While for some, International Women’s Day seems like a token occasion – one that serves to remind but not necessarily impact – Egypt is one country that needs these ‘reminders’ . The plight of women’s rights in the country are well known, but changing views that have been passed down through generations and that are embedded in a culture, is a gargantuan task that won’t be solved overnight, or with fleeting hashtag on social media.

Monetary Fund! Oh! Monetary Fund! Your honey is our poison. Show me how to plant my own land, show me how to kneel to you and tie me with more debts…”— thus sang Egyptian singer Yasser El Manawehly expressing his opposition to a proposed $4.8 billion loan Egypt is seeking from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Bossy, pushy, selfish, vain and a show-off. This is how a commercial for a well-known brand of shampoo characterized women in leadership positions while male leaders were featured as convincing, dedicated and efficient — overall well-rounded for the workforce. This came as part of the company’s campaign against negative stereotypes of women in the workforce.

TV presenter and home-cooking guru by day, experimental foodie by night, Chef Andrew Mitchell has had quite the career. He stands as one of the most recognisable faces when it comes to food in Egypt and the Middle East; but only to him, nothing beats the good old bowl of mac and cheese infused with orange cheddar cheese, cream, butter, some salt and pepper, his all-time favorite dish. We sat down with the Canadian-Egyptian Fatafeat star, who told us about his upbringing and culinary journey – one that took-off in Australia and has taken him to many corners of the world.

A play steeped in witty humour, sketches inspired by Egypt’s political scene and the youth pop culture, 1980 Wenta Tale3 (1980 Onwards) directed by Mohamed Gabr is one of the most popular and most watched performances in Cairo. Showing most recently at El Hosapeer Theatre on Galaa Street in the busy Ramsis district, the play is performed by a group of 12 energetic actors from acting troupe, Studio Al Prova, but however isn’t without fault.

I’ve always enjoyed calling myself a loser. Words like “fails”, the big “L”, ‘clumsy’ and ‘stupid’ are perpetual words in my jargon of jokes. Things I openly and freely call myself with, constantly. I never ran short of fail stories to share with the world. Stories on how I find misfortunes in the simplest of things.

Going out for fetar in Ramadan might not be everyone’s cup of tea – including yours truly. You see, there’s nothing quite like mama’s homemade food and Cairene restaurants tend not to offer much variety in their selected set menus and buffets – you either like them or you don’t.

Located on Zamalek’s quiet El Maarashly Street, La Trattoria needs no introduction, though the low-key Italian restaurant often goes unnoticed on Zamalek’s dining map. Despite having little to no marketing or presence online – compared to other restaurants splashed across social media – La Trattoria was crowded at the time of our visit; a sign of its enduring popularity, which was obvious as soon as we stepped inside.

From the crowded cosmopolitan that is Jakarta, to the dynamic Dubai, Chef Joachim Textor has seen and done it all and, after a rich 17-year culinary journey that has taken him to Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, China, Indonesia and South Korea, the German chef's latest adventure has finally lead him to Egypt, as the Executive Chef at InterContinental Cairo Semiramis.