Cairo Restaurants (Vol. 02): Xodó Restaurant - Four Seasons First Nile Boat

Stepping across the Nile water and into the clean, fresh interior of the First Nile Boat is your first indicator that this is a waterside venue worthy of its illustrious title.  Four Seasons First Residence’s brand new Brazilian restaurant, XODÓ, is bringing a large, very juicy slice of Rio to Cairo and is shaping up to be one of the most unique additions to the city’s already colorful dining scene.

As one of several high-concept restaurants set to open on the First Nile Boat, Xodo fuses the tradition of Brazilian cuisine with the contemporary dining experience that Four Seasons First Residence has come to be known for – and yes, they do the whole grilled-meat-on-a-skewer thing we’ve all drooled at on TV.

‘Churrascaria’ is a staple in the South American nation’s cuisine and sees staff cut succulent strips of beef and chicken off of a still sizzling skewer and straight onto your plate. Beyond this most carnivorous of delights, however, the authentic taste of Brazil can be found all across Xodo’s menu, even in its drink offerings which feature a range of different Brazilian-inspired cocktails.

Food-wise, the menu offers an eclectic variety of appetisers and fresh salads that are still very much rooted in Brazilian flavours, and it’s all down to a man who knows a thing or two about Brazilian cuisine. Having spent almost half of his life perfecting his own brand of modern Brazilian food, acclaimed Chef Guilherme Reis brings a wealth of experience and a creatively contemporary approach.

“I grew up in a humble environment where simple ingredients were used in every home, so I learned over the years to use these ingredients and elevate them to renowned five star signature dishes,” the Sao Paolo native said. “Coming from a traditional Brazilian family, most of our celebrations are centred on food, herbs and spices.”

Thrown in a Nile view to die for, a chic setting and an open kitchen that fills the whole restaurant with the most remarkable of aromas and you have restaurant that will set a new standard for dining-out in Cairo. 

Décor & Ambience

Clean, modern lines, a warm mix of wood floors and furniture in different hardwood shades, a great view out onto the Nile. There’s a jungle theme in the bathrooms and a samba and other Brazilian musical vibes playing on the soundtrack.

Cairo Restaurants (Vol. 01): 9 Pyramids Lounge - the First Restaurant at the Great Pyramids

Dinner with a view? It doesn’t get more spectacular than the newly unveiled 9 Pyramids Lounge at the historic Great Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx site close to Cairo, Egypt.

There's an Instagrammable view, having one of the Seven Wonders of the World as your view for a spectacular sunrise breakfast, exquisite lunch or a majestic dinner -- especially when you have all of the above after exploring the incredible plateau. We're talking about 9 Pyramids Lounge.

To combat the fall in tourist revenue since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, Egypt has launched a massive restaurant complex with stunning views of the Great Pyramids of Giza, and a fleet of 30 electric buses that will ferry tourists from the city to the site.

9 Pyramids Lounge and Restaurant, which is managed and supervised by the Orascom Investment Holding Company, is located on the southern side of the pyramids plateau and overlooks nine pyramids in a unique and picturesque view.

9 Pyramids Lounge and Restaurant provides its various services of unique meals and drinks, which possess the highest quality, in addition to the capacity of holding a number of special events, in the arms of the great Egyptian civilization.

9 Pyramids Lounge located on the southern side of the Giza Plateau and overlooking nine pyramids, guests are sure to enjoy a unique dining experience. The restaurant and lounge take up a total 1,341 square meters divided into indoor and outdoor seating, , in addition to a private car park attached to the restaurant.

The restaurant is a simple wooden building. Visitors can choose to sit at tables or on pillows spread on the ground, Bedouin-style.

Serving Egyptian food, 9 Pyramids Lounge is open from 8 am to 6 pm, but last entry is 4 pm. 

The trial operation of the first environmentally friendly electric bus will begin through six main stations, starting from the Visitor Center station, passing through Panorama station, then the Menkaure station, Khufu station, then the Khafre station, ending at the Sphinx station before returning to the Visitor Center. 

The company is presenting the first model of an approved sales outlet for holders of licenses issued by the competent authorities only, as part of the development of the vendor system within the pyramids plateau in a distinct and upscale manner befitting the greatness and splendor of the ancient Egyptian civilization represented by all the antiquities contained in the region.

Furthermore, Dr. Khaled Al-Anani, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, stated in the opening Ceremony that in light of the engineering completion of 100 percent of the project to develop the antiquities area of ​​the pyramids and raise the efficiency of services in it, which was implemented by the Armed Forces Engineering Authority with government funding, preparations are underway to continue operating the project and that there will be a visitation from the visitors' entrance from the Fayoum Road before mid-2021.

He said: "Today we announce the opening of the first tourist restaurant in the Panorama area of ​​the Pyramids Plateau - without any heavy building or construction in accordance with the requirements of the archaeological area - as the first fruits of the protocol for providing and operating services in the area between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Egyptian company, Orascom Investment Holding, which was signed in December 2018."

The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities added: “The restaurant is a simple wooden building with pillows spread on the ground, like the Bedouin style, in a unique location that sees all the pyramids of Giza.”

He also indicated the arrival of the first environmentally friendly electric tourist bus that will be used during the visit in the region after preventing the entry of vehicles and buses inside the archaeological area in order to preserve the antiquities, when the development project is completed and raising the efficiency of tourism services is opened before mid-2021. 

 

The development project guarantees the provision of transportation within the archaeological area, including buses and vehicles powered by electricity and environmentally friendly energy, and the provision of mobile and self-cleaning toilets, while introducing fast food, food and beverage services in the area in the places specified and approved by the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and other agreed tourism services. 

 

This is in the context of the ministry’s keenness to improve the quality of services provided to visitors in the region, which is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world.

Also, Enany stressed the Egyptian state’s keenness to have a tourist and archaeological infrastructure, which has a positive impact on the incoming tourism movement to Egypt, explaining that in conjunction with the completion of the project to develop the antiquities of the pyramid, increasing the capacity of Sphinx International Airport to double its capacity and opening it in 2021, the Grand Egyptian Museum will change the touristic map of Cairo.

Sawiris, chairman and CEO of Orascom Investment, said that the main goal that was set in mind since the first day of our entry into the project to manage and operate visitor services in the Giza pyramids area is to upgrade the services provided to a level befitting the civilization of Egypt and the greatness of this archaeological area while protecting it from pollution with all its kinds, maintaining the cleanliness and prestige of the place, and providing a unique and distinctive experience for tourists.

New Restaurant , Giza : Egypt launches first tourist restaurant at Giza pyramid

The long-awaited project to develop the tourist services and facilities on the Giza Plateau is to begin operations in 2021.
This week saw the trial operations of the plateau’s first environmentally friendly electric bus and restaurant within the framework of the joint cooperation protocol signed in 2018 between the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and Orascom Pyramids Entertainment to develop services on the Pyramids Plateau.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany and Naguib Sawiris, chairman and CEO of Orascom, witnessed the trial operation of the bus service that eventually will replace all other cars and buses on the site.
They announced the opening of “Nine Pyramids”, the first restaurant and lounge to be located within the Pyramids area, specifically on the southern side of the plateau that overlooks nine royal tombs and has a superb view.
The architectural part of the Giza Plateau Development Project was implemented by the Armed Forces Engineering Authority and is supported by funds from the government.
Preparations are underway to start operating the project, with the inauguration scheduled before mid-2021, El-Enany said.
Today, we announce the opening of the first touristic restaurant in the Panorama area of the Pyramids Plateau, without any major construction work in accordance with the requirements of the archaeological area.
This project is the first fruit of the protocol signed between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and Orascom Investment Holding that entails providing and operating services in this area and which was signed in December 2018,” he added.
The restaurant is built in a subtle wooden setting, with pillows scattered on the ground to emulate a Bedouin style.
Its unique location offers a view of the Pyramids. The project has mobile and self-cleaning toilets, and food and beverage services will be available in specified areas, as approved by the SCA.
The project is part of the ministry’s keenness to improve the quality of services provided to visitors to the area, one of the most important touristic destinations in the world.

El-Enany said that Egypt was developing its touristic and archaeological infrastructure, and that this would have a positive impact on Egyptian tourism.
With the completion of this development project, the increase in the capacity of

the Sphinx International Airport, and the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) next year, the tourism map of Egypt would be transformed, he said.
“Our main objective, from the moment we embarked on the project of managing and operating visitors’ services at the Giza Plateau, was to upgrade the services provided such that they were up to the greatness of Egyptian civilisation and the magnificence of this historical site, while preserving the area from all forms of pollution and creating a fascinating experience for its visitors,” Sawiris said.
“We are happy to introduce these initial amenities and look forward to launching all the new services and features that will completely transform the visitor experience at the Giza Pyramids.”
Ashraf Halim, CEO of Orascom Pyramids Entertainment, said that to achieve the vision of transforming this unique site into a global archaeological tourist destination, robust cooperation has been undertaken with Egyptian and international consulting firms with expertise in similar projects.
These had developed engineering designs and architectural drawings in accordance with the international specifications commensurate with the archaeological site, he added.
He also said that in addition to the company’s commitment to providing all basic services at the highest level, electronic services would also be provided to visitors, including applications for prior reservations and to provide information about the archaeological site and its services.
He stressed that construction was underway in order to finalise the implementation of the project.

Source:ahramonline.