Latest news with #Seif
CairoScene
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Khufu's Mostafa Seif Wins Best Chef's 'Skillet of Distinction' Award
This marks the first time an Egyptian chef has won this award. May 22, 2025 Chef Mostafa Seif of Khufu's has been awarded the Skillet of Distinction by The Best Chef Awards, becoming the first Egyptian chef to receive the accolade. The award follows Seif's recognition last year as the first Egyptian to earn a one-knife 'Excellent' rating under the awards' updated tiered system. The Best Chef Awards, which moved away from its traditional top-100 ranking in 2023, now recognises chefs through one, two, or three 'knives,' denoting levels of excellence. Seif's one-knife placement in Dubai was the first for an Egyptian chef and signalled growing international attention to his work. At Khufu's - founded by Pier 88 Hospitality's Giovanni Bolandrini - Seif leads a kitchen grounded in technical discipline and regionally sourced ingredients. His cooking is rooted in Egyptian culinary traditions but avoids nostalgia or showmanship, favouring clarified broths, cured seafood, and slow-roasted meats that reflect a restrained, detail-oriented approach. In January, Seif participated in The World's 50 Best Signature Sessions in Abu Dhabi, where he co-hosted a dinner with Argentinian chef Sergio Cabrera at MouzMari. He also joined 50 Best Talks for a panel titled Memory on a Plate, exploring the role of food in cultural and personal memory. The Skillet of Distinction acknowledges Seif's consistency in the kitchen and his contribution to platforming Egyptian cuisine in international settings - through technique rather than adaptation.
Identity
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Identity
5 Love Triangles That Have Everyone Talking This Ramadan
As we reach the halfway point of the Ramadan drama marathon, it's time to look back at the standout characters and unforgettable moments that had everyone talking. This year, love stories took center stage—but with a twist. Instead of simple romances, tangled love triangles have been dominating the conversation, keeping audiences hooked with every new episode. Here are five of the most talked-about ones from the past two weeks. Farida, Seif & Aly This one has taken over everyone's feed! The endless debate over Seif, the good guy, versus Aly, the cool bad boy, and who's the better match for Farida is everywhere. No doubt, this is one of the season's most talked-about love triangles. Molly, Hussien & Mansour It looks like we're in for a seriously intense and complicated storyline. Molly finds herself undecided between Hussein, who clearly has her attention, and Mansour, with whom she has a long-term, stable relationship. But who will she choose? We'll have to wait and see! Leil, Youssef & Faris This one is definitely intense. With hints sprinkled throughout the narrative, many are expecting Leil to end up with Faris after divorcing his brother—making this love triangle one of the most dramatic and heated ones yet. El Garhy, Fatheya, Amna These two women are the final candidates for El Garhy's heart. Between his wife and his old love interest, who will he ultimately choose to spend his life with? Mayar, Ezzat & Asaad Another love triangle that's been complicated from the start—even before a third person entered the picture. Mayar is clearly torn between her family, her ex-husband, and the feelings she's quickly developing for Mohamed Ezzat, leaving us wondering where her love life is headed next.
CairoScene
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Seif Mrdeny & Riff's ‘Zaman El Fan El Gameel' Is a Shaabi Chaos
Seif Mrdeny & Riff's 'Zaman El Fan El Gameel' Is a Shaabi Chaos The EP firmly establishes Seif Mrdeny not only as a versatile artist to watch but as one with a strong calculated vision. Egyptian rising hip-hop/shaabi talent Seif Mrdeny has been making steady moves in recent months. Since his debut EP in 2024, Seif has been maturing artistically at an impressive pace. While 'Welad Khalti' felt a bit half-baked, it featured collaborations from the likes of Mahib Sleat and Riff that added to Seif's eclectic, experimental, and often over-the-top vocal deliveries. The beats elevated the EP's overall quality. Seif returns with his favourite producer, Riff, on a new EP 'Zaman El Fan El Gameel' that marks significant artistic growth. This time, he fully embraces a pure shaabi persona across vocal performances, lyrical themes, imagery and aesthetics. Backed by Riff's eclectic production, the duo delivers an EP that could easily be imagined playing at a shaabi Egyptian wedding. Yet, it doesn't overdo the shaabi vibe or lean too heavily into its traditional setting; Riff lays down a dynamic foundation that allows Seif to push his vocal range to the limit. From the very first track, 'Aaah', Seif delivers a performance reminiscent of nabatchy-style singing (think Reda Al Bahrawy), but with a surprising sense of command, as if he has been MCing weddings his entire life. Riff produces a minimal yet dynamic shaabi structure with compressed kick drums and looping mizmar-like horn sections that place Seif's delivery at the forefront. 'Kalb' follows a somewhat similar direction, but here, Riff explodes with a maximalist, head-turning sound that creates a sense of sonic chaos. The stereo bursts with unexpected sonic inserts, keeping the listener on edge. Meanwhile, Seif shifts from melodic shaabi singing to a rap-leaning delivery, spitting bars with wit, charisma and a fast-paced flow, as if racing to keep up with Riff's frenzy-inducing production. The highlight of the EP comes with 'Matfkaresh', where the formula strikes the perfect balance. The production neither overshadows nor underwhelms; instead, it complements Seif's most outstanding vocal performance. His lyrics are personal and reflective, yet irresistibly danceable. As the track progresses, his melodic delivery intensifies, while Riff's unconventional percussion perfectly complements his vocals, showcasing an undeniable chemistry between the two. This chemistry is emphasised midway through the track when Riff offers an instrumental passage, briefly interrupted by Seif dropping Riff's producer tag—'Riff Ya Negm Masr'—before launching back into his intoxicating chorus, 'Wanaaa.' This moment cements Matfkaresh as one of the best shaabi performances in recent years. The EP firmly establishes Seif Mrdeny not only as a versatile artist to watch but as one with a strong, calculated artistic vision reflected in his music, collaborations, image and visuals. Meanwhile, Riff may be the only producer capable of pushing shaabi into uncharted territory. His experimental approach challenges the genre's foundations while expanding its reach, proving his genre-bending ability and exceptional musicality.
