Sumaia’s Expanse: where food has a special concept
The curves of an alley push you to gently progress into it, attracted to the smell, though you cannot find its source. While passing by low balconies, you can hear the pleasantries of noise, small pieces of dominoes mixed with laughter from napless people sitting at an oriental coffee shop and listening to Oum Kalthoum warbling.
When you advance slowly into the alley, captivated by the smell, which continues to perforate your surroundings, you finally face a sign mounted on a small shop, announcing Fasahet Sumaia or “Sumaia’s Expanse”. This small space owned by Sumaia doesn’t leave you standing in front of it for too long, Instead, it beckons you to come in through its old-fashioned green doors. They mark the gateway to the source of those aromas you discovered along the way. 
“I’ve been working for my whole life in a routinely (sic) place, though my job doesn’t carry any routine being involved with books publishing issues where I used to receive new texts and publish new books every single day. But, after the 25th January revolution, I felt people’s life is not only changing, it may be gone at any point too! That’s why the revolution meant an integral life style change for me. Thus, I had Fasahet Sumaia,” Sumaia said.
“It’s a small space where I settled three wooden tables to serve people traditional Egyptian food. There are uncountable numbers of people who love the place because it conveys the old attractive spirit of those old days,” and about the name, Sumaia explained.
“Fasaha in the modern language means the reception, while Egyptians call Fasaha on the place where people and families gather to talk and eat in all pleasant occasions. I always feel people gather at my place as if it is familiar meeting place where they stay comfortably. That’s why I named it Fasahet Sumaia!” she added.
“It’s not only a place to eat and enjoy the delicious Egyptian cuisine but also a place where you find the atmosphere of the Egyptian Cairene culture. Nobody comes here just to eat and leave; they come to talk, laugh, gather and love.” 
Sumaia’s lifelong dream was far from cooking; her love to her husband was the motive behind it all.
“I have learned that love push people to dig deep and teach themselves new things in life just to make the beloved ones happy, and I have loved my husband with all my heart. After graduating, I went with him to Italy. The first cuisine I have got its secrets was the Italian one. I also used to cook Egyptian dishes with Italian touch and the results were amazing every time,” she noted. 
Though Sumaia’s wide popularity, her Fasaha opens only for 2 or 3 hours maximum a day; from 5 to 7 or 8 pm as she sees this is the timing when Egyptian people gather for lunch after work. And because she only works to do something she loves, not looking for high profit or expansion, her set menu changes daily, offering a wide variety of Egyptian tasty food at affordable prices for everyone.
The most delicious plates made by Sumaia are molokheya, kabab hala, mahshy, duck à l’orange and akawi. You’re able to eat all of these foods as if you were in the comfort of your own home. But Sumaia won’t let you go without finishing all of your food. She will even tell you when to stop to leave some for others.
Sumaia is a loving mother and a caring sister. When you enter her Fasaha, call her Sumaia and ask what she cooked for you today.
Fasahet Sumaia is located in a small alley between Youssef Al-Guindy Street and Mohamed Sidy Street in Bab El-louk, Downtown, Cairo, Egypt. 
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