There are a lot of food options in Tamale. I am not suffering. We have varieties of vegetables like green pepper, lettuce, carrots, bell peppers, and onions. I can even find Almond, Soy, and Lactose Free Milk. I can find many different kinds of chips, and cookies and drinks. Maybe the ice cream is not the best, but there are some flavors. People who lived in Tamale even 10 years ago did not have all these options.
As I continue to live here, I find other sorts of food. Now, most local Ghanaians would not buy the weird milks or the ice cream but more the yams, maize and tomatoes. Vendors sell cooked food, what we would consider fast food, hot and ready to go. I always want to try something if I see something new.
When I came to Ghana way back long ago, Ramen Noodles was the thing. Here they call it Indomie. It was cheap and easy to cook. But then Ghanaians put their own spin on it. They would cook the noodles like spaghetti and drain them. Then they fry them with spices, vegetables, egg, and meat if it is available. I have to say it is SO GOOD, like a stir fry noodles meal.
Well, last week on the street I saw a gal making Indomie with spaghetti noodles which, in my opinion, makes so much sense! Why not? So, I took pictures as she cooked it and it cost me $1.00 (which is a high priced meal now adays). She heats up the oil and fries the egg first. Then she adds the noodles and then spices and veggies and meat. She threw in gizzard which is not my fave but whatever. Lunch is served!
Also, a few days before that, I got the great experience of a drive thru that I made me smile. Samuel and I were driving on our way to a village to go and share a Bible story with a widow. He says to me, “Stop stop.” So, I stop and he says he wants to buy something. Well, this woman, who was walking down the road, comes to his side car window and takes the tray of food off her head to show him so he can buy. It was BUSH RAT. There were several of them all fried stacked on top of each other. Bush rat. WOWZA. Yes, like a rat, but one that stays in the bush. Samuel clarified for me when I was freaking out that this rat has never seen sewage or gutters. It has probably been in the fields for its whole life. Yeah…but still…well, anyways, he loves it and said it is so “sweet” (a word they use to describe not necessarily sweet things but things that taste very good). So, I had to try it. I had to. I have lived in Ghana a long time and never had this opportunity. This was my (gulp) opportunity.
I paid the .70cents for the rat and she put her tray on her head and walked away. I had to hold the thing. I had to figure out how to eat this. I just picked at the legs. My first bite, I saw it was a white meat and it tasted like chicken, or maybe that is what my mind said to me. The second bite was a bit bitter and I decided I did not like it. Or I could say I wanted to be a good Christian and let my brother Samuel enjoy more of it HAHA. And enjoy he did.
I am glad I tried it. Now I know I would rather eat some other sort of meat. 😊 Always an Adventure!