Nyama Choma

John picked me up for a taste of a Kenyan Friday night on the town. Our activity for the night: nyama choma (roasted meat). We drove toward Nairobi to a place called “Visa Place”. Right as we walk through the door there was a room to the side with a butcher taking orders with goat meat hanging in the windows. John told him what kind of cuts we wanted and the number of kilos of meat – one kilo to split between the to of us or just over a pound each.

We found a table near the live band as we waited for our meat to get roasted. The band played a fantastic mix of music ranging from old country music songs to upbeat Kenyan jams. My favorite was a series of Paul Simon songs with backup singers that just about nailed the sound of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The place was hopping with people dancing, lots of laughter, and the smell of roasting goat.

After a few drinks our waiter brought out a small plate of ugali and a heaping plate of meat. The meat was roasted without any sauces or seasoning. The waiter cut it off the bone into small chunks. To eat it we grabbed a chunk of ugali and a chunk of meat (ugali is best without silverware) and started devouring – not to stop until a full kilo of meat later. My “Lonely Planet” guide had it right: vegetarians beware!