Egyptian-Asian fusion debuts in Sonoma

If you happen to be driving into Geyserville, you might notice a new addition to the landscape – a life-size Egyptian mummy perched on the roadside at the southern entrance to town. She is the official greeting Goddess for a new restaurant, offering an entirely unexpected dining experience for wine country.

Mummy’s Kitchen, a partnership between “Lady Loreon” Vigne and Chef Yaa’ Holwell, has just opened, serving Egyptian-Asian fusion cuisine, in a colorful café tucked away on the grounds of the Isis Oasis Sanctuary spiritual retreat and spa.

The two worked together to meld Vigne’s trove of Egyptian recipes with Holwell’s Thai signatures. One result is the Mummy Wrap ($6), presented Egyptian style with hummus, baba ghanoush and falafel wrapped in lavosh with tahini sauce; or Asian style, bringing rice paper stuffed with purple cabbage (purple is Isis’ royal color, Vigne notes), carrot, watercress, mint, lettuce and peanut sauce.

Other creative takes include the ostrich patty with sliced eggplant on a toasted bun ($14), Tom Ka Gai soup ($5), vegan Egyptian stew with couscous ($12), red pumpkin chicken curry ($12, lunch/$14, dinner), and “Mummy Yummys” like homemade coconut “isis cream” with seasonal fruit ($5).

Currently, Mummy’s Kitchen is open for dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays (stay for the complimentary temple tours after lunch). Longer hours and an expanded menu are in the works, Vigne says.