El Abd Bakery, Cairo

Photo: Todd Coleman

This is one of Cairo's most famous bakeries. Jostle your way to the counter and pick your treats: mini semolina cakes studded with hazelnuts, maybe, or Turkish delight dusted in confectioners' sugar. Maybe some crunchy, sticky sesame bars or a chilled custard or cream pastry. And certainly the shredded phyllo-dough birds' nests dripping in honey. I can't get enough. —Anne Anderson, Capetown, South Africa