Destinations Travel Club

Travels Through Africa

June 11, 2010 · 5:00 PM
Bolat African Cuisine

June takes us to Africa! Join us as we learn about Tanya Shaffers travels via her book: Somebody's Heart is Burning, A Woman Wanderer in Africa.

It's my life, and if I want to run from it I can,” quips Tanya Shaffer. An incorrigible wanderer, Shaffer has a habit of fleeing domesticity for the joys and rigors of the open road. This time her destination is Ghana, and what results is a transformative year spent roaming the African continent. Eager to transcend the limitations of tourism, Shaffer works as a volunteer, building schools and hospitals in remote villages. At the heart of her tale are the profound, complex, often challenging relationships she forms with those she meets along the way.

Whether recounting a perilous boat trip to Timbuktu, a night of impassioned political debate in Ghana, or a fumbled romance in Burkina Faso, Shaffer portrays the collision of African and North American cultures with self-deprecating humor and clear-eyed compassion. Filled with warmth, candor, and an exuberant sense of adventure, Somebody’s Heart is Burning raises provocative questions about privilege, wealth, and the true meaning of friendship.

Book is available at our E-store : http://astore.amazon....

Dinner at Bolat African Restaurant:

Bolat is that little blue and white brick restaurant you keep passing by on Clark, right under where the Red and Brown lines meet. You're curious, but you haven't tried it yet, because Ethiopian is hard enough to figure out. If you're willing to be adventurous, however, your curiosity will reward you.
Bolat African serves up a mixture of dishes from Nigeria and Ghana, and it's one of only two Chicago area restaurants that features food from Ghana. In all likelihood, that's great news for Bolat, but bad news for the rest of us. It isn't uncommon for this otherwise unassuming little place to be quite busy. And that should come as no surprise. The cuisine is unique and flavorful, and if you like spicy, this is the place for you. The space itself is no-frills, giving off a bit of a homey, casual and low-key vibe, but the only art you're here for anyway is on the plate.
Some of those plates are large and meant for communal eating, such as the various lamb plates at $25. Your group can have it chili-crusted with couscous and apricot, or merely spiced with a cognac sauce and served with sweet potato. You can also try classic, individual entrees, such as the jollof rice, a popular West African dish of rice seasoned with tomato paste, onion, and pepper served along with plantains; a large portion is just $8. The true standout here is the goat pepper soup. At $9, this heaping bowl of piping hot soup is an amazing treat. For the uninitiated, goat meat is much like a savory, beefy lamb, and in this incarnation, flavored with garlic and ginger, it tastes amazing.
Interesting desserts, such as curry ice cream for $5, are worth exploring. A few African beers are served as well: Nigeria's own Star Lager, crispy and cold, is a perfect complement to these hot, spicy dishes.

Maybe music and dancing at the Wild Hare after dinner??

This meetup requires your 1.00 meetup fee at RSVP time.

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Sylvia

great fun!

0 · June 12, 2010
A former member

This was a very interesting restaurant; I really enjoyed the dinner and the discussions.

0 · June 11, 2010
Deborah

I found a great Ghana photo gallery online that is a wonderful companion to Shaffer's book. Really brings additional life to her terrific storytelling. Check it out...
http://crawfurd.dk/photos/ghana...
I think it's best viewed as a slide show and be sure to click on the caption box for more detail.

0 · June 5, 2010