A dead goat. A skinned pig. A slaughtered chicken or cow.
What do these animals have in common besides, obviously, being dead?
You know those family gatherings where you have the big man instructing another man on ensuring the jiko is lit? The coal that adds to the fire and then a basin of raw meat is brought from the kitchen and you know it’s about to go down? Mmmmh, even thinking about all that meat sizzling atop a grill makes your mouth water.
And this brings us to our legendary Chakula – Nyama Choma!
The wait can be daunting, but these gatherings always begin with an invite that more often than not ends with a ‘come hungry!’ instruction. And truthfully, you must come starving, but if you choose to grab a snack prior, it’s your loss, because once the meat is ready, all the hungry men and women and children pounce on the well-done Nyama like cats after mice. Ok, maybe too far? But you get what we mean.
If we’re to pick a Nyama Choma spot that isn’t our house, a few people know of the plains that overlook a semi-valley in Kajiado. It’s an easy drive from Rongai town and you might have to order your meat before you arrive to reduce your wait time. Ole Polos is a Nyama Choma haven that invites Roadtrippers and nyama lovers from beyond the capital to enjoy one of their in-house goats, slaughtered and chomad on site. When the meat is ready, it is served with ugali or chips depending on your preference.
But Ole Polos isn’t the only place that serves tantalizing, flavor-some roast. On your way to Nakuru there are several choma joints along the Naivasha-Nakuru highway. You are welcomed from half a kilometer away, smoke billowing upward like a communication signal from yesteryear. Then butchers in their blood or oil-stained, formerly white coats beckon you.
On the Tharaka-Embu road, one can also spot a handful of Nyama Choma restaurants that have been set up to cater to the most important part of your journey – ensuring you are filled, and with something that us Kenyans we enjoy. The food that will shibisha us and leave us meticulously licking our fingers.
Surely these aren’t all the awesome Nyama Choma joins. WaKenya wa Kisumu, Mombasa, Turkana…. where is your ideal choma joint? What keeps you going back? Let us know
