Discover flavours of Egypt in P.E.I.
New restaurant brings authentic Egyptian cuisine to Charlottetown
A newcomer family has opened a new restaurant in Charlottetown to introduce the cuisine of their home country to Prince Edward Islanders.
Rania Farouk Ismail and her husband, Walid Elbadri, who are originally from Cairo, Egypt, have launched Tabali Grillz, an authentic Egyptian restaurant on Queen Street. It offers a variety of Egyptian and Middle Eastern dishes.
Farouk Ismail said the signature dishes at Tabali Grillz bring out the authentic Egyptian style, with meats specially marinated and charcoal-grilled for a juicy, smoky flavour.
She has noticed many restaurants in Canada often modify foreign cuisines to suit local tastes, but she wants her family restaurant to showcase original Egyptian cuisine exactly as it is back home and how she cooks for her family.
“We are not changing any of the recipes. We want to keep it authentic as it is,” she told SaltWire in a recent interview.
FRESH INGREDIENTS
Farouk Ismail has been living in P.E.I. with her son for nearly two years. She had previously lived in Winnipeg and then Ottawa for her education in marketing. She relocated to P.E.I. for a job opportunity in 2022.
Opening a restaurant wasn't on her mind until she came here and saw the bustling tourism scene, she said.
“When I arrived to P.E.I. and saw the cruise ships coming here and the restaurants are filled, I thought maybe it’s a good business to do, like, to open a restaurant. And I couldn’t find an Egyptian food restaurant here on the Island. So I thought of opening the first,” she said.
At the restaurant, there’s a charcoal grill set up at the back where her husband handles the meat grilling duty. She said oftentimes customers can already smell the aroma before they even step inside.
The menu includes Egyptian-style shawarmas featuring either chicken or beef marinated in a special family recipe. Farouk Ismail said customers will certainly notice a distinct difference from the typical shawarmas served at restaurants in P.E.I.. The menu also offers a variety of vegan and vegetarian Egyptian-style dishes.
One dish that has been popular on the menu since the opening is Shish Tawook, which is widely popular not only in Egypt but also in broader Middle Eastern cuisine. It's skewered chicken marinated and grilled over charcoal to make it tender, juicy and full of flavour, with a hint of smokiness, Farouk Ismail said.
“We are grilling fresh chicken. Other than the authenticity of our dishes, it’s the fresh ingredients, especially the fresh protein,” she said, adding the restaurant gets most of its fresh ingredients locally from P.E.I. and the Maritimes.
The restaurant is still in its soft opening phase with lower prices on the menu. Farouk Ismail is testing the menu and recipes to get more feedback from customers and see if any adjustments are needed.
‘HAPPY AND PROUD’
As for Elbadri, he's still very new to the Island. He arrived just a few months ago to join his wife and son in P.E.I. and assist Farouk Ismail with the business. He now helps manage the kitchen and takes care of grilling duties.
Elbadri said he’s already enjoying his new life in P.E.I. and is working on improving his English skills.
“Fishing,” he said, when asked about his favourite thing about living on the Island.
Farouk Ismail said while she’s happy to have her husband join her to run the establishment together, as getting the business up and running hasn't been easy.
They've faced quite a lot of logistical challenges along the way, but despite these hurdles, they've managed to get the business up and running. Farouk Ismail is hoping it will have a successful first year.
“I'm happy and proud. And I'm a bit scared … It’s known in the restaurant business that if you survive in your first year, then there is a big probability of continuing your business,” she said.