Dear LPG, 

I have been in the kitchen yet again in the name of independence, and Gabon is the nation celebrating today. You will remember my decision to attempt a plate of Chicken Nyembwe in homage to the day. When I did my internet research, I found so many different versions of the recipe to choose from. I have to be honest and tell you that when I attempt these recipes, I go for the simplest version I can find to achieve my goal.  

With only five ingredients, even though there were a couple I had never used before, I thought I could not go too wrong. I did have a quick look online to make sure I could get the palm-inspired items, just in case that was the only way I could acquire them, but I was able to buy them in a local shop.  

It was only when I found them that I realised there were actually products made from palm trees that you could eat, so I truly learned something there. I had always seen them as trees, but technically they are herbs. No matter how much advanced research I do, I always learn something new.     

But back to my ignorance.  I did not realise you needed smoked chicken until I reached the ingredient-gathering stage.  Luckily, doing that yourself without a barbecue (as long as you can find instructions online) is doable, and I was quite impressed with the result.   

Putting the rest of it together was so easy that I think I managed to do a reasonable job, but even though my version looked much like the picture I was aiming for, my taste testers offered mixed reviews.  I was left feeling that perhaps this is a definite acquired taste, but one that I have acquired. 

Upwards and onwards to September, when I have discovered that the 16th of the month marks the annual independence celebrations in Papua New Guinea. A little research has taught me that one of the dishes that is nationally revered there is called Mumu. I am going to try to recreate this dish in my kitchen, although I have found that it is prepared quite differently by cooks in some parts of the country. 

I look forward to producing a version of this dish…  

CB, Lewisham  

 

CB shares links to some varied versions of her September cooking plans…

 

 

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