Dining with Egypt's Royalty
A photographic tour of the Abdin Palace kitchens, banquet halls, and museum, then and now
Cars + Boats King Farouk Of Egypt + Palace, Cairo by John PhillipsLIFE Photo Collection
Abdin Palace
Egypt’s principal royal (now presidential) palace, Abdin, was commissioned by Egypt's viceroy, Khedive Ismail (r. 1863–1879) soon after he acceded to the throne. It was completed ca. 1874 by French architect Léon Rousseau.
The palace would remain home to Ismail’s descendants until the reign of Egypt’s last ruling king, Farouk (r. 1936–1952). Today, it houses presidential offices and gardens where events are hosted, as well as several small museum areas open to visitors year-round.
Food, Cooking, Eating King Farouk Of Egypt + Palace, Cairo (1933) by John PhillipsLIFE Photo Collection
The Kitchen
During its years as a royal residence, the 500-room palace boasted enormous state-of-the-art kitchens to serve the royal family and their guests. A 1944 article for LIFE magazine described the kitchen at Abdin as ‘more impressive than that of Buckingham Palace’.
Located on the ground floor next to the khedivial guard rooms, ceremonial offices, warehouses and staff dormitories, the kitchens were built in a semi-detached wing to minimize the risk of fire and keep the cooking smells from wafting into the palace.
Here, the head chef stands to the left in the foreground supervising the work. He oversaw every meal at each of the royal palaces along with his staff, but the king’s meals were prepared by him alone. He also accompanied the king on all his travels. In the centre, we can see the butcher and several sous chefs with napkins around their necks.
Food, Cooking, Eating King Farouk Of Egypt + Palace, Cairo (1933) by John PhillipsLIFE Photo Collection
A favourite subject for all reporters was King Farouk’s large appetite, usually exaggerated for journalistic effect, especially in later years as he began to gain weight and political tides turned against him.
Royal Treatment
The highly skilled palace stewards or suffragis were often awarded medals for their many years of service, loyalty, and efficiency. Here, we see King Farouk’s breakfast trays being carried by his private suffragi Abdul Metaal, followed by Mohamed Idris. The breakfast typically included sherbets and a lavish display of fruits, carried daily with much pomp to the king’s private quarters.
A Royal Appetite
We are told the king’s luncheon tray pictured here comprises ‘peaches, lobster, chicken, pomegranates and mangoes (rear), and under the silver covers, chicken fricassee, mutton chops, sole, bouchée a la reine (a puff pastry case filled with meat or fish in a cream sauce), mashed potatoes, peas, rice and artichokes’. Quite a feast!
Abdin Palace Dining RoomRAWI Publishing
The Grand Table
Over the years, the kitchens of Abdin catered to countless state banquets and historic royal events. Many of these took place in the immense formal dining room with its imposing fifty-seat dining table.
Museum Displays of Abdin PalaceRAWI Publishing
The Abdin Palace Museum
Today, the royal family’s tableware is on display at the Abdin Palace Museum, where we were given rare permission to photograph some of the highlights from the collection.
Khedive Ismail's Red and Green Glassware from the Abdin Palace Museum CollectionRAWI Publishing
Among the oldest items housed at the museum is this glass set belonging to Khedive Ismail (r. 1863–1879), the founder of Abdin Palace.
Silver Tray with Engraving of Chafak Nur from the Abdin Palace Museum CollectionRAWI Publishing
A silver tray inscribed with the name of Khedive Ismail’s wife, Chafak Nur. It dates to the hijri year AH 1301, which corresponds to 1884 CE.
Khedive Tewfik's Crystal Decanter and Goblets from the Abdin Palace Museum CollectionRAWI Publishing
A crystal decanter and goblets inscribed with the initials of Khedive Tewfik (r. 1879–1892), son of Ismail and his wife Emineh.
Khedive Tewfik's Crystal Carafe and Two Decanters from the Abdin Palace Museum CollectionRAWI Publishing
A crystal carafe and two matching decanters adorned with the emblem of the Egyptian royal family.
Khedive Abbas Helmi's Red Decanter and Matching Set from the Abdin Palace Museum CollectionRAWI Publishing
A decanter and matching set of drinking glasses dating to the reign of Khedive Abbas Hilmi II (r. 1892–1914).
Khedive Abbas Helmi's Red and Green Pitcher and Bowl Set Abdin Palace Museum CollectionRAWI Publishing
Pitcher and bowl sets, also from the reign of Khedive Abbas Hilmi II.
Prince Youssef Kamal's Purple Crystal Decanter and GobletsRAWI Publishing
A crystal decanter and matching goblets belonging to Prince Youssef Kamal, one of King Farouk’s wealthier cousins and a famous patron of the arts. In 1908, he founded the first School of Fine Arts in Egypt.
Delvaux Pharaonic Green Enamel Tea and Coffee Set from Abdin Palace Museum CollectionRAWI Publishing
This exquisite tea and coffee set was made for King Farouk by the prestigious Parisian firm Delvaux, at the time located at 18 Rue Royale in Paris.
Delvaux Pharaonic Freen Enamel Tea CupsRAWI Publishing
Each piece is gilded with pharaonic relief decoration and King Farouk’s royal emblem on a striking green enamel glaze.
Delvaux Pharaonic Green Enamel Serving Platter from Abdin Palace Museum CollectionRAWI Publishing
It comes with a serving platter featuring an ancient Egyptian-style scene depicting a funerary boat (right) and a picnic boat (left).
Delvaux Pharaonic Green Enamel Serving PlatterRAWI Publishing
This plate shows a fishing scene in detail as exquisite as the original ancient Egyptian tomb reliefs.
Food, Cooking, Eating King Farouk Of Egypt + Palace, Cairo (1933) by John PhillipsLIFE Photo Collection
Dinner is Served
The palace’s chief steward (wearing his decorations) pulls out the king’s chair. Take a seat and prepare to marvel at the exquisite dinnerware that complements the lavish menus.
Assortment of Royal Formal Dinner PlatesRAWI Publishing
An assortment of formal dinner plates, all displaying the emblem of the Egyptian royal family.
Dish bearing the royal emblem, much like the plates used during the banquets shown in previous slides.
Set bearing the royal crown and the name of King Farouk.
Plate bearing the inscription al-Farouk belonging to Egypt’s last ruling king.
French-made porcelain plate bearing the initials of Princess Bahiga Hassan Ismail, one of Khedive Ismail’s granddaughters.
English-made oval serving plate bearing the initials of Prince Youssef Kamal.
Take note of how the table is actually an immense tray set on a wooden stand.
Large Turkish-made Silver TrayRAWI Publishing
Before European-style dining tables became ubiquitous, it was typical for meals in Egypt to be served on these ornate trays made of brass or silver and set atop stands as seen in the previous slide. After the meal, the entire tray would be removed.
This Turkish-made silver tray is over 1 m in diameter and decorated with the Egyptian royal emblem.
Last but not least, this 19th-c. Prussian-made silver goblet holder is from the collection of Khedive Ismail. It can be seen in the background of the next slide depicting a 1939 banquet by King Farouk for Crown Prince Mohamed Reza Pahlavi of Iran.
Khedive Ismail's Silver Prussian Goblet HolderRAWI Publishing
The two-tier base holds up to 48 goblets. Around the base, four mythical women carry plates.
The middle part is decorated with foliate motifs and is flanked by two decorated handles.
One side shows a seated woman holding a bunch of grapes.
On the other handle, we see a man drinking from a bottle.
The cover is topped by a handle in the shape of a hunter riding a lioness, carrying in one hand a stick and in the other a cup, while the lioness is holding a bottle, looking at him, and waiting to refill his cup.
For more on royal dining, check out this story on the palace of a Princess.
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