This article was updated on Wednesday 14 January. A previous version misidentified Sawsan El-Sammak as the niece of Mohamed Ahmed and reported erroneously that she was involved in a dispute with her father. The author offers his apologies. Details of the restaurant’s planned re-opening have also been added: Please see the updated article by clicking here. Local families and businesspeople in downtown Alexandria have been dealing with heartbreak this week after the sudden closure of one of the city’s favourite restaurants, Mohamed Ahmed’s. The restaurant found fame with fuul and falafel, and over the past six decades has solidified its place on the national culinary scene. Specialities include fuul iskandarani (mashed fava beans topped with tahini and finely chopped tomato and cucumber), shakshoukah (egg scrambled with tomato, onion and cumin) and masqa‘ah (an aubergine and tomato casserole). Their tried and tested recipes and speedy service have ensured this humble joint remains packed day and night. But the establishment’s legendary reputation will not continue into 2015. A notice, signed by the founder and hung unceremoniously in the shop window, made the vague announcement that the ‘company’s contract had ended’. It also…
