Africa in Kazanchis: And Kidist Foods Expanded Project

Damakase African Restaurant

[Photo By: KPA]

The owner is a Nigarian woman, Sade - I asked (she has the same name as the famous British Nigerian singer).

It is a small, bright, place, with rustic wooden furniture. It seats maybe ten people.

I had the small chicken - Joloff Rice with Chicken. Enough for two (or three). I took the rest home.

The rice seems to have some tomatoes (paste?), but it was also spicey hot with chili. But there were some other ingredients which were subtle and not overwhelming. 

The chicken was clearly marinated, and also not too dry. 

All in all, delicious.

Here's a recipe of a Nigarian version (it is popular in West Afrcia, but apparently the Kenyans like it too - more on that below):

300 grams Long grain rice

4 Chicken legs

70 grams Gino tomato paste

2 Long red marconi pepper

2 Vine tomatoes

2 Knorr cubes

2 Onion

2 Garlic cloves

1 Scotch bonnet

1 teaspoon Thyme

1 teaspoon Curry powder

1 teaspoon Rosemary

406 Bay leaves

1 teaspoon Chicken seasoning

100 mls Cooking oil

1 1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Pepper flakes

Other recipes call for cinnamon, which what I think I tasted in the rice, and some cloves in the chicken.

[Image Source]

I met a young woman, who was eating the "chapati" pancake like bread. She seemed to know it well. I had met her at another time, when I went in to ask about the menu from the waitress. The girl was sweet, and greeted me.

I remembered her (as did she me), and I asked her if she knew this food. 

She's been to Kenya and had it there. 

She seems like a good contender for my Kidist Foods Expanded Project. I told her so. She seemed pleased. 

We're meeting again next week, same place.

Damakase African Restaurant, 

in Kazanchis, Addis Ababa

[Photo By: KPA]

Paris in Addis

Chez Jean Pierre

Tarte aux Pommes

[Photos By: KPA]

Ababa Jan Hoy

Ababa Jan Hoy

(Ababa Jan Hoy - Father Majesty, term used 

as endearment for Haile Selassie, 

by young, and old)

I found this car with a decal print transfer  (below) of an image of Emperor Haile Selassie on its side mirror. 

I'm pretty sure the image is from the photograph above, from the early 1970s (source 1 and 2).

[Photo By: KPA]

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Flowers for the Emperor's Birthday

More here

Church in Mountain

Church in Mountain

Painting by Hailemichael Wegayehu

Birth Day

My parents in my beautiful Addis Ababa apartment, celebrating my father's 92nd birthday.

It is incredible to live this long, to have seen so much, and to have a brain as sharp as a whistle.

And to see them here in Addis Ababa, after so long.

I take full responsibility for convincing them that this would be their best bet, their best choice. A while ago, when most Ethiopians were still thinking about what to do with their disjointed lives in the West, I was writing in my blog about the "Return Home."

Later, various groups started coming up with the "Diaspora" return, but that was after I voiced it.

Surely, someone read my humble blog, and caught that initial spark.

Look at it now.

The work is far from over, but it has started!

Sandford International School Addis Ababa and The Kidist Foods Expanded Project

The Sandford International School's 75th Anniversary

[Photo By: KPA] 

More photos in the linked posts

- In the Auditorium

- Letter to Sandford

- 75th Anniversary Day

Sandford School 75th Anniversary Day

"I challenge you to be part of Kidist Foods' reality."

Addis Rains from My Window

Addis Rains

[Photo By: KPA]

This is just the beginning of the (major) rainy season in Addis Ababa, and this part of Ethiopia.

People are welcoming it. It has been dry for a couple of seasons, albeit with just enough to keep harvests going.

These trees sway happily in the mild wind, and greedily soak in the water.

Still Life with Still Life

Still Life with Still Life

[Photo and Still Life Watercolor Painting by KPA]

Different Sides of My Mother

My Mom can be very serious, when it matters, and very playful too, just for fun.

Here, she is reading her prayer book, something she does every night. She loves God, and Mary, and she loves us. And so, she protects us.

Here, she was a little angry at me since I told her it is not good to sleep in the middle of the day. She arranged everything on the couch, nonetheless, and then pretended to sleep. I took my camera and told her to smile. She was, behind her sleeping rebellion.

Caffe Latte K With a Perfect Heart

Caffe Latte for K

[Photo By: KPA]

The barrista at Jupiter's brewed me this perfect Caffe Latte (they know my name).

Forget about the perfect design, but marvel at the perfection of the brew. Just enough strength in the cafe, and just enough creaminess in the latte.

One small treat for a Big taste!

With a Smile

[Photo By: KPA]

Kidist Foods Addis Ababa Sandford Alumni Reunion: Wrap-up

I received an email from the Sandford English School Alumni Association's Board, informing me of  a Zoom meeting for May 14, 2023, to conclude the Addis Ababa Sandford Alumni reunion meeting.

It was quite an event that I attended, coming to Addis Ababa just a few months before, and ready (and registered) for the meeting. I brought my Kidist Foods Expanded Project with me, and presented it at the event. 

I was the only alumnus to have brought such a project, a personal, productive, and forward-looking project, especially for the Addis Ababa, and, eventually, the Ethiopian community. I would be implementing this using my Nutritional Sciences expertise (with my PhD training), my public presentations for the United Nations which helped me evolve my Kidist Foods ideas, and finally, my tenacity to keep this idea going.

Here is my Sandford Kidist Foods presentation "I challenge you to be part of Kidist Foods' Reality"  and follow the links on the side for more information about the project.

About two weeks ago, I received the Zoom notification, and gladly collaborated.

In an email to the board, prior to the Zoom conference, I thanked them (again) for their decision to give me that fifteen minute time-slot in the Addis Ababa reunion.

I informed the SESAA Zoom participants of:

"...the inroads and developments I have made since my initial presentation at the school, with interesting and widespread results in these [four] months since the Addis reunion. Businesses, educational institutions, financial institutions, and other organizations show interest in assisting me to accomplish my Kidist Foods Expanded Project agendas and ideas."

This final Addis Ababa SESAA reunion via the ZOOM conference concluded the Sandford event as successful.

The upcoming Sandford alumni reunion will be in Washington D.C., during the Columbus Weekend of October 6-9 2023, as announced in the Zoom meeting.

I will not be there, since I will be here!

All the best to the SESAA! All the best.

Presentation at the United Nations
NGO Committee on the Status of Women Conference 61, New York, 2017
Kidist Foods Cookbook Presentation for
Economic Self-Sufficiency of Young Ethiopian Women

Where I first started the idea of Kidist Foods, now in Addis Ababa

Fantu

Entoto Kidane Mihret

[Photo By: KPA]

My Mother

[Photo By: KPA]