Fruit
You’ve never had pineapple until you’ve had Chadian pineapple. If you’re brave enough, you can also buy a machete in the market to assist in opening the pineapple—and avoid ending up in an eating arrangement like this. (~2,000 CFA - $4.50)
Mangos are incredibly tasteful too. (~1,000 CFA - $2.25)
Juicy, delicious tomatoes never cease to impress.
The tangerines pack a punch and are filled with seeds. It’s a real challenge to finish one in a single sitting.
Nuts
Unshelled peanuts can be bought in the market at about 500 CFA ($1.13) for 2 cups. Peanuts can also be bought shelled, and they come in two different types:
"Fool" - Peanuts that lack flavor and are very chalky->
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| "Angangana," or "fool sudanee" (not pictured - they were too good to keep around) - These nuts are similar to common salted peanuts, but much more flavorful. |
These small seeds are called "simsim" and have an excellent roasted flavor. You eat them by the handful. Simsim, fool, fool sudanee, and many other types of nuts are purchased from walking vendors (often children) or at the market, for a marginal cost. They are sold in small see-through plastic bags, and are often bundled in a variety pack.
“Aradib booboo” consists of an outer shell that, when broken off, reveals a hard ball covered in a powder. Aradib (shortened name) is eaten by sucking the powder off of the hard inner core, and then discharging the remnants. Aradib has a wonderful cherry flavor, and it is much like sucking on candy. The Chadian Arabic word “booboo” means monkey, and these delicacies are supposedly a favorite of the Chadian monkey.
Restaurants
Being a city of great ethnic mixing, N'Djamena hosts a variety of dining options. You can eat Chadian food, Chinese, Arab varieties, and more.
Supposedly the best restaurant in Chad, the Ali Baba restaurant offers Lebanese quisine. And if for some reason you're getting a bit home-sick, try the kabob and french fries.
But of course, Chadian food is a must have. Local restaurants are numerous, especially in the market area. Sometimes small-scale, impromptu restaurants appear on the side of the road—eat at one of these at your own risk. The meal pictured to the left was taken at the residence of a Chadian hotel worker. A good way to try some local food is to make friends and ask to dine with them.
The soft, doughy bread on the rim of the tray is “qissar.” The meat dip in the bowl is “mula sharmoot.” The dish is eaten by tearing off a piece of the bread and dipping it in the meat sauce. Delicious! Remember—when eating with Muslims, use only your right hand.
Served along with this meal was a side of "fungasoo." Each little ball had a crunchy exterior and a soft, cheese interior.
A meal at the Ali-Baba will cost you 5,000 CFA ($11) or up, and other restaurants are cheaper. If you eat as a guest, don't think about offering to pay - you won't be allowed.
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Destinations: N'Djamena - Abéché - Lake Chad
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