"The ‘Dine Like an Egyptian’ dinner hosted by the Abouseif-Elaggar family is a great celebration of culture and community,” says Amanda McDevitt, Director of Marketing & Communications at St. Thomas School in Medina. Now an annual event in its fourth year, the dinner raised the highest bid once again at the St Thomas School auction, which was held in the spring.

 

“Last year, 20 couples attended the dinner,” Merna Elaggar explains, “but this year we welcomed 31 couples and raised over $55,000!”  The dinner was held in early June at the stunning Clyde Hill home that Merna shares with her husband, Mina Abouseif, and their daughters who are students at St. Thomas School. “Talia has just finished 6th Grade at St. Thomas,” Merna continues, “while Tiana has just completed 4th Grade. As well as donating the ‘Dine Like an Egyptian’ dinner, Merna was a Platinum Sponsor of the auction. As she enthuses, “St. Thomas is a phenomenal community, and we just love to be part of it. We are so lucky to be with St Thomas.”

 

Merna loves to cook and prepared all 23 dishes that were served, other than the desserts. “I am famous for shish kabobs and lamb chops,” she says, “where the secret is to marinate them at least two days before you grill so the meat absorbs the flavors. The side dishes like dolmas, stuffed grape leaves, and the bechamel sauce, take forever to make, so I start to prepare them a week ahead. I am an expert now on the timeline for this event!”

 

The evening began with drinks and Egyptian appetizers, after which the buffet dinner was served. Then guests could experience the hookah lounge, a bar, and the artistry of a belly dancer. Visiting Egypt and the Middle East every year keeps the couple in tune with the food and the customs of the region. As Merna explains, “Last year we went to Dubai and I bought belly dancing belts, the Zagat, the metal rings worn on fingers when dancing, and the Tarbush, the hat that men wear, so we had a table with dancing accessories for our guests to enjoy when they danced.” Everyone had so much fun that many guests stayed until 1a .m.!

 

Because this was an adults-only event, Merna prepared ‘to go’ boxes, including cookies featuring the Pyramids and King Tut, so that guests could take these home for their kids to enjoy and feel included in this fabulous event.

 

As Amanda McDevitt concludes, “This coveted auction item brings families together, creating memories over delicious dishes while supporting a great cause.”