by Nnenna Isika

Created on: May 25, 2007

"The taste of the pounding is in the eating" this is what guides my senses when I am dining out especially when it is a special occasion; our choices vary on the type of restaurant and the choice of food we want to eat; some prefer European cuisine others go for oriental dishes and restaurants; but all these places and meals can not be compared to dinning in an African restaurant served with sumptuous African delicacies.

Take for example the diverse variety of African dishes here in Nigeria like in the Northern part of Nigeria where " tuwo shinkata" is the best food rich in vitamins and which helps the immune system in the body to increase; tuwo is mainly served with "kunu" made from maize and cow's milk it is a sable source of protein.
Moving to the eastern part of Nigeria where "Nkwobi" is my favorite cuisine rich in vegetables and protein; and is served with palm wine or "odegun".
In the western part of the country the Yoruba's have "amala and efo riro" which is made from corn starch and fresh vegetables.
The shores outside Nigeria also boast of African cuisines like the Togolese which have as there cuisine "ewa agoyin" which is made from beans and dried pepper ; it is rich in protein. It is eaten with yam, garri, or plantain.
Moving on to Ghana it has a meal called "kwampe" a meal really cherished and appreciated by the Ghanaian's.
And in South Africa "machonu" which is made from locust beans and spiced honey.
These are just a few African meals which are available in African restaurants.
Talking about African restaurants; taking a good a look at them; the sight is breath taking for any couple that walks in; as the exterior settings are truly African in nature; from the seats which are often made from wooden canes to the friendly waiters in their typical African costumes and beads; to the traditional African music which in most cases always set you in the right mood. All these are well packaged in a unique form to give the restaurant the distinctive African feeling.
Notable among African restaurants are Calabar kitchen which specializes in purely Efik cuisines like edika-ikong" Mama Kas, and Obalende Suya Spot which specializes in barbeque.
In Ghana there is the "Kotoko Vine" which is purely Ghanaian setting and in South Africa there is the African huts which in a spacious environment to give a unique African feel.
The uniqueness of these African meals served in these restaurants is that you have to eat with your hands in other to savor the taste of the meals. The experience of eating in an African restaurant lives on in the mind of the couples and people who have had the privilege of dinning in them.
Taking the bull by the horn the whole essence of you dinning out is to enjoy the meal"hmmm" I had to pause to savor the taste of the truly African food and having a memorable experience; one that last in your mind for a long time and the African food that lasts in your tongue for a longer time.

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