The Ngor Lounge is located at the the end of the petite Corniche des Almadies, almost all the way down to the new Sheraton. It’s just before the Restaurant Ngor / Aux Pieds dans l’Eau. Closed Mondays.

Woohoo, summer! For some this means leaving Dakar for good, others just for a break and then there are those of you who will be newly arriving and settling in our city. Welcome. We eat well in this town. :)

Dakar Eats staff, nibblers, bloggers, tasters and reviewers will be taking the summer off but we will be back online with regular posts starting in September.

A few things to note before we sign off…

– Babelle International’s new location on the Corniche, just across from the Mosquée de la Divinité, opens this Sunday at 11am. The shelves are stocked with loads of items from the US and definitely looks worth checking out.

– If anything happens over the summer that we really want you to know about, it will be posted on our Facebook page.

– Marie’s Kitchen will be baking and delivering amazing homemade breads, muffins, tortillas, pizza crusts, bagels, etc… all summer.

– Dakar Eats Instagram will launch in September!

– Prim’s Wings continue to sell out and gather a larger following each week. If you’re not on the bandwagon yet, give them a try you probably will be soon.

For new arrivals to Dakar, these posts may interest you:

The 2015 list: where to find what in Dakar

Dakar Eats Cheat Sheet

The 2014 Dakar Bread Reviews

A bientôt, y’all!

We spent the summer in the US and among the many (many!) things that I noticed were different ‘back home’ from life in Dakar was the diversity and ease of snacks for kids. I loved it. 

While we don’t have as many single-serving, grab-and-go options here in Senegal, there are some good, healthy treats available – although they may take a bit more planning and effort… and $$.

  
Here are a few ideas from our kitchen. Please share yours in the comments!

1. Tortilla + peanut butter
2. Tortilla + Laughing Cow cheese
3. Tortilla + hummus
4. Tortilla + shredded Gouda or mozzarella, heated to make a quesadilla
5. English muffin + peanut butter + honey
6. English muffin + Laughing Cow cheese
7. English muffin + Laughing Cow cheese + jam
8. English muffin + salami or ham + cheese
9. Cheese sticks (made by cutting mozzarella from CDA)
10. Wedges of Laughing Cow cheese
11. Babybel cheese
12. Cucumber slices + Laughing Cow cheese
13. Pear slices + Gouda slices
14. Banana + peanut butter
15. Apple slices + peanut butter
16. Carrot sticks + hummus
17. Pita triangles + hummus 
18. Dried apricots
19. Dried prunes (may have pits)
20. Dried mango
21. Dried banana chips
22. Dried coconut pieces
23. Raisins 
24. Sandwich bread + yogurt (either as a dip or spread on the bread)
25. Hard-boiled egg
26. Popcorn
27. Lait caillé, plain or with chopped fruit stirred in
28. Pretzel sticks
29. Rice cakes 
30. Digestive biscuits, plain or with chocolate
31. Grapes (seedless available)
32. Clementines or mandarins
33. Plums
34. Cherry tomatoes
35. Melon slices
36. Tamarind pods (have seeds)
37. Crêpes, plain or with jam
38. Frozen fruit smoothies
39. Frozen yogurt cup + spoon
40. Frozen seedless grapes
41. Frozen pineapple chunks
42. Frozen mango chunks
43. Frozen peas, thawed (I know. But my kids love them.)
44. Slice of salami or ham rolled around cheese
45. Leftover pizza margarita (order an extra just for this reason!)
46. No sugar added applesauce cups (Hypermarché or CityDia)
47. Trail mix: peanuts, raisins, dried coconut pieces, cereal…
48. Veronique’s peanut brittle
49. Granola bars (ingredients easily available)
50. Rolled energy bites (oats, peanut butter, dried coconut, cocoa…) 

Snack tips for Dakar

Ziploc baggies are available at the American Food Store, as a variety of US snacks such as Goldfish, raisin boxes, etc… 

Marie’s Kitchen makes and delivers THE BEST tortillas and English muffins. She can also make whole wheat banana bread or apple bread. 

Veronique’s peanut butter and brittle are amazing. And she delivers too. (Following recommendations of Senegalese friends and based on a few experiences, we don’t give our kids peanuts or cashews sold on the street. But we love Veronique’s peanut goodies!)

Shady Shack hummus freezes great. Order in bulk and stock up. 

Use the plastic ‘bissap baggies’ from your local buutik to freeze single servings of fruit. 

Thanks to V. for sending this review!

There’s a new Fro-Yo place called Soow & Go in Ouest Foire behind the shell station on the VDN and 3 minutes from the Brioche Dorée. It’s run by a Spanish lady. It’s worth a try, we’ve had it twice now, I would recommend it. They only have one flavor of fro-yo, the basic one, but they have a good selection of toppings. The maximum you can spend there is 2000 cfa and that’s for a complet, the minimum is 1200 cfa. They also make milkshakes. 

Find them on Facebook here. 

Poultry

I order chicken legs, wings and breasts from Poulet Express. I order regularly and am continually impressed by the speed of the delivery (usually under an hour, especially if I name-drop Dakar Eats. Try it!) and the freshness and cleanliness of the chicken – plus their prices are better than supermarkets. The owner speaks English, so you can call and say, “English, please!”

I’ve also started ordering whole chickens from a very nice man in Ouakam who raises about 15-25 birds at a time and will get them big and fat (3.5 kilos nekkid) for me before butchering. Although he sometimes has them on the fly (haha), I usually order in advance and have recently just set a standing order for four chickens a month, which he delivers for a flat 1500cfa. It’s the best deal I’ve found for large, fresh chickens. 77 553 2835 or 70 778 4479. If you want to order in English, ask for Marietou.

Beef

I used to buy at Hypermarché. Never bought ‘bad’ meat there, but the smell has gotten so ick that I no longer buy there. Casino is more expensive, but until I find a new option, it’s worth it.

Tip: The best beef in Senegal comes from BeerSheba Project. They deliver ground beef to Dakar weekly. We get 95% of our beef from them.

Pork

I’ve heard that there’s a market in Grand Yoff that butchers pigs every Saturday and you can get any cut you want at a good price. I haven’t ventured there yet, so for now I stick with the occasional Casino pork chop and regularly buy ground pork (chair a saucisse) for making sausages from there. Oh, and CDA has little hams we really like and decent bacon (poitrine fumée) so I buy those and freeze them.

Seafood

I order filets de lotte and shrimp from Abdou, who delivers all over Dakar. Good prices, always fresh and very punctual.

Pantry items

For canned and baking goods, Hypermarché has a wider selection, but more often, I go to City Dia because they carry 80% of what I want…and without that funky smell. Casino is most expensive, but decent selection.

Be sure to check out your local buutik too!

Fruit & Veggies

Mr and Mme Ba come by each week selling from their car. They have all I need at good prices (and they sell all around Dakar). Or go to your nearest stand and get to know the vendors there.

There is also the ASD organic market twice a week and the new Lou Bess farmers market will launch soon.

Frozen fruit is at larger grocery stores, CDA (cheapest strawberries), Patisen, Saprolait (blueberries!) and Passion Nature delivers frozen mango and organic strawberries.

Tip: If you’re new and want to know what’s available and in season in Senegal, go to marché Kermel.

Dairy

I buy mozzarella in 2-kilos blocks at about half the price of the grocery stores from CDA. (But I don’t care for their grated mozzarella or their Gouda.) For lower-priced Gouda in bulk, Saprolait is the place to go. We buy Laitcran brand powdered whole and skim milk and prefer Ardo brand lait caillé (non-sucré). I use it to make ‘Greek yogurt’ and sour cream.

Bakery goods 

You probably already know about Eric Kayser bakery and that they also sell from Le Parcours. But beyond EK, Dakar has some amazing breads!

Whole wheat sandwich bread, sliced: Shady Shack. It’s delicious and exactly what I want in a sandwich loaf. They also have white bread, if you prefer.

Everyday baguette: Ask for tapalapa at your local buutik. Freezes well, makes good sandwiches and great garlic bread.

Baked-to-order whole wheat tortillas, English muffins, pizza crusts, bagels, banana and apple breads… Marie’s Kitchen delivers. And I am so, so glad!

(See more here: 2014 Dakar Bread Reviews!)

Organic goodness 

Organic fruits & veggies, eggs, poultry, jams, amazing dairy products… all by delivery from Passion Nature / Keur Normand. Seriously. You need to try it. Customer service was lacking for a while, but usually their products made up it.

Or to browse and shop for yourself, there’s the ASD organic market twice a week and La Maison Verte ($$) downtown.

In grocery stores, look for products marked ‘bio’.

Gluten-free options, restaurant reviews, a comprehensive list of what to find where… All on Dakar Eats! Happy browsing and eating!

I’ve been hearing it from every direction: the new My Way restaurant in Almadies is so good / delicious / amazing. As one who loves Lebanese food, although admittedly I have no idea how to order it, I couldn’t wait to test it out.

Unfortunately there’s no menu online and they didn’t have any printed that I could swing by and pick up to use place a take-out order. So I sent a message to an Instagram buddy (Hi!) who is a fan of My Way and he was able to suggest what we should order, which was interestingly a selection of appetizers. And his suggestions were right on the CFA! So good. Unbelievably good.

This was more food than we could eat for dinner between the two of us, but just the right amount to enjoy leftovers for lunch the next day.

We ordered kebe with ground beef and onions, falafel, the trio of hummus (traditional, basil and spicy) that was just out of this world, baba ghanouj that I’ll dream about for months and tabouleh with loads of green and flavor. And it came with loads of pita bread, aka ‘Lebanese silverware’.

Nutshell: one of my new top favorites in Dakar, no question. (But please do post the menu so we can discover more!)

Find them on Facebook here.
Tel: 33 868 77 77

There’s not much I like more than a good dessert. And ‘good’ to me does not just means sweet. I like a well-crafted masterpiece that combines tastes and textures and even temperatures so that every bite is unique. Is that so much to ask? 😉 La Parilla in Plateau and La Maison de Céline in Almadies have got this down pat, by the way.

And now, fans of American, French and Lebanese desserts, pastries and sweets can get this same meticulous attention to detail from Pause Douceur’s homemade treats which are available for pick up or delivery.

We tried their Oriental pavlova (light, delicate meringue that was truly impressive considering this beastly humidity), atayef achta with its rich cream filling and traditional American-style lemon pound cake with even lemonier glaze. It’s rich but not too sweet, perfectly cooked and neither dry nor heavy. Plus it’s packaged to travel well so great for pot-lucks or sending a gift to a friend. Or, um, eating it all yourself.

I do have one request after tasting (and retasting and retasting) the lemon pound cake. Please make a pumpkin spice pound cake in November for Thanksgiving and an orange cinnamon pound cake at Christmas! Thank you, Rayana. :)

Ask about catering for small events, weddings, Christmas, birthdays, baby showers, etc… Light and gluten-free options are available. You can order by phone, text message or email in English or French. For large orders, please give at least 24 hours. Orders can be picked up or delivery by Speedex is available Monday-Saturday from 8am to 7pm.

Find them on Facebook here.
Tel: 76 840 09 44
Pausedouceursenegal@gmail.com

New arrivals to Dakar may laugh at us talkin’ turkeys in September, but seasoned expats know it’s always been a scramble to find a bird for Thanksgiving dinner. 

This year Poulet Express is raising 1,400 turkeys that will range from 6 to 10 kilos (5000cfa/kilo) and will be available from mid-November. No need to call to reserve ahead of time, but do call 2-5 business days before you want your bird(s) delivered. Tel: 338429686

We now resume our regular program of sweating and not thinking about autumn. 

Yum-Yum has launched their new ‘Chickenita’ pizzas and baguettes, available for a limited time. The owner contacted me a while back and told me about this pizza with roasted chicken – and that was really all I needed to know. I love chicken on pizza.

This special pizza comes with a tomato sauce base, 100% mozzarella cheese, homemade roasted chicken, pepperoni sausage (which is beef, but surprisingly good!), fresh hand-cut tomatoes and is topped with high-quality emmental cheese. I was so right about chicken being good on pizza. The whole family loved it, even though we were eating it by flashlight during a power cut.

The Chickenita pizza starts at 2500cfa (Solo) and goes up to 7000cfa (Family Pan). Chickenita baguettes (one of the best deals in town for lunch!) are priced at 1500cfa.

Yum-Yum in Ouakam: 33 865 62 62

Yum-Yum in Plateau: 33 822 65 65

With many thanks to Deb who picked up this menu and sent it our way!   

Presse Café has opened a branch in Point E/Zone B in the pretty garden, great atmosphere of The British Council.  All the usual suspects from the main branch’s menu are there: real ‘barista’ coffee and fresh fruit juices, muffins, cakes, pastries… And at lunch there are two daily specials (Senegalese/European) priced 1500/2500 CFA, as well as wraps, sandwiches, pizzas… and the desserts are to die for.

Best coffee in Point E, and the café is a great place for quick lunch, meet up with friends or have a business meeting. Delivery available!

Thank you for this info, Carrie!

Here’s a short list of some of our community members that you’ll be able to find next Saturday at the market…and they are still adding more!

Adaa Ada
Bégué Coco
Fromage by M. Badji
ENDA / Marché ASD Dakar
Etounature
Femezon
Jokko
Jubilé
Kaani
LAYU
Le Delizie di Maite
Le Gourmet Boucherie
Maguylicious
Marie’s Kitchen
Sunu Tool
Taaru Askan Farm
The Beer-Sheba Project
Veronique’s Peanut Butter
Wellness

hello@loubessdakar.com
http://www.loubessdakar.com
+221 78 135 30 30

City Dia Queso Tierno, cut into cubes.

City Dia Mexican salsa or Pace’s from the American Food Store.

Combine in the crock pot on high or on the stove stop on medium heat. (Vven better if you add a splash of your favorite beer!)

Voila! Mexican Queso that might make you forget your favorite Mexican restaurant back home!

Thanks for this recipe, Michelle! Also good to know: The American Food Store has tortillas chips in stock!

In the two months I was away from Dakar, quite a few new restaurants opened up. The one I heard the most about was Redstone, and with good reason(s). Without being over-the-top-cheesy Americana, it is the most ‘American’ restaurant in Dakar. From the décor to the menu, it really does have surprisingly American taste.

So yay! Right? Well, kind of. What I’d heard before going and based on our experience, it’s definitely hit or miss. But what they hit, they hit out of the park! Take the burger, for example. The bun was great, wonderfully melted cheese and REAL barbecue sauce and jalapeños that were soon good! But the burger itself was an overcooked and seemingly pre-packaged patty.

The French fried were delicious, hot and salty – plus served in an adorable little fry basket. But the cole slaw was just cabbage and thick, gloppy mayo. Such a shame too since awesome cole slaw is easy to make!

For dessert, we should have tried the cheesecake, and will on our next trip back. (Oh there will definitely be a trip back. I need to try the nachos and fajitas and quesadillas!) We ordered the fondant au chocolat, which was disappointing. It was plenty gooey, but not very rich and the puny scoop of ice cream tasted like store-bought bleh. So for fondant au chocolat in the future, I will rely on La Maison de Celine, La Parilla, Le Mokai… and basically anywhere else that does them.

The final verdict: Every American in Dakar should go to Redstone. Seriously. But you may need to go back another time or two in order to have a truly great experience.

Redstone
Route King Fahd (next to the American Food Store) in Almadies
Tel: 33 820 20 55
Find them on Facebook here.

Over the weekend, while we were all enjoying the local produce and specialties at the first edition of the Lou Bess? Farmers’ Market, another local delicacy was hitting the scene. Sensmoke is now offering smoked swordfish (espadon)! You can eat it their smoked fish and meats on sandwiches, in sauce, on salads or just on their own.

All of their fish and meat are locally sourced, with the fish coming from Kayar. The price is 10,000cfa per kilo for fish or meat, and it is packaged in 100-200 gram quantities. In November, Sensmoke will be adding mackerel to the menu.

With the holidays coming up, it’s best to pre-order by emailing evgeniadolina@gmail.com (English or French). Delivery available to ISD or Casino Dakar City parking lot, or via Sen Express to any location in Dakar.

Now featuring candy donuts collection, and adding the chicken tenders and choco-calzone to the permanent menu! (Also some slight prices changes so refer to this menu and not previous versions.)

I have a new obsession, but it’s a healthy one so it’s okay.

Club Dolima’s fresh dairy products are delicious. (And they deliver.) Forget the Dolima brand milk and lait caillé you may have tried in the grocery stores. Not sure whether it’s the actual product that’s different or the refrigeration (or lack thereof) in stores, but what I’m talking about is the good stuff. Real, fresh milk from herds up in Richard-Toll that you can buy as pasteurized milk for drinking or yogurt that is just… wow.

Club Dolima is currently offering:
– fresh pasteurized whole milk, 1500cfa per liter
– plain whole milk yogurt, 500cfa for 125g pot
– vanilla whole milk yogurt, 500cfa for 125g pot (amazing!)

Minimum order is 5000cfa and delivery is included in the price. Their dairy products are packaged in reusable glass containers which they pick up from you each week when they make the next delivery. (Love this!)

If you have a chance, when Rama delivers ask her a bit about their company and how they are developing a sustainable growth model with Pular herders in northern Senegal.

How to place an order:

1. Check their website to find out which day they deliver to your neighborhood.

2. Send an email to Rama at leclub.dolima@gmail.com or call her at 780144937 to place your order. (She speaks excellent English and is very professional and easy to work with.) The info she needs is your first and last name, address/directions, phone number and quantities you’d like to order.

3. Within 48 hours she will confirm your order.

4. Your fresh dairy products will be delivered on the appointed day!

Ramatoulaye Louise Diouf
Tel: 780144937
leclub.dolima@gmail.com

Oops. Time to order again!

I feel like the last person in Dakar to have shopped at Le Gac butcher in Ngor Virage. After seven years in Dakar, I finally stopped by this morning.

They’ve been around for 30 years and have a wide variety of high quality charcuterie, pork, beef and poultry but also a selection of fresh salads, cheeses, chutneys, honeys, wines and more.

My motivation for going to Le Gac was to find a good source for ground beef since BeerSheba beef is sadly off the market for about a year until they raise their own herd. And while I did find what appears to be good ground beef at Le Gac (hoping so at 6500cfa/kilo), I think what I will be returning for is their selection of pork cuts, beef cuts, pork and chicken sausages.

Le Gac
Open Tuesday-Saturday from 9am to 1pm / 4pm to 8pm.
boucherielegac@gmail.com
Yoff Virage
338200339

I wanted to write this post over six months ago. Simone wouldn’t let me. I had just attended a beautiful baby shower she catered (all these gorgeous photos are from that event) and her cakes, treats and party favors were amazing. Delicious, beautiful… every detail was perfect. But she said no, not yet.

A few months later I was at a dinner where she made gorgeous cakes and mini-desserts for about 100 people. I asked if I could post about her then. She said no. I wasn’t even allowed to give a sneak preview! :) She wanted me to wait until she was completely ready to launch her business.

So today I am very, very happy to FINALLY be able to introduce Simone Café to our Dakar Eats readers! This is truly a day I have been waiting for. Her lovely website is up and running and will make you drool on your keyboard.

More than her incredible desserts, she also caters savory items (and at prices that are very reasonable!).

Simone is a gem. She is professional, detail-focused, reliable and oh-my-word-can-she-bake! Welcome to the Dakar food scene (officially!), Simone!

For more information:
http://simonecafe.com
33.825.1198
77.438.8605