An Egyptian Culinary Narrative with Tony Menias
IFTĀH: A Memory Unlocked, an intimate culinary exploration featuring Chef Ashruf El Safy of Simsim in collaboration with visual artist Tony Menias aka beloveful.
This is more than a dinner.
It is a layered, multi-sensory journey through memory, fire, and soul — where cuisine and visual art meet to unlock stories of heritage and belonging.
Culinary Storytelling
A multi-course tasting menu where each plate reveals a chapter of Chef Ashruf’s story — from his mother’s kitchen in Cairo to Alexandria’s fish markets and the creation of Simsim.
Visual Immersion by Tony Menias
Each dish is inspired by Tony Menias’s photography, offered as a deeper visual context as memories unlock beyond the table.
The Collaborators
Chef Ashruf El Safy | Simsim
Egyptian-born and Chicago-based, Ashruf carries his heritage into every dish, reimagining tradition with a modern voice.
His food is soulful, elemental, and rooted in memory.
Tony Menias | Beloveful
Tony’s photography captures Egypt in its lived details — light, shadow, architecture, and faces that carry untold stories.
His work transforms memory into presence, making him the ideal collaborator for this compelling narrative.