food in Africa is a lot different than in the states. duh. you'll be happy to know that i haven't seen a McDonald's in forever. they have a few chains, one called Steers, that are pretty lame, but no one eats there. ever.
if you want to be a rich tourist fuck, then i advise you to only eat in places like hotels, or other establishments with 4 walls. if you want to eat like an African, then you need to ditch the walls. along with any utensils. don't count on beverages either.
ever had this*? or grits? if so, then you've had the #1 staple of Southern and Eastern Africa. finely ground white corn (much finer than southern grits) is the only thing feeding most people they call it mealie maize until it is cooked in boiling water, at which point it is called-
pap- South Africa
sadza-Zimbabwe/Zambia
ugali-Tanzania**
With a giant heaping pound of this white blob on your plate, you're ready to start adding extras. the basic meal is greens and a tomatoe based sauce/tomatoes. if you're a mazungo like me, you probably spring for the meat/bean option witch will run you about an extra 50 cents. a 1/2 cup of greens (rape, spinach, cale, whatever), the same amount of gravy/sauce with 1-2 pieces of beef/chicken/fish, and if you're lucky you'll get some limes, peppers, and salt.
here's my diet for the last few days:
breakfast is the free juice and banana that comes with the hostel. sometimes i eat the bread/toast they bring. not very good.
brunch is 500 shillings, or 33 cents. beans and a delicious and chewy flatbread. this is across the street on a curb. best brunch ever. so good. they also have stomach soup with my friend mike was a fiend for.
lunch is crackers and peanut butter.
dinner is ugali and beef, usually i try to find a different place each day, because it is all so varied. i never pay more than 2000 shillings, or $1.33.
beer better not be more than 1500 shillings, or you're paying too much. a dollar a beer? ok. that's not to say i haven't payed more, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I haven't actually had a beer in Dar come to think of it. and they dont really have the corn beer that is so prevalent south of here.
my internet time is running out, so i'll have a part 2 on this subject a little later on.
in that i will include:
a. other stuff
b. your wildest dreams
c. a picture of this stuff
d. Rick James.
*i love that their official blog is called M*O*M. genius.
**spelling? other names? other places? help me out African friends.
3 comments:
M O M stands for"aren't you glad your MOM fed you malt o meal when you were little so that now it is familiar and comforting"? that's what.
and where are you right now?
Despite the fact that I despise Malt-O-Meal, this meal experience sounds fantastic.
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