Happy Friday, friends! Today is a first for me: it’s a West African food review!
(photo from Le Mandigue website)
I have never been a fan of the West African dishes that I’ve tried. I’ve had egusi, fufu and jollof rice, but I just wasn’t wowed. However, I really wanted to try something different. So I decided to give West African food another try.
I order from Le Mandigue in Philadelphia. As an aspiring vegetarian (that fails frequently!), I wanted to opt for a meatless entrée. So I got the vegetarian fried rice and steamed vegetables. I also got degue, monie callama and kallah, which I didn’t realize at the time were all desserts.
Here are some photos of the meal:
Fried vegetable rice and steamed vegetables (cabbage, peas, corn, potatoes)
Dege (dessert)
Closeup of monie callama
I ordered through UberEats and my food arrived quickly.
The fried rice was tasty and substantial. The steamed vegetables were well-seasoned and weren’t overpowering at all.
And the desserts! I How did I not already know about these amazing deserts?! These were the most interesting part of the meal. Dege reminds me of the rice pudding or tapioca pudding available at some Indian restaurants: creamy, sweet with a hint of sourness (probably because it’s made with sour milk). It’s the mix of flavors that make this such a multidimensional dessert. Monie callama is like a liquified jelly, yummy and smooth, with tapioca-like starch suspended within. Just yum!
I wish I could have enjoyed this in the restaurant but alas, I ordered it to my room. However, I will be sure to visit the restaurant in person when I return to Philadelphia. I’m so looking forward to it!
Bronze Butterfly 