Ambassador Tarek Dahroug (second from left) speaks at the event.
The event was held under the patronage of Tarek Dahroug, Egypt’s ambassador to France and permanent delegate to UNESCO, alongside his spouse Alia El-Sirafi, and brought together a high-profile audience of Egyptian, French, and international guests, including business leaders, artists, and public figures.
Organized by Stylezzia Magazine, the event was presented under the theme “The art of living, the Egyptian-French way,” through the “Giver of Hope” platform. It marked the first time that the Food Influencers Awards were held in Paris, highlighting the growing intersection between gastronomy, digital culture, and lifestyle branding.
In remarks delivered during the event, Ambassador Dahroug said the gathering reflected the depth of Egyptian-French relations and underscored the importance of cultural dialogue and exchange. He noted that Egypt’s openness to global experiences forms part of a broader vision to strengthen its cultural presence internationally, drawing on a rich civilisational heritage that continues to resonate worldwide.
Alia El-Sirafi described the event as a celebration of continuity between tradition and modernity, particularly in the culinary arts, which she characterised as a universal language connecting societies. She highlighted the role of social media influencers in transforming traditional dishes into globally shared cultural expressions, bridging Egyptian and French identities in contemporary formats.
The programme featured a blend of culinary and lifestyle activities, including a cooking competition, tasting sessions led by professional chefs, a fashion show, and a live music performance. The evening concluded with Egyptian folkloric shows, adding a distinctly cultural dimension to the festivities.
Speakers also pointed to the evolving nature of gastronomy in the digital age, where food is no longer limited to taste but has become a fully immersive, shareable experience shaped by social media platforms and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Event organizer Andra Obrea said the initiative aims to highlight cultural convergence between Egypt and France through a dynamic platform that reflects both authenticity and modernity. She added that the choice of Egypt House in Paris was deliberate, given its symbolic value as a space that embodies the fusion of the two cultures.
The event ultimately positioned Egypt House as a hub of cultural diplomacy, where cuisine, art, and heritage intersected to project Egypt’s soft power in a contemporary, globally resonant form.
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