Chapati, ugali, ingera, kale, mokimo, masa, masala chips, picana, crest...did i mention chapati? One of the most delightful parts of this experience in Kenya so far has been the food. One of my biggest fears coming on this trip was that i wouldn't find much to eat, because i am a vegetarian and the national dish is nyama choma (or bbq as we know it) but it turns out that everywhere you go you can find at least one or most often plenty to eat.
There is a large indian influence here as you can imagine, so there is a lot of curries. Very good curries. I hear that the are better on the coast where we are going in three weeks, but so far, they have been excellent. The samosas have been less impressive in Nakuru, but still good.
There is this bread here called Chapati, maybe you have heard about it? Everyone loves it here. Its dense, moist flat bread, a little sweet, and soaks up sauce well. Another staple at very meal is ugali, this bland spongy, white grits block that is, well…bland. But it’s great with sauces and good for you. One of our chaparones is in love with it.
We went to an Ethiopian restaurant which was amazing. I ordered a vegeterian sampler which had five different dishes made of lentils, currys, potatos and kale all served with the ethopian answer to chapati, ingera. More spongy and very bitter. Kale is turning out to be my favorite new dish. It’s made pretty salty, and cooked with some onions. And its very full of vitamins.
There is a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables being sold. We kept driving by these people roasting corn on the side of the road and we finally gave in and bought some because it looked so good. But it was actually cooked very long and the kernels were hard already. Some were popping into popped corn!. The mangos from the fruit stand were great. Really sweet and juicy.
All the food is really cheap here. Robin estimated about 14 dollars a day, but we have been way below that. I mean, some of our meals do only consist of tea and chapatti, but hey. Its good eats.
The best experience we had so far was going over to our Nakuru JUMP member’s homes to eat dinner with them. There, I had the best kale and cabbage, fried whole potatoes, and mokimo, the best mashed potatoes ever made. It consisted of potatoes, corn, peas and salt, cooked together then mashed, served with a mild clear gravy.
Every morning for breakfast it is the same at our hotel. Coffee, or tea? Both excellent, especially the coffee, and i don't even like coffee. They only have raw sugar at the table here. They serve a piece of papaya, an apple banana and a slice of orange along with a small bowl of corn flakes and fresh milk. Then, comes a piece of sausage and a poached egg with two pieces of bread.
Just one week ago I was freaking out about not having enough peanut butter, dried nectarines and miso soup to last me even one day, and now, I am worried that I am going to over eat and gain 10 pounds. Every meal we eat l leaved the table feeling fuller then before and it is so pleasant to be so well taken care of. Mom, if you are reading this, please look up mokimo and kale and start practicing for when I get home, because knowing me, instead of Brick Oven as my first meal back home, I’ll be asking for Chapati!