Standing there in my kitchen, hands on my hips and a tiny feeling of dread. I was dressed in my apron and staring at the full-on culinary debacle I had going on in my kitchen. I was sure that I had followed the process carefully, just as the YouTuber had done, but somehow, my knowledge of how Yoruba people loved pepper had ruined my Ofada stew.
"You just boiled pepper and sprinkled it with stew" I mocked myself. Then, I let out a big laugh, trying so much to mask my pain.
Not that I wasn't a good cook. I was, and a better one at that. I knew this because Papa had complimented me severally over my meals. Although he made sure to place my cooking the best after his wife's own. I couldn't argue and wouldn't even try to, because all I knew today about cooking was learnt from Mama.
But standing there that day, and looking at the pot of stew and a whole lot of hotness I had made. I knew there was a problem. A big one at that.
I sighed and cursed. "Nice one Z, you just made a good recipe for purging the stomach," I laughed again.
I pulled out the tiny stool in my kitchen and sat down. Then I wondered how I, an Igbo girl, who grew up only with the knowledge of how to make ogbono, egusi and ọha soups even with my eyes closed, think that I could make a Yoruba dish. How on earth did I even get the nerve to think that I could tread in a different culinary territory and succeed?
I had only tasted Ofada stew a few times at a restaurant in the east before my sojourn to the west. With confidence in my skills when it comes to the kitchen, I thought trying to make Ofada stew for the first time would be a piece of cake for me.
To worsen it all, I wasn't making the stew for myself alone. Kayode, an old schoolmate I had reconnected with after I got to Lagos, was coming over that night for dinner. And somehow, I had lied to him that I'd cook his favourite dish, Ofada stew for him. Bragging about how my culinary skills were the best he could ever get.
But staring at my boiling pot of Ofada stew, I knew immediately I had cooked a key ingredient for a disastrous night with Kayode. And backing down now was already late because he had called to tell me he was in the way.
Without a knowledge of how to salvage the situation, I prayed he was the kind that loved pepper. Then I rushed to the bathroom to freshen up.
A few minutes later, I heard my doorbell ring as I got out of the bathroom. I quickly threw a cloth over my body and walked over to the door.
Standing on the other side of the door was Kayode with a bottle of wine.
"Hey! Kayode", I greeted, my voice coming out a little bit awkward.
"Zerah," he replied with a bold big smile.
I moved out of the way. "Come in," I said.
Without hesitation, he got in and handed me the wine while I locked the door.
"Smells great." He said, looking around my apartment.
"What?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"Your stew. It smells great" he replied, looking at me.
I only chuckled and walked past him to the couch.
"Please sit," I offered.
The first few hours of catching up were filled with awkwardness and trying to catch the old vibe between us. You wouldn't blame us, it was the first time in two years we were meeting again after college. That even heightened my worries that my stew was going to mess up the whole reunion and ruin the night entirely.
Finally, I summoned up courage and invited him to an already set table. I served the rice with shaky fingers. Then I popped the wine and poured myself a drink making sure to gobble down a good amount before scooping my rice.
I watched Kayode's face closely as he scooped a spoon into his mouth. His expression shifted from excited to confused and then… concerned.
"Hmm... interesting," he muttered, with a forced smile. I knew at that moment he was just trying to be gentle.
"Okay Kayode, I lied. I haven't made Ofada stew before" I confessed, totally embarrassed.
"Apart from the pepper, it's nice for a first trial, trust me. " He said, dropping his spoon. "Maybe the stereotype that all Yoruba's love pepper got to you too," he joked, blowing raspberries. Somehow, he was trying to ease my tension.
"I'm so sorry" I apologised, covering my face with my hands.
He laughed, "Don't be. It was thoughtful of you to have me over for dinner at first. And trying to cook ofada for the first time because of me. That's so thoughtful."
I chuckled, avoiding his gaze at the same time, wishing for the ground to open and swallow me.
"Hey! Good thing I brought wine!" He said, grabbing my glass of wine and taking a sip.
I laughed, got up and walked to the kitchen. "And good thing I don't lack chin-chin", I replied, my tension easing gently.
I returned with a jar of chin-chin and we ended up sitting on the floor and munching on our drinks and chin-chin while sharing stories of our disastrous kitchen moments. Our awkwardness faded away as the night grew old.
Somehow, my recipe for disaster wasn't as disastrous as I thought.
Glossary
Ogbono, Egusi and Oha soups - Local soups in Eastern Nigeria.
Ofada stew - A popular stew originated from Western Nigeria.
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Thanks. I am grateful.
You were in very serious trouble, fortunately your friend understood the situation and everything became something of no importance.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Good day.
Thanks .
Thanks @theinkwell
Enjoy your Delicacy 🤗
Haha.
You mean my pepper stew.
Hahaha
A great recipe for the death of awkwardness. Haha. I am glad Kayode was understanding and you didn't break yourself apart too.
He was kind.
How great was your story because even when the recipe didn't turn out as well as you had hoped your friend was understanding and in the end you had fun.
I love the taste of pepper and reading your story made me want to eat.
Thank you for sharing your story and for teaching us about the typical foods of your country.
Regards @zerah
I want to laugh. But somehow I've experienced something like this, so I know that feeling of embarrassment.
Really funny. That most have been a very embarrassing moment for you. Good thing he was the understanding type
Wow interesting story indeed. Thank God you guys had some extra food left to enjoy the night with or else it would have been pretty akward
Yeah, it would have been a bid disaster.
It's great that you have an understanding friend like kayode. Thank God it wasn't a total disaster in the end.
If not for kayode then the story would have been a different story entirely.
Lol, chinchin saved the day 😁😁
Your good almost ended in bad o... What if he had ulcer?? Hey God! 😩