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Tag: Food

  • How ‘kpokpo garri’ emerges most patronized local food in Enugu

    The local food called `abacha’, made with cassava flakes or tapioca, also known as kpokpo garri, has assumed an alarming dimension in Enugu State as all classes of residents patronize the meal.

    A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Friday revealed that many major streets, eateries and popular junctions have one or more joints as well as those that sell it in a mobile cart.

    While many people patronize the vendors, some others prefer visiting special joints where they eat it with palm-wine and bush meat.

    When NAN visited the abacha joints at Uwani, Independence Layout, Obiagu, Abakpa Nike and Gariki areas, they were filled with consumers from different walks of life.

    Mrs Bridget Agbo, who owns one of the joints in Uwani, said that she sold a 50 kilogram bag of the cassava product daily and more than that during weekends.

    “I enjoy high patronage in the sale of abacha or jigbo from people from all walks of life including civil servants, bankers, politicians and students.

    “In fact, some people book me ahead of time and I package for them in take-away packs.

    “I equally prepare it for some people during social events like marriage, child dedication, house-warming, thanksgiving and burial ceremonies.

    “I have been in this business in the past 10 years and use the proceeds to assist my husband in the upkeep of our family,’’ she said.

    Another seller at the Government Reserved Area (GRA), Mrs Ngozi Obah said that a plate of the food with fried fish sold for N500 while with stockfish, dried bush meat attracted additional N1, 000 per plate.

    “Abacha is highly consumed by Igbos and it is a food for all season.

    “I make a profit of between N20, 000 and N25, 000 daily. It is a good business and easy to prepare. You can start the business with N5, 000, if you want to hawk it.

    “As a widow, I train my six children from the business and three of the children are under graduates.

    Some women do come to learn the trade from me. I have not less than 100 customers that patronise me daily,” she added.

    Another seller at Independence Layout, Enugu, Mrs Amuche Ugwu said that abacha had been a delicacy of Enugu people adding that it was prepared in every traditional ceremony in the state.

    “About 30 per cent of Enugu residents consume it daily. I started the business as far back as 1999 and have no regrets because it is lucrative.

    “Majority of my customers are students, artisans, bachelors, drivers and other passersby.

    “Most of us selling abacha are no longer interested in white-collar jobs because the petty business sometimes pays more than many government jobs,” she said.

    Some consumers, who spoke with NAN, said that the food was good, cheap and readily available anywhere in Enugu.

    A student at the Institute of Management and Technology, Chikwere Edeh and a corps member, Seyi Adekunle said they could buy N100 worth and be satisfied.

    According to Edeh, it becomes costly if you start adding oil bean known as ukpaka and assorted fish and meat.

    The Head of Department, Food and Nutrition, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Elizabeth Ngwu said that abacha had good nutritional value in human body.

    Ngwu said that the snack was prepared with pepper, palm oil, crayfish, castor oil, oilbean, vegetable, garden egg, onions and eaten with meat or fish which contained the six classes of food.

    She recommended that every family should form the habit of preparing abacha at least once or twice in a week, as it had good nutritional value in children’s growth.

     

  • Enticing Yoruba finger-licking cuisines you should try

    The best way to most people’s heart is food: the food served from the kitchen and the one served from ‘the other room’. This is one thing the Yoruba tribe are very good at doing. Yorubas have a number of mouthwatering and finger licking meals that will leave you demanding for more.

    So, when you find yourself in any part of South West Nigeria where the Yorubas are mostly populated, you may want to try out some of the delicacies; however, the ones served from the kitchen, and Jumia Food, Nigeria’s No 1 food ordering platform is there for you.

    1. Ewa aganyin

    You cannot mention Ewa Aganyin without mentioning Agege bread. Ewa aganyin is made up of cooked beans and pepper sauce. It is a delicious beans dish, well-known for its softness and tasty sauce. You can eat Ewa Aganyin with bread to savour and better appreciate the meal, but no Agege bread, no Ewa Aganyin.

    2. Ijebu garri

    Okaey, so, I did not mention you can ‘drink garri’ with Ewa Aganyin. Garri is used to describe a powdery foodstuff made from cassava. With sugar, milk, or either coconut, groundnut, akara, moin moin, smoked/roasted fish, or a combination of these, Ijebu garri is the best garri to drink. People have shown innovation with drinking garri over the year; roasted chicken, suya, vegetables, and a glass of wine, now go with drinking garri. Ijebu garri can also be made into eba.

    3. Eba and efo riro

    Eba serves as an alternative for pounded yam. People who do not want to go through the stress of pounding yam prefer eating Eba. Eba is usually taken with Efo Riro (Vegetable soup) which makes the meal more delicious and nutritious.

    4. Ofada rice

    Ofada rice is a name for heritage varieties of rice grown in south-west Nigeria. It is used in a variety of dishes. It comes with a unique aroma and flavour, and best served with Ofada sauce.

    5. Amala, ewedu and gbegiri soup

    Amala is made from yam into flour and Ewedu is a leaf blended into watery soup. This delicacy is a local dish of the Oyo state people. Amala is better enjoyed alongside Ewedu and Gbegiri.

    6. Moin Moin

    Moin Moin is a Nigerian staple food which is very rich in protein. It is a cooked bean pudding made from a combination of grounded peeled beans, pepper, and onions. It can be eaten with rice, pap and bread. The best part of eating Yoruba moin moin is the part where you have to remove the moin moin elewe.

    7. Pounded yam and egusi soup

    Pounded yam is mostly eaten with egusi (melon soup). Pounded yam is made by boiling yam unsalted and pounding it when it becomes soft. Ondo and Ekiti people are known to be fond of pounded yam.

    8. Adalu

    Adalu is a combination of beans and corn, pepper and palm oil cooked together with seasoning and spices. It is quite delicious.

     

     

     

     

  • Awesome African foodie destinations

    African cuisine is as diverse and fascinating as the continent’s history, cultures, and traditions. With a combination of tastes and flavours, the continent is an absolute foodie haven. If you set foot in any of the following foodie destinations, don’t leave without treating yourself to these delicious foods. Jumia Food, Nigeria’s No 1 food ordering platform shares some of these destinations.

    • Nigeria

    Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. So, it should not come as a surprise that it has a very rich food culture. The country boasts of a delicious array of traditional foods – a combination of meat, maize, vegetables, and spices. You’d be doing yourself a disservice not to try dishes such as jollof rice, eba and egusi soup.

    • Ghana

    If you want to experience the best tastes of Ghana, you should try the street food. Chichinga, probably the most popular street food in Ghana, is made from beef, chicken or sausage with a peanut-spice rub or ground spices. The chichinga is a true embodiment of Ghanaian taste. However, if you fancy something more solid and filling, then banku is your best bet.

    • Ethiopia

    Africa’s oldest independent country offers the best of both worlds: an ancient cultural heritage and a unique, delicious cuisine consisting of vegetables, spicy meat, and varieties of bread. The best known Ethiopian food is probably injera, normally eaten with meat, lentils, beans, and vegetable sauces.

    • Angola

    Angolan cuisine has a great resemblance to that of Portugal because the former was colonised by the latter. Notwithstanding, you will discover a delectable assortment of dishes that are uniquely African. The most common ingredients in Angolan cuisine include cassava, peanut, maize, and chilli. Chicken and seafood.

    • Kenya

    Kenya offers a variety of yummy dishes and one of them is nyama choma (roasted meat). Nyama choma is always good companions with a relish of thinly sliced raw tomatoes and onion, and goes down well with a cold local Tusker beer.

    • Zambia

    Zambia’s cuisine mainly features carbohydrates, and the country’s staple food is maize, mainly served in the form of nshima, a meal made from ground maize and has the appearance of thickened porridge. Never leave this South African country without having a taste of nshima.

     

  • Sharing of food for the soul – Francis Ewherido

    Sharing of food for the soul – Francis Ewherido

    Francis Ewherido,

    It is Christmas time again and a time for sharing. That was how I grew up to see it. Neighbours cooked and exchanged food with neighbours; children moved from one relative’s or family friend’s house to the other. This enabled them to have a taste of the culinary skills different from their mothers.’

    These are no longer common in urban areas, but I hope it still happens in towns and villages where life is more personal and communal. People also send food items to less financially endowed people, relatives and friends or older family members. That is still very much on. In spite of the economic situation, we are still somewhat our neighbour’s keeper. Sometimes, you get hampers from well wishers, not only people you gave business or patronized. I just got one personalised hamper from an older friend/big brother.

    But I want to deal with a different kind of sharing today. There is something innately therapeutic about the “Merry Christmas” wishes we share among ourselves. Earlier in the year, Nigeria came 95th of the 155 countries ranked in the happiest people in the world report. This is not surprising because the level of anger in the land is unnerving. Stand by the roadside and watch motorists as they drive past. Nine out of 10 have stone faces.

    The few happy faces you see are rare cases of happy couples, or a man with a woman, who are probably not spouses, or women just chatting away excitedly, etc. Motorists on our roads with genuine motor insurance resolve arguments emanating from accidents with fisticuffs instead of contacting their insurance brokers/companies for financial remedy (Indemnity). On the home front, many spouses are fighting to finish. Some have been permanently deformed or lost their lives in the process. Even in churches, parishioners argue and occasionally fight in the parking lot after Mass/church service, when all that is needed is a little patience.

    So, I consider “Happy Christmas” or “Merry Christmas,” not just a wish, but sharing of food for the soul. When you live in a difficult environment like ours, or you are going through a patch that seems to be endless, you need this food for upliftment of the soul because it is very easy to be lost in your world and forget the world out there: Christmas is a couple of days away, yet no money to buy rice, chicken and the ingredients to prepare the meal.

    You are not even talking about Christmas clothes for the children. Yet barely two weeks after Christmas, schools resume and you are faced with children’s school fees. Bills and financial commitments are flying at you from all directions, yet the resources to meet these commitments are either coming from one direction in trickles or are not even there. How man no go frown? I fully understand and appreciate our tough environment, but while we all have our individual problems, do not personalise the hardship that pervade the land; also do not wear your problems as you would do clothes. Instead, as you use clothes to cover your nakedness, also use them to cover your challenges, except when dealing with those who might be of help.

    Leave your world and step into the world that Christmas represents. God sent his only begotten son, Jesus, via a naïve but obedient virgin, Mary, to take our sins away and reconcile humankind to God. When he died, he destroyed our death and restored our life at his resurrection. We do not need to make endless sacrifices anymore because his one and only sacrifice, where he was the sacrificial lamb, has taken care of everything. Times might be hard, but the birth of Christ represents joy, peace and hope. Let it be so with you.

    It was in 1986 in Mass Communication Department, University of Nigeria; we had spent three months earlier doing the theoretical part of interviewing. It was time for practical and our interviewee was our head of department, Prof. Sylvanus Ekwelie. As we were taught, we asked him towards the end of the interview: “what is your hobby, sir.” “I am a Nigerian,” he answered. We thought he did not hear the question and asked again. Again, he said, “I am a Nigerian.” We all stared at him in bemusement until he resolved the riddle: “Being a Nigerian is enough hobby.”

    What is a hobby? “A hobby is a regular activity that is done for enjoyment” (Wikipedia). So let your Nigerianess become a hobby. It is not a very easy thing to do, though. I have lost count of the number of friends and acquaintances who have relocated or relocated their families abroad. Three days ago, another sent me a mail that he was relocating to join his family who had earlier relocated. He had to retire early from a high-paying job to do that. Tomorrow, another friend is relocating his family.

    I know he will join them soon because It is not easy for real family men to live far away from their families. Each time I hear of these relocations, I feel very sad. We are reaping the fruits of the seeds we started planting since the late 80s when the brain drain started and it is very difficult to see the efforts we are making to stem it. But for those of us who are still in Nigeria in spite of the difficult times, from the bottom of my heart, I share with you this food for the soul, “Merry Christmas.”

    As I was rounding up, I stumbled on a video on social media, which is critical of the celebration of Christmas on December 25, because December 25 used to be a date for celebration of a pagan feast. Here they go again, chasing shadows instead of substance. St. Paul tells us that: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”

    December 25 has been rechristened; whatever it used to be is now inconsequential. Anybody who still has an issue with December 25 as Christmas Day can choose another date to celebrate the birth of Christ. It is a free world, but let the rest us be. We shall continue to commemorate the birth of Christ on December 25.

  • Just in: Man kills own mother over food in Lagos

    Residents of Igbede community, situated in Ojo Local Government area of Lagos state, were in shock yesterday, after a man, whose identity is yet to be disclosed, allegedly killed his own mother while fighting over food with his younger brother.

    According to an eyewitness, who narrated the unpleasant incident to TheNewsGuru.com via a phone conversation on Saturday morning, the fight started when the suspect told his mother to provide him food and his younger brother accused him of bothering their mother over food.

    “Angered by his brother’s statement, the suspect reportedly started beating his brother. At first, their mother separated the fight, but he [suspect], picked a knife and headed to his brother again.

    “While the mother was trying to stop him from stabbing his younger brother, the suspect who was headstrong on injuring his brother stabbed his mother instead”

    “We couldn’t tell if he did it deliberately because he has been remorseful after seeing the result of his action, as I speak with you he has been arrested by the police and the remains of the victim [the mother] has been deposited at the mortuary”

    When contacted, the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, who is yet to confirm the report as at press time, however, assured he will provide full details upon his finding.

    Details soon…

  • Continuous importation of food risky to Nigeria’s economic growth – Odeje

     

    In recent times there has been a call for the Nigerian government to diversify the economy.

     

    Initiator, Taylor Odeje Foundation, Chef Taylor Odeje, has advised that continuous importation of food poses danger to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.

     

    Odeje made the declaration while speaking on enrichment and servicing other country’s economy and exportation of jobs and businesses alongside with free flow of unwholesome food products into the country, thereby has increased disease burden on Nigerians.

     

    He said it should be discouraged and government and Nigerians should look inwards to grow and develop organic food, which helps the people to remain healthy and sound.

     

    According to him: “Generally people don’t care about what they eat and it is scary, but hopefully with the new wave with people like me and people coming around I think we will be able to empower people and let people know better what they need and eat. Letting them know that is not witches and wizards that are responsible for their health challenges but what they are eating that is causing the damage.

     

    “Food importation should be discouraged because we are servicing other people’s economy, jobs and businesses we should have in the country to employ more people that would boost the economy, and the health challenges most of these imported foods do, like GMOs, frozen meats because of the use of chemicals and preservatives are bad. Eating all these things would lead to super bacteria that anti-biotics can tackle.

     

    “Look at cancer cases increasing. In Europe and America people are pushing for organic foods and they are expensive. We should appreciate what we produce as food that is fresh and harness it and see how we stop the importation and start growing home made products.”

     

    He also urged parents to give heed to the issue of balanced diet for their children and wards in order for them to have a productive and healthy life as they grow up.

     

    “For children they need a lot of proteins, vitamins and the complete package. Children could also be picking food but we encourage parents to do a lot of vegetables, and cooking it the right way in order to have the basic nutrients”, he said.

     

    READ ALSO: Customs dismiss officers linked to arms importation

  • Food poison kills seven persons in Zamfara

    Seven persons have died from eating local food known as `Fate’ (poisoned leaf porridge) at Shiyar Ajiya in Shinkafi town, Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara.

    The State Acting governor, Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, confirmed the incident to a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Gusau.

    He said the seven victims who lost their lives included males and females, while the others affected were receiving medical treatment at the hospital.

    Shinkafi said the government had deployed a team of medical experts to the area to investigate the cause of the incident.

    “They (experts) have already taken the sample; we are waiting for them to give us the result to enable us take action.

    “People close to the deceased said the death was as a result of poisoned leaf porridge which was said to be contaminated by onion seeds.

    “We cannot rely on what we heard, we are waiting for medical experts to come out with the result”, he added.

    The acting governor said six of the deceased were from the same family comprising a wife and children.

    He added that the seventh victim was their neighbour, who also ate the food.

    “I led the government delegation to condole their family,” Shinkafi told NAN and urged people to check what they eat and also ensure their environment is clean.

    He prayed to Almighty Allah to grant Aljannah to those who lost their lives.

  • Benue flood: There might be food drought later this year – Gov Ortom

    The governor of Benue, Samuel Ortom has expressed concern over the flood that has led to the displacement of over 110,000 people, destroying a countless number of houses – also led to the destruction of a large portion of farmlands and food storage facilities washed away.

    He said the people the state and Nigerians, in general, may experience food scarcity later this year as a result of the flood.

    Ortom stated this yesterday when he embarked on an on-the-spot assessment of some villages and farm lands washed away by flood.

    According to the state governor, “we are having a serious issue on our hand. Benue is agrarian state and we have decided to go into an area where we have a comparative advantage by initiating series of incentives to make Benue feed the country, but we can see the level of destruction the flood has caused; I’m afraid this will not lead to a shortage of food scarcity this year.

    “Two camps have already been opened in Makurdi to ensure that the displaced persons have shelter and receive assistance; chairmen of the 23 LGAs have been directed to use some primary schools as designated camps for affected victims in their areas.

    “Let me use this opportunity to express the deepest appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for immediately coming to the aid of the victims and directing the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to support persons affected by the flood in Benue state.”

  • ‘Welcome home, people are hungry, give them food, development’ – Fayose tells Buhari

    Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his return from London where he was on medical vacation treating an undisclosed ailment for 103 days.

    Fayose who also doubles as the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, however, reminded the president that Nigerians are hungry not only for food but for development.

    Fayose urged the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government to face governance squarely and deliver the gains of democracy to the people.

    “We are happy that President Buhari is back. It is a welcome development but Nigerians are hungry, they need food, they need development. We in PDP know what is right for Nigerians, democracy is strengthened by opposition. APC should face governance squarely and give Nigerians democratic dividends,’’ he said.

    The governor spoke Monday at Asaba International Airport shortly after a meeting between him and Governors Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Nyesom Wike of Rivers and the Secretary, PDP Caretaker Committee, Senator Ben Obi, en route to Anambra for the party’s governorship primary.

    He stressed that governors elected on the platform of the PDP are committed to working together with the party leadership with a view to repositioning the party and eventually winning the 2019 national election

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Buhari returned to the country on Saturday, August 19 after leaving the shores on the country on May 7.

     

  • Osinbajo orders consumption of Nigerian foods, drinks at state banquets

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said to grow the economy Nigerians must patronise locally made goods and services including the consumption of Nigerian foods and drinks at public and private functions.

    The acting President said this on Thursday at an interactive session with top government officials on the ease of doing business at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said government would work out incentives for performance by building reward system that punishes malfeasance and that preference must be given to indigenous providers of goods and services to strengthen the system.

    Osinbajo said, “I agree that a system of rewarding performance, and punishing malfeasance is key. We must work out incentive schemes even as we tighten up sanctions regimes.

    “We hit 70 percent quickly on the 60 days of ease or doing business target because of the cooperation of all the agencies like ministry of interior, immigrations, customs etc and that is why the remaining 30percent we will also achieve and deliver. I will hold myself accountable to it and I will also hold you accountable. “Usually, we blame the system. But the system is men and women not machines. So we can and must reform it. These proposed executive orders present a unique opportunity to perform. Ladies and gentlemen let us perform.

    “The President has laid out a cornerstone policy of this administration. We must grow what we eat and make what we use. The President again enunciated this principle in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. Buy Nigerian, Use Nigerian.

    “So we must now insist that at state banquets we eat and drink Nigerian.”