Global Table Adventure

Monday Meal Review: Namibia

June 11, 2012 By Sasha Martin 11 Comments

As Ava scuttles off to the zoo with her grandmother, I stay behind to wrangle alligator for the first time. While she walks between the lanky giraffes and prowling tigers, seeking a tail-slinging alligator of her own, I coat ours with a bright layer of lemon piri piri sauce and pop it in the refrigerator for a few hours. As she watches the lions, padding their way around their enclosure, scanning the perimeter, looking for a way out - wondering where the rest of Africa is - I place a loaf … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Monday Meal Review, Namibia

Recipe: Bread of the Wild (Veldt Bread)

June 9, 2012 By Sasha Martin 1 Comment

Today we're traveling to the sandy, dusty plateaus of of Southern Africa where you'll find the Veldt - large expanses of wilderness, often filled with scrubby bushes and the occasional scraggly tree. Here, too, you'll find prowling lions, circling scavenger birds, and hearty veldt bread - which pretty much means bread of the wild. According to the World Cookbook for Students, this quickbread was created by European settlers as a way to nourish themselves with familiar ingredients in an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Breads, International Recipes, Namibia, Potluck Friendly, Vegetarian

Recipe: An Alligator’s Bite (Bushmeat Skewers) w/ poll

June 8, 2012 By Sasha Martin 5 Comments

In the muddy waters of Namibia you can find all manner of crocodile. They are both hunted and hunters, so it's best to keep your wits about you if you find yourself in their snappish company. Since I live in the part of the world where alligators roam (or very near to it, as they can be found in Georgia, just a couple of states away), I made this quick substitution for this traditional Namibian bushmeat. If you'd like to know the difference between a crocodile and an alligator, I've been told … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Fun Friday, Grilling, International Recipes, Meat, Namibia

Recipe: Mango & Ginger Chutney

June 7, 2012 By Sasha Martin 4 Comments

Sometimes life throws us some pretty major "boulders" - huge, overwhelming problems we can't seem to solve, let alone nudge out of the way. In Namibia, you can find a lot of these boulders, literally. Strangely out of proportion, these massive stones perch atop bald, widswept vistas. I like to think of these formiddable boulders as mangoes. Yes, mangoes. Something that, if given enough time, will soften and sweeten and delight you. Why can't all problems be this way? Today's recipe … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Fruit, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Namibia, Potluck Friendly, Sauces & Dressings, Seasoning Blends & Pickles, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Menu: Namibia

June 6, 2012 By Sasha Martin 7 Comments

This week we're celebrating two awesome, wonderful, happy, lovely things. 1) We're in the "N" countries... finally! It's been nearly 2 1/2 years of cooking food from every country in the world and here we are! Namibia is a great place to start, too. This menu combines something new (alligator), with the rustic (Veldt bread) and a dash of sass (mango chutney). If that doesn't sum up the spirit of this adventure, I don't know what does 2) My husband was promoted to a new fancypants position at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Menu Wednesday, Namibia

About the food of Namibia

June 5, 2012 By Sasha Martin 3 Comments

Ancient dunes from the Namib-Naukluft Park in Namibia, Africa. Photo by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen.

Not that you'd really believe you were in Germany while gazing upon the vast deserts of Namibia, but quite a few things might make you wonder - especially closer to the coast. For starters, German words are everywhere, from the names of towns, to the distinctive brats and beer on the tables. Lüderitz Port, for example. Could that be any more German? If you dig in a little deeper, however, you'll enter the Veldt or the wide open scrubby expanses. In this space, times moves more slowly. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Namibia, Travel Tuesday

Monday Meal Review: Myanmar

June 4, 2012 By Sasha Martin 5 Comments

Ava runs past me as I place the last clothespin on the line. Our blue sheets undulate with the breeze. Parting them with a quick swipe of her hands, Ava runs behind them and calls out: "Mama, come on! The big bad wolf is coming. Let's hide!" She points at Malky, our cat, who slouches on the grass, licking his leg. "Oh, is he the wolf?" I ask, chuckling despite myself. Together we hide behind the sheets and every time the breeze blows the soft cotton towards our faces we squeal and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Monday Meal Review, Myanmar (Burma)

Recipe: Burmese Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup (ohn-no-khao-swe)

June 3, 2012 By Sasha Martin 12 Comments

Oh, yes. Even on the hottest day in steamy, tropical Myanmar, you'll find gaping bowls heaped with noodles, chicken, and silky coconut curry. It doesn't matter if you're sick. It doesn't matter if your skin is tacky with salty sweat. "Ohn no khao swe" is what's for dinner. . You can call it Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup, if you'd like. To a local, this curry topped with egg and a garden of garnishes is breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's as easy to find in rambling shacks as it is in roadside … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Breakfast, International Recipes, Myanmar (Burma), Pasta, Potluck Friendly, Poultry, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Soups