is sold nearly everywhere both by street vendors and restaurants. If you want to experience a taste of Egypt, stop by Aladdin’s and try this wonderful, unusual, sandwich.

There is a definite advantage to choosing reputable corporate catering for a special business meeting or presentation. The staff, servers, and chefs at Aladdin Café, located at 5420 Clairemont Mesa Blvd in San Diego, take great pride in presenting top quality Middle Eastern food at their restaurant or the meeting area you’ve selected. Tasty appetizers and entrees make a nice break from the speeches and workshops found at corporate events.

Hiring a good catering service lets you pay attention to the tasks you need to complete. Aladdin Café handles the planning and delivery of the meal. The menu includes Vegetarian food and Vegan food so that attendees find foods that appeal to their appetite and dietary restrictions. The advantage is that no one is obligated to leave the building to satisfy their hunger. A secondary benefit is the appreciation for your company for providing such a good meal!

Appetizers help spike the interest of meeting participants. One favorite is Dolma. The stuffed grape leaves are a Vegetarian favorite and part of a healthy diet. They are a medley of rice, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, and parsley. The mixture is rolled in grape leaves, steamed, and topped with lemon sauce.

Hummus is a popular appetizer and dip. This Middle Eastern food from Aladdin’s is a tasty blend of tahini, fresh garlic, garbanzo beans, and lemon. The 12-inch tray serves 8 – 10. If you’re expecting a large group, select the 18-inch tray that serves 25-30. Simply provide the guest list to the café catering experts. They will discuss how the food will be presented and how much of each item should be ordered. The delivery will live up to your professional expectations.

An enticing salad for each guest provides a satisfying meal. The chopped chicken salad is a favorite. It starts with chopped Iceberg lettuce. Slices of tomato and cucumbers add colorful appeal to the salad. Black olives, sun dried tomatoes, and Feta cheese are added along with pistachios. It is tossed with homemade Greek dressing and topped with carrots and sliced flame-broiled chicken breast.

Organized preparation, service, and cleanup provide a well-received meal and allow attendees to focus on the business agenda once the lunch break is over. Guests appreciate the special effort made to cater to their requirements, such as Vegan food. The success of the meal will likely be a main theme of conversations about the meeting for weeks to come and boost the reputation of your own company.

Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant And Catering

With many years of the bouquet, corporate catering, and restaurant experience, the Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant has expertise in providing our services for your corporate meeting, special occasions and classes. We are confident that our operation meets the highest conventional standards you are looking for because our focus is on the presentation and quality of food. Our restaurant uses only the freshest products, meat, and other special ingredients to have our meals prepared and our menu selection of items allows for a diversity of sauces to choose from.

Corporate Event Catering
Aladdin specializes in corporate catering. We are equipped with a very experienced lot of cooks, trained personnel, and waiters to handle all your catering needs. We provide catering services for a large number of guests up to five hundred.

Our facilities include a delivery person setting up the buffet using a tablecloth, serving utensils, all other necessary paper products, and ordered meals using lovely trays, baskets and chaffing dishes. The delivery person sets up an excellent presentation and returns at the requested time to clean up and pick our equipment.

Aladdin makes ordering easy. You will find an order sheet enclosed which you can call at our place to order or copy to fax your orders by just filling in the blank spaces. The corporate package menus are also designed to ease the menu planning process.

Aladdin restaurant also provides full-service bouquet and catering facilities. You will prepare a customized menu based on the type of event, an itemized needed staff and rentals, and an estimate of the cost. You will be required to call with the details of the event.