In my first post about Yola cuisine, I mentioned a mystery dish that I was curious about at a nearby restaurant (Kitchen Item 7 is the name of that restaurant). I went back the next night to ask again about this dish. It took awhile to get at what I looking for. I know you have chicken, rice, Jollof rice, fried rice and such, but when I was hear yesterday someone mentioned another dish I haven't heard of that you sometimes prepare. "We have chicken with rice, fried rice, Jollof rice, liver stew, fried plaintains, n--- ..." Yeah, that one. What's it called? "Ndomi" (as I heard the hostess pronounce it). It was hard enough just to get the name, so I wasn't going to bother trying to ask just what it was. With a name like "ndomi" (compare to "ntete" and "nsafu" from my blogs about Central African treats), it's got to be worth checking out, whether it's a stew or snack or what. "Sorry, we didn't make any tonight again." Aw. "But come back tomorrow and we'll make some just for you." So, fast forward to the following night. Three tries later, I'm finally going to get a taste of something new. "Welcome, Sir," the hostess says as she greets me with a curtsy. Did you make the "ndomi"? "Yes, sir. Would you like it with chicken or liver stew?" Hmm, so, apparently it's not a sauce. Perhaps some sort of appetizer or a something like fufu or other dumpling, or maybe an indigenous tuber that's been boiled or fried? We'll soon see. Imagine me sitting down at the table and mentally rubbing my palms together or smacking my lips in anticipation. I'm presented with liver stew and a heaping side of what I would call Ramen noodles.
It wasn't "ndomi" but "Indomie"--a brand name for instant noodles. According the Wikipedia description, this Indonesian brand of instant noodles has also been produced in Nigeria since 1995, but I never came across that in Ghana, for example. A friend in Ghana, quite tickled by my story, confirms that "indomie" is a big favorite in Ghana now too and presumably all over West Africa. ... Oh well. As consolation, earlier that day I came across a street vendor near the AUN campus (a woman from the south) who prepares a decent array of African stews and condiments. And, I guess now I'll put the exploratory eating out on hold until I can get some input from the neighboring faculty who are due to return relatively soon.
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postscript, now that i know better, the signs are everywhere. literally, like on this humongous billboard right next to campus and a gazillion other signs of this nature around town! grrr.
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| liver stew with indomie (the ever-exotic Nigerian-produced instant noodles), pairs with Guinness Malta |
It wasn't "ndomi" but "Indomie"--a brand name for instant noodles. According the Wikipedia description, this Indonesian brand of instant noodles has also been produced in Nigeria since 1995, but I never came across that in Ghana, for example. A friend in Ghana, quite tickled by my story, confirms that "indomie" is a big favorite in Ghana now too and presumably all over West Africa. ... Oh well. As consolation, earlier that day I came across a street vendor near the AUN campus (a woman from the south) who prepares a decent array of African stews and condiments. And, I guess now I'll put the exploratory eating out on hold until I can get some input from the neighboring faculty who are due to return relatively soon.
- - - - -
postscript, now that i know better, the signs are everywhere. literally, like on this humongous billboard right next to campus and a gazillion other signs of this nature around town! grrr.
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