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Dave Myers' Egypt

Episode 1 of 6

Hairy Biker Dave Myers travels to Egypt in search of the origins of some favourite dishes. He samples street food in Cairo, a family feast in Aswan and more along the River Nile.

Hairy Biker Dave Myers travels to Egypt, home to some of the oldest recipes known to man. From the fantastic street food of one of the world's greatest cities, Cairo, to a family feast 500 miles south in ancient Aswan, Dave voyages up the Nile to find the origins of some of our favourite dishes.

On this epic adventure, Dave fulfils a boyhood dream to visit the pyramids of Giza and learns that they were built by labour fed on no more than the humble loaf. He goes off the beaten track to the lush oasis of Al Fayoum in search of a dish with mythical properties and, on the banks of the River Nile, discovers a place where ancient man first turned to farming. Venturing further into the land of the pharaohs, Dave finds what he's been searching for - the origins of baking and the living proof of a food that changed the eating habits of the planet.

To mark the end of his journey, Dave is invited by a family of Nubians for a feast to celebrate the end of Eid al-Adha. He helps prepare a traditional meal that has become legendary across the entire Arab world and receives hospitality he'll never forget.

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59 minutes

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Last Friday 01:05

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  • Happy Mondays

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Dave Myers on making episode 1

Dave Myers on making episode 1
Middle Eastern food has always been a favourite of ours. I've travelled extensively in the area, but never before had I been to Egypt. I've been fascinated by the country since I was a little boy, and now was the time to go on my Middle Eastern adventure.

It's not the best known of cuisines, but it is one of the oldest in the world. Indeed there are records in Pharaohs' tombs that prove Egyptians were the first people to leaven bread as we know it, so for an avid bread baker like myself it was an adventure to discover the cooks' holy grail.

I had wonderful adventures ending with the Nubian people south of Aswan and one of the tastiest lamb dishes I've ever experienced. I travelled on motorbikes and the paddle steamer on which Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile, finally finishing on board a camel. It was one of the best trips of my life.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Dave Myers
Executive Producer Gill Tierney
Series Producer Helen Simpson
Series Producer Katy Fryer

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