Kuti's - Harlem

Middle East via West Africa?
The best meals are the ones that teach, take me out of my comfort zone a bit and taste great. Puffin, you remember Abdul from Korhogo, right? No? Perhaps if I remind you of the bacon-wrapped scallops that you called "orgasmic?" Yeah, well, he's back. He's opened a small take-out spot in Harlem named after Fela Kuti. They offer shawarma, West African style, and some other intriguing fare. Shawarma was brought by the Lebanese to West Africa and now Abdul's brought it to NY.

La Bague de Kenza - Paris

Tea and Cookies, Anyone?
Not just regular old tea and cookies but the North African sort for a change of pace. One foot inside La Bague de Kenza this is what you see - a tidal wave of unfamiliar sweets and cookies (unfamiliar to me at least.)

Korhogo-126 - Brooklyn: CLOSED

Love at First Bite

Sometimes you just fall in love with a place. Korhogo bills itself as a French-African bistro (or African-French, not sure which.) It is named after the chef's hometown of Korhogo, Ivory Coast. The Puffin and I visited recently on a frigid night and were warmed up with a starter of crab and cod fish fritters, which were delicious.

A Bistro - Brooklyn

Senegalese Fusion Burger
A friend of a friend told me about a place in Fort Greene with a pretty good burger. He said it matter-of-factly, with little elaboration other than a general idea of its location and told me "you'll know it when you see it - it's Senegalese." "A Senegalese burger?" I asked, scrunching up my face, but got no response. The next day I Googled the address - without which I don't think I would have found it, but more on that later. Cutting to the chase, I ordered it medium, with cheese and salsa. Not any old salsa - Senegalese salsa - an alchemy of jalapeno peppers, red peppers, olives, capers and sauteed onions. It arrived full of promise, with a small salad, fruit slices and home fries.