..on holiday. In the US. It started off as things I would never eat in New York but that changed when we went to Philly. For all the world, here are things I would not eat on any streets, not because they are ‘streetfoods’, but because I loathe being sick on holiday, especially if I can avoid it. Yes, I know that people can get sick after eating at high end restaurants with NOMA, the world’s best restaurant, a case in point but I’d rather take a chance on an awesome meal over a ‘can-do-without-streetfood experience’. The most common culprit for food-borne...
Updated: Five (5) Nigerian Fruits You’ve Probably Never Seen or Heard Off
Updated 13th September, 2016 – with new information I’ve updated this piece based on recent information and learning. I have added to what I knew previously, nothing has been changed or deleted. Thank you to all the readers who have shared and continue to share information that enables these discoveries. I appreciate it. ——————————————————————————————————————— 🙂 – to be honest, most people will not be familiar with these fruits. Monkey Cola First seen – August 2011, Port Harcourt The first time I came across this fruit, I was intrigued by its crunch and taste – halfway between fresh green peas and...
Spiralize It
There was never any question about if I would get a sprializer (plantains, pawpaw, etc), it always was a matter of ‘when’ and a morning at Sur La Table convinced me. We walked in to see a demo of two sorts, with a Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer and a ‘Spiralizer’. My children were soooooooo excited, begging to have a go at the machines, and yes they were gracefully obliged. Both machines were easy to use for small and big hands, and with a variety of vegetables. For the Plastic Spiral Vegetable slicer, the vegetable is pinned between an immoveable part and...
Four (4) Ways to Make Plantain Noodles
Plantains…versatile veggie. So much to do with it, here’s one of them – plantain noodles. First discovered in 2010 en route some plantain dessert gnocchi. And long before the spiralizer craze. Since then, I’ve explored a few other options and here are some routes to plantain noodles, in three (3) steps. This works with both ripe and unripe plantains Boil plantains I like to cook my plantains in their skin for flavour retention. To prep – wash the plantains, and leave them in their skins. Gently run a knife down one side, from top to bottom splitting the skin but not...
At Kalustyan’s: Nigerian / African Ingredients in New York
My intention wasn’t to go shopping for Nigerian/ African food in Manhattan. I stopped at Kalustyan’s because it is one of my favourite places ever in New York. It reminds me of Ozan, the Turkish Shop in The Hague – every square inch is maximised with lots of flavour and options and opportunities to learn. I love to wander the aisles, looking, reading, just taking it all in. What I find often leaves me thinking about Nigeria, and Africa. About agriculture and commerce. About extending our produce uses into products that stretch our thinking. So much to take it and ponder....
On Philly Cheese Steaks
Philadelphia is all about the cheese steak people. All about the cheese steak. I vaguely remember Philly and its signature sandwich though but I’m reminded by everyone who knows I am headed to Philly to ‘Make sure you try Philly Cheese steak’. I suspect it has cheese and steak in it but I cant muster much more by way of remembrance till we arrive in Philly. A cheesesteak, also known as a Philadelphia cheesesteak, Philly cheesesteak, cheesesteak sandwich, cheese steak, or steak and cheese, is a sandwich made from thinly-sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese in a long roll. A popular regional fast food, it...
Philly Homebrew Outlet
I go through phases where I ponder the meaning of life. What and why we’re here. If human beings are really human. Just how much meanness there is and the like. Then I walk in the door of the Philly Homebrew Outlet on 1447 N American Street, right on the corner with a United States of America flag on the door and I believe what I do most of the time – that human beings are kind and loving, wanting the best for themselves and others. I want to experiment with homemade wines, starting with Agbalumo. New York couldn’t deliver...
Destination Philadelphia
We arrive in Philly, not by pre-destination but by looking at a map at almost midnight Monday. The plan was to go to DC, but the train fares shocked me into a new decision. I wasn’t about to spend a thousand dollars on a two day trip…just for train fares. I did say I wanted to be spontaneous a few years ago, didn’t I? On Google maps, the next major thing to appear was Philadelphia. Oh cream cheese I thought. Nice. Train fare, reasonable at three hundred plus. Time from Penn station? One hour twenty minutes. The absolute clincher...
Home-brew Shops in Manhattan, Or Not
I used to love New York but that’s waning. I used to think New York city was infallible – can you use that with a place? The ability to stay above failure, rise about mistakes, never be wrong? I believed once that everything, absolutely everything I needed I could find in Manhattan. Like wine-making supplies. Like when I decided that I wanted to learn to make wine at home that it would give me more than the books I needed. That I wouldn’t have to go to the only celebrated home-brew shop on the corner of the Bowery and Chrystie,...