Taste of Africa

Plus Met Market and Southern food

By Volcano Staff on May 17, 2007

Taste of Africa

There is little middle ground in food. People either want to eat your food or they don’t. If they do, they do, if they don’t — they might still have to, but rest assured there’s anger building behind those placid faces. Either way (but certainly if you want to avoid the enmity of others), you could stand to learn something new, eh? Especially if it’s something not everyone else knows.

The Bayview School of Cooking goes “Out of Africa” with the McGees Monday.  Mercy Kariuki-McGee presents dishes from her native continent — Africa. Heavily textured with leafy greens and spices, savor this emerging culinary style with her Saladi (relish salad), Irio (bean and rice side dish), Sukuma Wiki (steamed greens with Tilapia fish), and Kachubari (shredded vegetables).

These food stuffs are surely not something you get to eat everyday. At least, not yet. — Suzy Stump

[Bayview School of Cooking, Monday, May 21, 6-8:30 p.m., $45, 516 W. Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.754.1448]

Go Met

You need to visit the Metropolitan Market at least once, simply for the experience of going to a grocery store that is more like a department store.  The food is beautifully displayed among wood crates, rough hewn tables, apple carts and terra cotta pottery.  The butcher will walk you through preparing pork loin with apricots and prunes.  The wine steward will recommend a selection to complement your tailgate party.  The Weekly Volcano hangs there just for the tasters. — SS

[Metropolitan Market, 2420 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.761.FOOD]

Real deal

The Southern Kitchen Restaurant serves tasty Southern food.  The menu boasts a solid center of fried chicken, fried fish, barbecued ribs, side dishes and desserts.  With every entrée you have a choice of three side dishes to boot.  The fried green tomatoes will place you in Southern heaven.  Bonus: Lively, fun banter between cooks, wait staff, management and customers. Bummer: No booze!  — Jake de Paul

[Southern Kitchen Restaurant, 1716 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.4282]