Healthy Eating in the African Community

Afternoon everyone,

It's been a while, I just scrolled down the page and saw that my last post was in February!!! To be fair I did try to write a Mother's day special dedicated to all our darling mother Africa's but my computer was playing up, in any case I trust that you guys still managed to treat your mothers to a nice meal if not...shame on you.

Anyway, I want to share what's been on my mind of late...No it's not Obama's recent visit to Londres or the fact that my dear dinner guest is off to Naij on Thursday,hissssss, It's actually healthy eating. I have been piling on the pounds and decided that now is the time to take control. One of my childhood friends asked me to be a bridesmaid at her wedding this August, how exciting!! (congrats girl, what an honour to share in your joy) This has given me something to work towards ;-)

So, I've started my healthy eating regime. I know a lot of people that are scepticle of how possible it is to be African and really be on a healthy eating diet espcially with all those tasty but not so healthy dishes at ones beck and call. For example, I love love love rice but have noticed that all my rice abuse has left me feeling bloated.

First I decided to start with the basics, sleep earlier, drink more water,drink green tea and do more exercise.( no I have not joined the gymn but taking the stairs from the 2nd floor to the 11th floor in my office building is a workout in itself) I have developed into deeper levels of my regime, my love affair with rice has now been restricted to once a week, snacks are now in the form of carrotts or fruits and breakfast consists of yougart and organic oatcakes.

You may be wondering how on earth I have managed to cut rice down to once a week, espcially being Nigerian it's like almost 99% of our diet, rice and stew, jellof rice, fried rice, ofada rice, rice and curry, have I left any out? Well it has not been easy I have been looking up and down for alternatives and stumbled on a few that are't so bad.

Here are a few:
-Covent Gardens Chicken soup
Thick, creamy and acctually filling

- Lentils with crayfish and plantain
This suggestion was given to me by a friend of mine, thought it sounded terrible initially but everything is worth a try at least once, so I made it and it's good, tasted like beans and plantain.

- Sweet potato mash, salmon and vegetables
This one speaks for itself, deeeelicious but the salmon has to be done just right with a crispy base, I'm not a fan of soggy salmon

This is a working progress but I'm enjoying feeling a lot lighter and eating healthier is actually making me feel good. As always I'm open to more suggestions. Has anyone got any more alternatives to eating rice?

'Have you been to D'Den?'

Is a question that I had been asked up and down town, to which I'd say 'no, I have not' the general response would then be 'are you seriousss?' But alas, finally I have been to D'den so you guys can chill.

After a night out at one of those London spots (I refuse to expose the place in which I from time to time shake my thang) a member of the munch bunch aka my girls suggested we go for chops at D'Den. I was hungry and the thought of roasted fish nicely complimented with crispy fried plantain carried me to Cricklewood, North West London despite the fact that I reside in the east side of London.

My verdict? worth the wait! I was not disappointed, I thoroughly enjoyed my generous portion of fish and plantain washed down with an ice cold bottle of Super Malt all at a reasonable cost, bonus considering the credit crunch is officially upon us.

D'Den is the kind of spot where you could bump into just about anyone, old uni friends, your former teacher from Naij, your pastor...needless to say it has a buzzing atmosphere.

Ok so I'm late to have visited this popular restuarant but how many of you have actually interviewed the man behind the food? I have...Introducing Mr Akeem 'D'Den' Balogun aka Balo



Akeem Balogun, Owner of D'Den

 1) What’s your full name?Akeem Balogun. I’m called Balo by all.

2) When did The Den fist open for business and who or what inspired you to open it?
I’ve always enjoyed cooking which most people might say is odd for a guy. My friends have always known me to be a good cook and from back in the day, my home had always been used to entertain friends who come for that good food! It was a natural progression to open the restaurant which is what I did in 2003.

3) Which celebrities have been spotted in The Den?
We have seen many footballers, musicians and politicians. They are too numerous to name.
The Nollywood actors and actresses are the latest addition to the clientele. As you can see in the picture, my good friend Adebayor of Arsenal joined me for my birthday celebrations.

Footbal player Adebayor at D'Den

4) What would you say is the secret behind your success?

I believe my passion for food is the secret and because of this, I always aim for excellence where food in concerned. Also, I believe my personal touch is something the customers enjoy.

5) You have just won an award, elaborate please…What was it for?
I won the customer excellence award which I'm very proud of. I give thanks to my customers for this; their loyalty over the years has ensured the continual success of D’Den.



Customer Excellence Award


6) What are your plans moving forward with The Den? Can we expect to see any more branches? A Den bar perhaps?

D’Den entertainment is a new part of our brand expansion. This is being launched in May with a series of boat parties. We are looking forward to changing the way people have fun in London. This area of the expansion is being handled by my project manager Irene Ogede through her company, Volenz. I definitely see D’Den expanding in 2009. There are branches planned so do stay posted.

7) What is your most recommended dish served at the Den?

If you ask the customers this you will get different answers. Based on requests, I will say that the seafood special is legendary. This can be enjoyed anytime of the day. Also, the char grilled fish which is a firm favourite among all especially my Caribbean clientele. They love the pepperlina sauce too which is a spicy and very hot accompaniment to the fish. After clubbing, suya, jollof and akparo is very popular.

8) Who would you most like to share a plate of Jellof rice with and why?
I will like to share a plate with my late mum. She is my inspiration and the reason I love to cook the way I do now.

Thanks for your time and look out for your special feature coming soon on theflyinmypeppersoup.blogspot.com

From Dubai with Love

 

 Al Hili



I'm back and black!! I've been away on holiday in Dubai it was amazing, highly recommended, the sun, the kofta(some delicious kebab thing) the desert safari, the gold, the aqua park...ok I'll stop but I did bring a lil' gift back for you all, a restaurant review ;-)

Yep much to the annoyance of my company, my determination to find the Nigerian restaurant in Dubai that I'd heard so much about paid off.

Now where would you expect to find a Nigerian restaurant in Dubai? Only in the depths of the gold souk of course, that place was Naija central, full of Nigerians of all shapes and sizes buying gold for their next owambe party, myself included. All that gold shopping does work up your appetite so I asked a group young men if they knew of any nearby Nigerian restaurants and that is when they told us about 'AL HILI,' everyone that we asked thereafter seemed to know the place so as we got closer you can imagine the anticipation.

We finally reached our destination, initially I was confused, the sign said 'Al Hili' but it was a hotel? The restaurant was of course in the hotel but it was not one of those nice hotel joints, first we had to go to the back, then through a suspect looking alley way before going up some even more suspect stairs, at this point we'd decided that we were not going to eat here, the horrible smell (God forgive me) that welcomed us confirmed it. Then there was the fact that they were selling shoes in the same place that food was being served?! To be fair the food didn't look too bad but I wasn't gonna take the risk, it's all about basic hygiene and presentation people, those shoes just spoilt it such a shame.

Has anyone else been there and actually had something to eat? It would be interesting to hear what the food tastes like. Has anyone been to any other African restaurants in Dubai? Please where are they, I need to know for future reference.

Thanks,

Ms Fly x



Shoes on sale in the restuarant



Can't Cook, Won't Cook!!

Whoever came up with that term is wrong, it's not that we won't cook sometimes we simply can't. Want me to make a tuna pasta bake? I'll have my apron on in no time and even ask if you want one slice of garlic bread or two with that, but ask me to boil snails with that beautiful pepper stew then you have lost me.

I have found that dressing to impress no longer cuts it, well maybe on the first date but after that babes have to cook to impress too as brothers look for wives that not only have the looks to compete with the likes of Beyonce (thank God for Brazillian hair) but also the culinary skills to match that of their mother dearest. Front we may by refusing to cook but when that special dinner guest comes to town you know the pressure is on to tickle his taste buds.

I recall the first time I had a special dinner guest and I attempted to make a simple stew, OK my stew is to die for now people, but I must admit that the first attempt was rather salty to say the least. I have now laid off on the salt but my biggest test yet came recently when my dinner guest wanted to eat Iyan and egusi stew(pounded yam avec spinach for the non-Nigerians). Yea, this is blag able I've seen people do it so many times I thought but I was evidently oblivious to how much power was needed to mash the thing into a smooth ball and to make matters worse I HAD NO WOODEN SPOON. Determined to overcome I got stuck in and I'm kinda proud of my first attempt, dinner guest even went for second rounds ;-)

Well I promised that I'd share tips with you guys so here's tip numbers 1 & 2:
1) Every good cook MUST a wooden spoon
2)Never be caught in the kitchen without Knorr Cubes

Has anyone got tips for me?
Happy Cooking

Breakfast at Tiffany's?! I want dinner at the Obama's...

HAPPY INAUGURATION DAY, not any old inauguration day but the first black American president's inauguration day!!!

As we wait in anticipation for the new American president to enter his new place of residence some are wondering what will Mr Obama say? others are wondering, what will Mrs Obama wear? but I, being a true food lover, am most concerned about what the Obamas will eat? will they be serving food from Barack Obama's Kenyan roots? (I like love Kenyan  food, give me some kariokor anyday ), or will they be serving some good old African-American soul food? corn bread, chicken wings.....

I did my research and it's possibly none of the above :-( Word is, the White House chef of 14 years will be keeping her job. Chef Cristeta Comerford (she even sounds like food, God forgive me) is originally from the Philippines and trained in France, the capital of le cuisine, she plans on serving healthy organic meals to the Obama family.

Selection of typically Kenyan food



Chef Cristeta Comerfod





Please can I blog too

Omg I'm here how exciting! I promised myself that i'd start blogging this year and I've made it. Ok so you might be thinking, 'where have you been? blogging is sooo 5yrs ago,' I know (my mother even has a blog) but I was concerned because modern technology is not exactly my forte and I wanted my blog to look pretty, with time I hope it will but let me begin with a quick introduction.

This blog is going to be about food,no as in for real, being Nigerian I can not escape it... so I will be sharing my experiences, from my attempts to cook, to tips that I have learnt, gisiting you about the best and worst food tasted at recent events, the hottest restuarants that I or celebrities have recently visited and keeping you updated with dining deals ;-)