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

Thenjiwe is one of the most important people at The Africa Cafe.  Ok we are all important but Thenji is the first person people see when they walk in the door as she is our front desk hostess.  Look out for her on your next visit and if she is not there you might be in the wrong place!  This is her story:

Life is very short.  Right, wrong, life is what you make of it and for how long depends on you.  Why start my story like this?  Well that is how deep and true it is.  When I left home I had goals I wanted to achieve.  It’s been six years now and I have not set even one!  I think it’s high time I did, don’t you?  God is on my side – I know because He has blessed me with a loving, supportive and go-getter husband who is going places, but he is a story for another day.  He (God) has also blessed me with the most lovely, adorable and cute thing that one would ever wish for – a baby girl named Prudence, now aged 5 – but a naughty one!  I love her with my whole heart.  With those two by my side I think I can do what I came here to do.  Pursue my dream of becoming a writer.

I come from the USZ, United States of Zimbabwe.  Second and last born to a lady who though she is no more, I respect and love and very honestly take my hat off to and without hesitation I bow down for her.  That too is a story for another day.  Fashion design is my hobby right after writing and reading.  I did half a year of a journalism course and quit because I was just tired.

Last but not least The Africa Cafe is one happy family.  Actually guess what?  So are you because you are reading this, so come back and meet each member of the family and then soon, very soon, come visit us in person.