Pointe Noire,
Congo
Friday, December 5, 2008
Our maid/nanny made us a treat this week, a local dish called Saka-saka. It is a hodgepodge of leeks and scallions and other greens, with fish and eggplant and (we think) peanut butter...it may sound strange, but it all comes together for a rich delight. It almost didn't happen, because our cheap plastic chopper broke down, but our friend down the street lent us her deluxe Osterizer to save the day. Adele apparently only knows how to make Saka-saka in bulk, or else maybe it's not worth making small batches since it's pretty labor intensive. Anyway, she took half a pot home, left us with half, and we gave a tupperware full of it to Melanie when we returned the blender. We are trying to groom Adele to help us out more in the kitchen, and she seems eager to comply -- more kitchen time means less laundry time is probably what she's thinking. Anyway, we've decided that she doesn;t need to iron every piece of clothing to ward off the insect eggs/skin eating larvae thing, since we don't hang our clothes to dry outside and running them through the dryer we're told is just as effective at destroying them if they do get into the clothes somehow. So she should have the time and energy to help us out in the kitchen.
Tonight it's a trip to what is said to be the best dinner in town, or at least the best steak house: La Arbelette, which might mean the Crossbow, judging from the sign. Some friends are gathering there for what is being called the pre Christmas Chaos Night Out. We've done a lot of socializing at friends' houses (and hosted here), but not only one gathering out on the town prior to this that I can think of. Should be a festive time.
Last week's Thanksgiving/Oscar's b-day party celebration was a great time, and international mix of friends and food. German meatballs, local crayfish, treats from two local Moroccan restaurants, a spicy mango salad, a chile con carne and straight up steak. We showed the kids a movie on the big screen while we dined in peace out on the terrace. It was a hot night, but we all survived.
