Matooke

Today I'd like to talk about some of the local food we have been eating here in Kampala. Lucky for us, our cook at the house makes fabulous American food. So when we eat at home, it's lasagna, soup, vegetable stir fries, and Grace's famous pumpkin cake. We eat at local restaurants for lunch though, and it is quite an experience. Our favorite restaurant, which we frequent regularly, is the Millennium Dynasty Hotel. Classic name, right?

First, just because an item is listed on the menu does not by any means indicate the restaurant can serve you that food. We have learned that, when asked what we would like to order, it is best to ask what they do have. Usually we have an option of five or six items. At home, beverages are ordered and served before food but here you order drinks after your food and you often need to call over the server.

The drinks we most often get are Coca Colas (they are everywhere), Stoneys, and Krests. Stoneys are really, really strong ginger ale. They sting as they go down, but they are sooo good. Krests are bitter lemon sodas, also quite delicious.

As for food, it is all very starchy. The staples are matooke, posho, rice, and sweet potatoes. Matooke is mashed up raw bananas and posho is a mashed cornmeal type of dish. You usually get one of these staple foods with a choice of g-nut sauce, pea sauce, bean sauce, chicken stew, or beef stew. G-nut sauce is just peanut sauce like we have in the States but chunkier. So far, my favorite dishes are matooke with g-nut sauce and rice with bean sauce.

So far, I have been able to pass on the fish heads and goat meat. Unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to avoid them the whole semester.