Today we’d like to introduce you to Ahmed Zayed.
Hi Ahmed, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It all started when I moved to the US after acquiring my Bachelor Degree in Finance and Investment Management from Egypt. I came while I was still 20 years old with very little English and a lot of dreams to achieve. I began my career from the very bottom of it when I had to do dishwashing in restaurants where I cannot even be a server due to the insufficient English I had. Then I started elevating from a Dishwasher to Prep Cook, Line Cook, Sue Chef, server till I finally became a chef. I used to work 18 hours straight in all sorts of restaurants from casual to fine dining. After four years from working exclusively in restaurants, I finally acquired my first corporate experience as an Accountant in a very reputable company. I had to resume working in restaurants to afford life and because I found my passion in Culinary Industry. Back then, I did not know how to fry an egg, but I started saving and taking cooking classes to understand more about it. I loved the French cuisine and that is where I thought about the fusion of opening an Egyptian restaurant with a French technique. Back then, there were no Egyptian Restaurants in the Atlanta and I wanted to bring the whole experience straight to Georgia and until today pharaohs palace is the only Egyptian Cusine in all of Georgia. Fast forward, by the end of 2018, I was finally able to bring this idea to life and opened Pharaohs Palace.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Let’s agree that there is no road without struggles along the way. I had struggled a lot and still struggling amongst each success I experienced. This is why I want whoever is reading this to know that it gets really hard and you never know when will be the light at the end of the tunnel but don’t give up, this is the essence of life. Moving to a completely different country with no family or friends and barely speaking the language was a very tough time for a 20 years old boy to finally settle in and find his way. I used to finish work at 1:30 am and I lived very far from where I worked and the Marta was always closed by 12:45 am. Back then, there was no Uber or Lyft, only the yellow cab and I couldn’t afford it. So, I had to stay on the bench outside the train station till 5:35 am when it re-opens and finally get home. I would have very few hours left to get some sleep and wake up to catch my day job shift.
We’ve been impressed with Pharaohs palace Restaurant, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Pharaohs Palace is the only Egyptian restaurant in Georgia, we offer exquisite fine dining experience with a French technique. We sell Middle Eastern food with Egyptian flavours. We are a restaurant\lounge so we have full hookah and bar menu. We do entertainment shows, like belly dancers, DJ, and Drummers on the weekends. We are mostly known for Mix Grill, as our meats are organic, grass-fed and Halal, so mix grill contains all our different meats with our signature marination. We are also very known for Alexandrian sausage and Koshary, which are two local dishes in Egypt and also Koshary is plant-based dish so a perfect choice for vegetarians. So, we basically bring together a full-on Egyptian experience.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I also own a Business Consultation company called “A to Z”, we consult restaurants and help bringing their ideas to life through creating menus, recipes and everything. We are also working on bringing Pharaohs Palace close to the city; we are working on opening our second branch so stay tuned!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pharaohspalacerestaurant.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/pharaohspalacerestaurant?igshid=Y2ZmNzg0YzQ=
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pharaohspalacerestaurant
Image Credits
Flash Media Company
