Submitted by Rebecca Moulds(United States), Aug 18, 2008 at 11:50
There is an Einstein Bros. Bagel shop in Cairo. At first I was amazed, but then figured that perhaps they didn't know that bagels are traditionally Jewish fare. Considering the sometimes blatant distrust of Jews that some Egyptians display, I was pleasantly surprised to find yet another example of foreign investment in that country.
The bagel seems to have transcended the ethnic connections to all things Jewish and can be found almost anywhere in the world, even the Arab world. Perhaps bagel shops will grow in number in countries such as Egypt, which, in 1996 boasted no less than 27 Pizza Hut restaurants. If an American company with Italian overtones could invest in an Arabic country, so can a bagel company with real Jewish connections expand further, and perhaps not just airlines but more restaurants will be able to enjoy this tasty treat.
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