Try out a specialty catering service for your next intimate dinner or event: There are plenty of catering options available in Cairo, but very few can offer the attention to detail and creative consideration that can come from a small, chef-driven enterprise. After consulting with fellow foodies across the city, we’ve found a handful of small, bespoke services that offer unique dining experiences suitable for mid-sized events and those extra-special occasions.

Here are some of our favorite specialty catering outfits in Cairo.

#1- Avec Karim: Led by Ecole Ducasse-certified Chef Karim Abdelrahman, Avec Karim offers unconventional private dining experiences that elevate nostalgic flavors. They started by offering small-scale private dinners during Covid-19 before spreading like wildfire. They now offer personalized dining experiences for a variety of special occasions, weddings, and corporate events. Using personal preference as inspiration Avec Karim will craft specialized menus based on interviews with clients that incorporate personal decor, home accents, and quirky eating habits. For smaller events, they’ll typically prepare dishes in your home or set up a mobile kitchen in areas where facilities are limited. For bookings email info@aveckarim.com.

THE PRICE TAG- Avec Karim declined to provide prices but said that economic factors, location, size, and how elaborate the preparations are will factor in.

#2-The Sage Experience: Founded in the summer of 2020, the Sage Experience offers culinary experiences for private dinners, corporate events, product launches, and weddings — with a minimum of 15 people per event. They’ve handled events for up to 2.5k people as well as small private dinners. Their signature model menu (geared towards events with 15-30 people) includes dishes like entree truffle pasta and beef tartare. Picanha skewers, beef sirloin, and signature pasta are crowd favorites. Shoot them a DM on Instagram for reservations.

THE PRICE TAG- EGP 750 - EGP 1.4k per person.

#3- Cookery Co.: This establishment kicked off in 2016 as a small pop-up dinner outfit serving private groups in one of the co-founders’ gardens in Sahel. A few years later they were at the helm of a major operation serving events with up to 1k diners at corporate events, private gatherings, and weddings. They’re great for finger food, seated dinners, and buffet-style menus for larger events. For bookings call or send them a message over WhatsApp at 01102106568 or 01144200044.

THE PRICE TAG- About EGP 1k per person.

#4- Meat Party: This is for the casual barbeque enthusiast looking for high-quality meat inspired by Southern American cuisine. The operation started as a passion project of founder Nadim Samy, who pursued his personal interest in briskets about a year and a half ago. Meat Party has since grown to handle private events and even weddings. Ideal for casual dining experiences at home for groups of about 30-40 people, they offer burgers, steak, and lobster, and can even handle non-food event prep like sourcing picnic tables, bar services, and music. For reservations send them a DM on Instagram.

THE PRICE TAG- EGP 800-1.25k per person.

#5- Les Six Habitats: Led byICA-educated Private chef Fatma Abou Hindia, Les Six Habitats specializes in smaller intimate events with a strong eye for curation. Starting in 2019, Chef Fatma collaboratively curates menus and develops themes to match the event of your choosing — everything from floral arrangements to tablescapes and entertainment is within her purview. For bookings send a DM over on their Instagram.

THE PRICE TAG- EGP 1k-1.2k per person.

#6- Dine with Deenah: Le Cordon Bleu-educated Chef Dina Hosny can guarantee you passion, attention to detail, and locally sourced ingredients for a special night with some loved ones. Dine with Deenah offers curatorial and culinary services for seated dinners for up to 20-person groups. Her menus are crafted based on questionnaires that uncover more about your food preferences, but there are still some tried and true staples like fresh pasta, lamb freekeh tostadas, and deboned lamb shoulder. Deenah will freshly prepare the food from your home alongside a small team that will also cover seating, plates, and printed menus. For bookings email dinewithdeenah@gmail.com.

THE PRICE TAG- EGP 2k per person for a five-course menu, but prices vary.

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