Monday, May 01, 2006

PLENTY SOUP YET NO POUNDO

When in Lack, Substitute

My weekend in LA was quite interesting. I hung out with 'River' and we got another funny as heck kung-fu flick called 'Kung-Pow'. That's my new thing now, watching kung-fu flicks. I used to love them back in the day, but I guess I have rediscovered them again. We then went to see the Victor Essiet and the Mandators, apparently it is not Essien o. All my life I thought that was his name. I still haven't figured out how they decided to call themselves' Mandator'. What they are mandating sef only God knows. Anyways I now understand why my father said not to bring a rastafarian home. The man was truly acting like he had taken one too many puffs of 'Jamycan' import. With the way he was twicthing and flinging his dreds, I was too distracted for concern that he was going to start hemorrhaging from the nose or something. To some people the concert would have been wack o, but see me I can hang with any group so I had a good time feeling irie with the vibe and all. But I was upset at the end because I waited and even requested for the guy to play 'Rat Race'. That was my fave, do ya'll remember how it goes? 'This is a Rat Race style yeeee... dey ma fe make me shiver shiver...something something.. the poor getting poorer the rich getting richer they all want to see that the others would die, you better know now'. That was the jam. Unfortunately he didn't. That song is like his signature hit and ol'boy did not perform it. So wack. That is like Femi Kuti not performing ' Bang Bang Bang' or even Fela not performing 'Zombie' or 'Lady' or even 'Water no Get Enemy'.
Anyways after hanging with River, painting and listening to 'Ogene' music (traditional Igbo instrumentals) I went to church with another friend. We just went to show face because we faded like after 30 minutes. They were doing some revival and my babes was like 'Omo abeg make we comot.' We then landed 'Veronica's Kitchen' again. Which reminds me, if I haven't already said it before let me help you again. I am sure this is not exclusive to them but my mother and my aunties used to warn to beware of women who make a business out of cooking. They cannot pass being witches and husband snatchers. Their only aim is to either take all the money in your husbands pocket or to steal your husband altogether. Your stock is worse if your cooking is not as good as these 'mama-putters'. Shamelessly me and my girl rolled in to Vero's Kitchen and ordered a plate of Egusi and Ogbono soup, assorted, with pounded yam. We had actually called ahead because we didn't want to be punished by the aroma of the bubbling delicacy while waiting for our plates to land. Without forming, we washed our hands and dug in. By the time we'd gotten half way on the mound of fufu, we were like omo we can't finish this grub so we have to pack it. My friend was like I should take her because she was implementing structural adjustment program to her waistline. What a funny babe. I didn't even think twice, because that ogbono soup was on point.
Which brings me to today. I had the left over pounded yam and some ogbono for lunch. Come dinner time, I had plenty soup but no poundo and I had been smelling this egusi soup all the way from work. I had to think on my feet. You see, during SAP (structural adjustment) things were very tight, even for rich people. You had to find ways to provide a balanced meal with very little at your disposal. That was a time of beans substituted for the protein you get from meat. When you had to actually buy a stick of sugar cane to chew on because sugar was too expensive. When you had to let your half cup of garri soak for long in 2 cups of water so that it will 'swell up'. It was a time of Rechauffe and substitution. As a single African in America, today was one of such days when there was neither garri nor pounded yam nor convenience of 'Mr. Kingsley's African Store'. The geeza could have been more creative with a name like that(that's sarcasm). However, there was 'grits' which looks and feels and tastes like garri, and when it looks, sounds and walks like a duck, then it must be. And then there was mashed potato. To cut the long story short sha, I made some mashed potatoes, poured my egusi on the side of the plate and proceeded to masticate my grubs. And it was delicious, no difference at all except in the consistency of the poundo, or in this case the mashy. My roommates were like 'Ooooh that look good.' Little did they know. I still have one more round with the egusi and two with the ogbono.Lol. I dunno about another day of mashy-poundo, I might just try white rice. I really feel sorry for my future husband if he is Nigerian. He'll have to learn to eat salads and chinese or we might just have to reach a compromise. We'll settle on take out, from Vero's Kitchen types, afterall why pay $25 bucks on a supreme pizza when you can have some goat-head peppersoup.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

do u still watch big brother nigeria?

Anonymous said...

Yeah,I remember them now oh..I too didnt know it was "Essiet"! It's all Christy "Essien" Ibokwe's fault! hmmm dat mashed potato sound interseting oh!. Me sef go try am! Jah knows how many time I have rolled up to the kitchen cabinet for some poundo and then nothing...but *cricket sounds*( you know how in the movies they use cricket sounds to signify emptiness/nothingness)Anyway I then have to turn to rice, pasta etc anything starchy sha...yuk, I know..even tried the Hause route, making tuwo shinkafa with the rice but that didn't gel either. But this mashed potato deal has got me thinking. Good on ya Adaure. Neccesity is the mother of invention!

Anonymous said...

Ehen...meanwhile how far? Any yarns from the Hakeem weds Deaola side? I know..ah be real gbele..but can't help it!

Adaure Achumba said...

No yarns on the wedding o...
On the Tuwo Shinkafa from rice tip..lol.. been there done that.. did not fly at all. But me i still chopped it like that sha

Anonymous said...

I just stumbled into your blog. very very nice. I am a fellow nigerian. I will keep my eyes open for you on CNN. Take care, will forward your url to all my friends.

Biodun said...

LOL...I feel u on d whole substitution...I actually prefer mashed potatoes to pounded yam...too heavy I say, I guess I need 2 go back 2 naija 2 taste d real thing..I dont know who "Christy Essiet" is ..hmm o well

Anonymous said...

Christy Essien Ibokwe sang Seun Rere a big hit at most Nigerian "aunty gimme cake parties" aka Birthday Parties in eighties!

Local hits were also Onyeka Onwenu - One Love
Mike Okri
Omoge and Time na money
Ras Kimono, Evi Edna Ogholi (i think that how to spell herlast name) etc LOL..please dont let my inner razznes jump out!. But yeah, Christy Essien and Onyeka were Nigeria's answer to Diana Ross for a hot minute! Good times

Monef said...

Hungry

Anonymous said...

mashed potatoes and egusi??? adaure, you have reached a new low in life...i never thought you could sink lower than making okro soup that looked like egusi, but you have proven me wrong...congratulations. i can officially never be surprised by anything you do again.

Adaure Achumba said...

Hmh @Sswiwa.. I thought my low was the 'Grits and Shrimp-that-wasn't-really-Shrimp' gourmet platter or the what was 'pink rice' according to Dezy. I'm confused.

Anonymous said...

"when in lack" ?

huh (eyes rolling)... please can you be more conscious of your grammar ?

Adaure Achumba said...

And who the hell are you...Invigilator? Biko shift!! By the way is that a statement or a question? Uh hmh...Cambridge answer now. 'Teesha teeshing nonsense'...don't even try to give me the it's a rhetorical question line...(eyes rolling right back at ya)

Anonymous said...

You know Adaure, I love the fact that you can flip the script any time you want. You can exchange ideas and thoughts with the ajebuta's, the razzo's and in between. And thats real! It is clear that you are quite eloquent articulate and anything short of that is mainly comic relief!.

Belema said...

My dear I dont know what is wrong with these Musicians...that is how Majek Fashek recently refused to sing "Send down the rain" recently in Baltimore at the 2face concert !!!
I remember Rat Race my popsie bought the record for me when I was a kid !!
Cheers ...Oyibo Pepe

Anonymous said...

i know i kinda late but im new here & after readin a couple of ur new blog, i decided to read the older ones. anyways, y'all need to try Farina with ur soup. it usually some mixture of rice and wheat flour or something like that ... but its really good. all u need is a pot of boiling water, then add farina and turn. its a staple in Los Angeles. go to parties & most times thats what they serve w/ thier egusi soup.

u can grab a bag of farina in most African (Nigerian) stores. (the whiter the farina flour, the better when u make it). for u Addy, u might want to hit Downtown LA (if u can) or just about any african store in LA.

t said...

i've only been on your blog for a minute and i luv you already. Props. I used to go to Veronica's kitchen...

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Unknown said...

As for the Essiet Mandator concert. You want him to sit down and sing-o? Dancing is his style. And never touch the weed has he! His concerts are notorious! Most singers just stand there and sing. He actually entertains you. Give him a break. He plays for hours and hours and you nag about one song. This rasta is spiritually powerful. Give him an IRIE!!!!!!!