Taste of Egypt Festival

Go! Go!Go! Great food, lovely tour of church, genuinely nice people and wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Eat, eat, eat!

The Taste of Egypt is my favorite little festival. Friendly people, savory foods, baklava, theology, camel rides, Middle Eastern music playing in the background. What’s not to like?
This year I enjoyed a delicious plate of marinated, grilled chicken with pita, tzatziki, rice, salad and a mango nectar soda. I could have eaten chicken and tzatziki all day! Also available were kufta, falafel, hummus & pita, stuffed grape leaves, and macaroni bechamel. For dessert I had two of the I-don’t-know-how-many variations of baklava. Homemade baklava. So delicious!
We then took a tour of the church from a well-​prepared and engaging guide. Though we had taken the tour once before, I learned additional facts and traditions this time. If you are interested in architecture, iconography, or comparative religions you must not miss the church tour. Be sure to grab a copy of the pamphlet ‘Egypt and The Copts’ in the narthex (just inside the doors) of the church.
We also attended a lecture by a knowledgeable presenter on the history of Christianity in Egypt. A few of us lingered afterward to discuss (Christian) church history and theology. Students and fans of comparative religions or theology will really enjoy this lecture. It’s a great refresher on the history of Christianity in general. In addition, there are books for sale in the bazaar (Nefertiti’s Treasures) about Egypt and about the Coptic faith.
Now if tours and lectures aren’t your thing, you can skip all that and take a camel ride. Yes, a camel ride! How often can you do this in the Western Suburbs? It’s quite fun! You can ride alone or with others. This is not just for the kids. Both children and adults enjoy the camel rides. This year my husband and I rode the camel together. If you’d like, you can have your photo taken while on the camel. 4×6 or 8×10. It’s a great souvenir of the day.
I think the Taste of Egypt is a great fest for anyone. It’s very family friendly — not only can the kids ride a camel, but there’s a petting zoo, a moon jump (bouncy house kind of thing) and some creative activities — but adults without kids (like us) have a great time too. Hope to see you there next year!