Imitation is the highest form of flattery or so they say.  Over the years we have been very very flattered.  Lately we noticed that people have been trying to imitate the recipe of our delicious wings and they can be found as close as right around the corner.  But the copy is never as good as the original.  Portia made up the recipe for these wings while on a family holiday in Namibia – Jason tells the story below:

“We were two weeks out on a four week trip ’round Namibia when we discovered an idyllic camping spot at the source of the Tsauchab River. This is the source of all the water that flows into Sossusvlei between the giant red sand dunes. We set up camp in a valley over-looked by steep, rocky cliffs, shaded by Fever Trees. We had Guinea Fowl to wake us in the morning and the barking of baboons to send us to bed at night. Occasionally a startled Kudu would stand in the path as one rounded the corner; in a word, it was very remote.

On the the day after we set camp Portia discovered the chicken wings had defrosted completely and were about to go off. Supplies of fresh meat were hard to find and she new that Lumai, Leo and I would be looking forward to a braai that night. She had to do something urgently!

As usual Portia always travels with a good selection of spices and condiments. Out came the spices, soya sauce and honey. Into the bowl went  the wings and the mixture and that’s where they marinaded until evening.

The day was spent lolling in pools and exploring the fresh spring as the sun baked down. That night as the day cooled off we lit our fire and braai-ed the wings. Leo ate one wing and said to Portia; “This is good. Where’d you get the recipe?’ Her reply,’Out of my head,’ seemed to please him. He loaded his paper plate and worked his way through about ten more.

Portia’s Sticky Chicken Wings became an all-time favourite and she put them on the next menu in the restaurant.”

As I write this I realise that the end of this year heralds the dawn of not only a new year but a new decade!  It feels like just yesterday that Y2K had us all in the grip of fear of a massive computer meltdown and various clever tricksters out there made millions virtually over-night getting everyone Y2K compliant.  Yes that was 10 years ago!  I feel I could begin philosophising about the past to no end but I have always preferred looking forward and so in the spirit of that here is the menu that we will be serving from December 1st that will see us into 2010 and beyond.  Some of the current dishes are remaining behind because of their mass popularity and others are returning for very much the same reason.  Happy Monday!

THE AFRICA CAFÉ

COMMUNAL FEAST – SUMMER 2009 & 2010

Cassava Bread

Baked tapioca & cheese flat bread

Channa Fish

Dusted with chic pea flour and fried

Moroccan Lamb Stew

Tender lamb stew sweetened with dates

Kenyan Coconut Chicken

Strips of filleted chicken breasts in a coconut milk sauce

Portia’s Sticky Chicken Wings

Grilled with honey & herb marinade

Kenyan Irio Patties

Spinach, potato and pea patties

Malawi Mbatata, Cheese and Sim Sim Balls

Sweet potato & cheese balls rolled in sesame seed

Ethiopian Aib

White curd cheese with home-grown herbs

Congolese Spinach

Spinach cooked with peppers, onion & tomato

Basmati Rice

Cape Malay Dhal Curry

Medium strength lentil curry

Zambian Bean Pies

Crispy pastry with red bean filling

Senegalese Stuffed Papaya

Scooped out halves filled with savoury rice & topped with sweet red pepper relish

Chic Pea Bites

Spicy chic pea, onion and dhanya bites

Mozambican Piri Piri Dip

Hot, spicy dip of crushed red chillies & lemon juice

Egyptian Om Ali Dessert

Yesterday was the first day of Spring even though it may not have seemed that way in Cape Town.  However if you  really concentrate you will be able to hear Spring in the song of the birds, smell its fresh, blossomy scent on the wind and feel the bubbles of joyfulness deep down in your tummy.  Yes the weather may be a little wild out there but Spring is most certainly here and this means its time for a new menu at The Africa Cafe.  Here it is folks!

THE AFRICA CAFÉ COMMUNAL FEAST ~ SPRING 2009

We grow fresh vegetables & herbs in the Family Organic Vegetable Garden. These are included in the menu according to seasonal availability.

Pea & Sage Balls

Dipped in crumbed peanuts

Malawi Mbatata Balls

Sweet potato and cheese balls rolled in sesame seeds

Vetkoek

Light, fluffy, deep-fried breads

Xhosa Imifino Patties

Traditional spinach and mealie-meal patties

Zambian Bean Pies

Red, kidney bean paste folded in pastry

Ethiopian Chic Pea Bites

Spicy, chic-pea, onion and dhanya bites

Crispy Channa Fish

Lightly fried in chick-pea flour

Ethiopian Iab

White curd cheese with organic herbs

Moroccan Zeilook

Dip of aubergine, dhanya and garlic

Congo Salad with Jungle Dressing

Crisp, organic carrots and herbs tossed with cucumber, lettuce & seasonal fruit with orange & palm-oil dressing

Sesame Chicken Kebabs

Chicken slices prepared in soya & ginger marinade and crusted with sesame seed

Cape Malay Dhal Curry

Medium-strength lentil curry

Savoury Rice

Exotic, savoury rice with fresh herbs

Moroccan Chicken Almond Pies

Fresh parsely, almonds, cinnamon & diced chicken lightly baked in phyllo pastry

Moroccan Lamb Stew

Rich, savoury, aromatic lamb stew sweetened with dates

Congolese Spinach

Fresh spinach cooked with onion, organic tomatoes & sweet, red peppers

MOROCCAN DESSERTS

Basboussa – Semolina, almond and rose essence cakes

M’hancha – Almonds, honey and nutmeg lightly baked in phyllo pastry