The ceremony witnessed a musical performance by Antigoni Pappou and Panagiotis Panagakis
The event, hosted at the Egyptian Cultural Centre on 29 October, featured live presentations of traditional Egyptian dishes by Chef Ayman El-Habashy and a certificate ceremony honouring participants and partner institutions.
“Today we celebrate the closing of the Thematic Seminar Course on Egyptian Gastronomy in Athens,” said Manal Ali, Director of the Egyptian Cultural Centre in Athens. “We thank all attendees for supporting and participating in this unique cultural event, which aims to strengthen the friendship between Greece and Egypt.”
Ali underscored the importance of gastronomy as a form of cultural dialogue and a reflection of shared identity between the two nations.
Fotini Gadala, President of the Hellenic–Egyptian Community in Greece, described the initiative as “an important step in strengthening cultural and gastronomic diplomacy between Greece and Egypt,” adding that “taste serves as a bridge of communication, education, and friendship between the two peoples.”
The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Egyptian Embassy in Athens, Mohamed El-Zafzaf, president of the Association of the Egyptian Community in Greece, and guests from the fields of culture, education, and media.
Nikos Laliotis, Municipal Councillor of Athens and President of the municipal radio station Athina 9.84, addressed the audience and accepted the community’s proposal to serve as Director of Communication Policy for the Hellenic–Egyptian Community.
The event also included a music performance by Antigoni Pappou and Panagiotis Panagakis, followed by Chef El-Habashy’s presentation on the structure and results of the educational programme. Guests were later treated to an array of authentic Egyptian dishes prepared by the seminar’s participants.
Certificates of appreciation were presented to Tasis Food and Gelato Coffee–Spitiko 1964 for their support and hospitality during the programme.
During the ceremony, Gadala announced that the 5th Greek–Egyptian Friendship Forum will take place in Egypt from 6 to 15 February 2026, in cooperation with several Egyptian cultural and academic institutions.
She also extended appreciation to Dr Manal Ali and the Egyptian Cultural Centre for their “gracious hospitality, excellent cooperation, and valuable contribution” to the successful completion of the gastronomy seminars.
The initiative marks the first official Egyptian gastronomy programme implemented in Greece, inaugurating what organisers described as “a new chapter of cultural cooperation between the two countries.”
“Its successful completion reflects the shared commitment of Greece and Egypt to strengthen intercultural understanding through culinary heritage, tradition, and knowledge,” Gadala said.
According to the organizers, the Hellenic–Egyptian Community and the Egyptian Cultural Centre plan to continue their collaboration through new thematic cycles, educational programmes, and cultural events promoting gastronomic education and intercultural dialogue.
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