My first Kenya meal was at restaurant that specialized in roasted meat (nyama choma in Swahili), where we ate roasted goat (nyama choma ya mbuzi), corn flour paste (ugali) that looks like white mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes-and-peas (mokimo) that looks like light green mashed potatoes, really cooked collard greens (sukuma wiki), and a tomato salad. Once we placed our order, we chatted and drank while waiting for about 60 minutes for the food to arrive. But before the food arrived, the waiter/waitress came by our table with a basin and pitcher of hot water, which he/she poured over a basin so we could wash our hands before we ate. We ate the food with our hands — no utensils were given nor offered.
(from left to right) Anke, Elizabeth, chef slicing goat meat at our table.
The restaurant kitchen is in full view.
