opening the carved doors , i pulled out a jar of shedeh , an egyptian specialty wine , and poured it into a jeweled gold chalice.a loaf of fresh bread had been placed on a stone warming plate by a serving girl and i cut a slice of the thick rye bread as well.carrying the food and drink to cleopatra , i implored her to eat it.neither one of us had eaten anything since our dinner had been disrupted by tehran .