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Tastes out of Africa

AFTER Europe, Asia and South America, my next stop was Africa. In Africa square there are many interesting pavilions to visit but few with their own restaurants. However, one place has gathered inspiration from all across the continent and created a united African restaurant called Hakuna Matata. In Swahili it means "there are no worries" and that was the feeling I got when I entered. The sound of bongo drums created a relaxed atmosphere and the green, orange, brown and red decor in the room resembled the African steppe landscape. The interior design also had an African feel with tables inspired by giraffe skin and lamps in the ceilings made from real ostrich eggs!

The food was served as a huge buffet with so many things that I had to return several times. I started with a mushroom soup and a piri-piri soup. The mushroom soup was very creamy and tasted almost like it does in Sweden, but the piri-piri soup - made from a small and extremely spicy member of the chilli family, sometimes called the "African red devil" - was different. Luckily I am a big fan of spicy food and found the piri-piri soup top notch.

Moving on to the seafood, the enormous crab claw was very delicious. Despite it being a bit tricky to eat and get to the meat it was definitely worth the effort. The abalone on the other hand was not a favorite. A sea snail with flesh of very thick consistency, it did not suit my taste buds. But the fresh grilled meat definitely did. The lamb, beef, chicken and squid together with piri-piri sauce - ah, superb!

I found the most exotic dish on the first floor of the restaurant where the African fast food was served. The ostrich wrap; meat from an ostrich together with vegetables and sauce wrapped up in bread was so good. The taste reminded me a bit of kebab, but a little bit spicier - just how I like it!




 

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