The Beat Goes Nom Nom Nom

I returned on Friday to Caravan Cafe despite the service screw-up to try their other hosted pop-up venture: Afrobeat Kitchen. It turns out that the chef Victor Uguweke offered dishes from his native Nigeria as well as other African countries. However, they were not strictly traditional but contained modern twists due to his experience working kitchens around the world. So the Senegalese entrée I ordered ($16) went by the interesting name of Miso Mafe Stew.

It's rare to be blown away by a first taste but this was wonderful food. I had to slow myself down to savour this vegan dish. The miso and peanut-based sauce was rich and aromatic. Young jackfruit and chickpeas gave texture and chew. Finally, the bursts of flavour from the herbs and roasted eggplant completed this fragrant entrée. The accompanying coconut rice was equally tasty and quite different from Thai coconut rice while still retaining that tropical scent. I'm drooling thinking about whether or not his other dishes are just as well-made and definitely planning to return often.