📽 AT THE MOVIES-

Choosing to debut with a psychological thriller, now-director Zoe Kravitz presents Blink Twice. The film follows Frida (Naomi Ackie), a waitress that charms bn’aire businessman Slater King (Channing Tatum) at a fundraising event. He then invites her and her best friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) on a trip to his private island, where he goes to escape the city. In this critique of violence against women, Frida and Jess quickly realize that they’ve fallen into a trap much more insidious than they could have imagined.

This movie seems to be a great start for Kravitz as a director. The thriller takes its genre seriously, balancing a compelling plot with a serious analysis of a much larger social issue.

Fans of Jordan Peele’s Get Out will love this film. The general atmosphere of the film feels very similar without being a ripoff of the 2017 masterpiece. Some called Kravitz’s offering a feminist variation of Peele’s film, and others have made comparisons to Glass Onion and Promising Young Woman.

WHERE TO WATCH: You can catch the movie at VOX Cinemas at City Centre Almaza and Mall of Egypt, City Stars cinemas, Cairo Festival City cinema, Point 90 cinema, and Cima Arkan. Watch the trailer here (runtime: 2:41).

📚 FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Embrace change with The Only Constant by Najwa Zebian. This book offers a heartfelt and practical guide to navigating life’s inevitable changes. Zebian shares personal stories and practical advice to help readers bravely and confidently face and embrace change.

She draws on her own experiences to illustrate the necessity of change, whether dealing with the end of a relationship, setting boundaries, or managing chronic illness. Each chapter provides practical advice and exercises designed to help readers understand and accept these changes. Zebian emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and finding beauty in the messy transitional times.

The approach is both compassionate and empowering. She doesn’t shy away from the difficulties but instead provides tools to help readers face them head-on. Her emphasis on self-acceptance and authenticity resonates throughout the book, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to embrace change and live more honestly.

You can find it at Cherry Blossom Books.

🍴 HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Dan Bam is the first restaurant in the North Coast to satisfy the craving for Korean. Dan Bam is just across the road from Marassi, and will leave you wanting for nothing back in Cairo. Sorry, Maadi.

We know what you’re thinking. Do they have kimbap? They wouldn’t be a Korean restaurant without it. We chose the beef kimbap to start the meal, and followed it up with another beef-filled appetizer, the steamed mandu dumplings. The kimbap was spot on, but we thought the mandu could have done with a thinner dumpling.

Bulgogi, but make it seaside. We ordered the shrimp bulgogi next. Fans of traditional beef bulgogi will find what they love in this dish — we appreciated the summer-y twist. But don’t forget to order a side of rice to soak up some of the richness of the sauce. Another beach-themed dish was the seafood fried rice, which not only included shrimp, but also squid.

The Nakgi-Bokkeum was a standout, with its spicy stir-fried octopus offering a bold, fiery kick. The octopus was tender, and the sauce was richly flavored with garlic, ginger, and chili heat, making it an intense and memorable dish.

Finally, we tried the Kkanpunggi, a spicy garlic chicken dish. The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender inside, coated in a sauce that leaned more towards sweet and peppery rather than intensely spicy. The sauce had a pleasant sweetness and mild heat but didn’t quite hit the mark for those seeking an intense kick.

Delivery? They deliver from Marina 4 to Telal, but call in for delivery instead of chancing their online ordering portal. If you can’t wait, you can always place your order and go pick it up.

💵 Per person: EGP 1.2k to EGP 2k.

🪑 Outdoor seating: No.

🍺 Alcohol: Yes.

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes.

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