Dinner at Muttai's Jan 11

Dinner at Muttai’s  Jan 11, 2011

Last night Alice and myself had dinner with the Muttai’s at their home. Now here’s a lesson in Kenyan culture in regards to food. Kenyan’s eat a lot of carbohydrates. It’s just a fact that they do, I’m getting used to it sorta. Maise and rice are staples as well as beans, the kind of beans I’m not entirely sure of, I’ve seen kidney and pinto like beans. Here in Kenya they have a flat bread that is called Chipate` and I personally really like it.   They also have a dish that is called Ogalley, which is basically cornmeal cooked and then formed into a mound or it’s cake shaped. Do I eat it? No, I personally don’t like it because it just sits in my gut. Now meat is a different story.

When they have meat it’s not like what you’d expect back in the U.S. The meat is often cut up into chunks but the bone can still be attached as well as some fat. It’s a challenge to eat it without the fat, but so far I’ve liked the flavor of the dish.  It’s a lot like a stew only the meat chunks aren’t as big as ours usually are. One of my favorite dishes is fried cabbage! Man it is so darn good.  I particularly like to put the cabbage on my Chipate and roll it up like a burrito.  YUM-O.  They serve a lot of greens, but so far I haven’t eaten any that I really enjoy, even though I’ve tried everything and ate all of it that was on my plate.

Fresh fruit is available here and I’ve found that it tastes a little different than at home, and I think it’s better.  The banana’s are a little sweeter than at home, but then again they ripen in your yard or kitchen. Mangoes are especially yummy right now, and there are plums, but they aren’t like our plums. These plums are smaller and not as sweet as plums in the U.S. One of my favorite things here in Kenya are avocados. OK now don’t be too jealous, but these avocados are fresh off of Alice’s tree. YES my friends, fresh avocados every day. If I can find some Tortia Chips I’ll make guacamole and share it with Alice and Edna.  

One thing people should know about Kenyan’s is that when they invite you to a meal it’s rude to not eat. They are sharing with you the best they have and if you don’t eat or drink it, you are slapping the Kenyan in the face. So eat what you put on your plate, even if it doesn’t taste like you thought it would. HEY if I can swallow FooFoo, anyone can eat Kenyan food!