Oriental street food: the Koshary Lux in Berlin
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Street food from North Africa: Koshary, also called Kushari, is available on every street corner in Egypt. Oriental spices and white wine vinegar give it its unmistakable flavour. And another essential ingredient are caramelised onions. Michael Landeck experimented for six months – only then was he satisfied with his Koshary -
Egyptian national dish: traditionally vegan, the mix of rice, noodles and lentils is very trendy. Only rarely are variations with minced meat offered. Egyptian dishes are rather mildly spiced, but with the right sauce you can add spice. Important for Koshary: harissa and vinegar – so that it doesn't end up tasting like Italian tomato sauce -
Cookshop de luxe: in Egypt, Koshary is mostly offered in cookshops and is considered a cheap way to fill up quickly, which is why it is so popular, especially with students and young people. Michael Landeck was also inspired by the colourful look of Egyptian street stalls for his Berlin restaurant Koshary Lux -
A clear idea of the interior: "The design itself is a real trend in Cairo. What you see here in the store already has a name in Egypt, it's called Belady chic. Belady is Egyptian folk culture, and that's modern in Cairo, especially since the revolution. You take elements from folk culture and transpose them into a modern design language, and it's the same with the kitchen" -
Leaving Cairo was never planned: "Egypt is a pseudo-home for me, so to speak. Of course I could never claim to be Egyptian, that would be presumptuous. But I would say that I am a hobby Egyptian, because there is nowhere else I have lived as long as in Egypt. Cairo is the place in the world that I know best, it's almost like home"