Gastronomy in Ghana: La Chaumiere

This one was long overdue. One of my favourite restaurants in Accra, La Chaumiere was open for business at lunch as usual. The food as always was superb. They have a wonderful chef who always manages to consistently reproduce the menu without disappointing. I met some friends for an impromptu lunch which turned into one of those long Mediterranean meals. La Chaumiere is a French-Mediterranean restaurant on Liberation Road.

Conversations in Ghana: Anna Kurtycz - Artist

I have had countless encounters with wonderful people in this city and it is a shame that they are not always shared. Well, this one is to sharing... Anna Kurtycz is a renowned Mexican artist specialising in engraving and woodcut who has been living in Accra for two years. She has held numerous exhibitions with local artists and holds workshops at her studio with local artists as a means to get people more aware of local and regional talent.

Gastronomy in Ghana: Afrikiko Resort in Akosombo

An hour drive from Accra gives you a trip out of town and the chance to have freshwater-reared Tilapia looking out at Lake Volta. I find it interesting that although Tilapia is actually not an indigenous fish but was introduced to Ghana some ten years ago, yet has firmly become the country's favourite fish, and prepared well, it makes for a tasty fish.
Afrikiko is a small(ish) resort on the banks of Lake Volta and near the Akosombo Dam, which is popular with tourists, expats and Ghanaians alike.

Eating for a good cause...always a pleasure.

For a change this post is not just about food...well, not entirely. The signage directed me to 'High Tea' at Labadi Beach Hotel this morning and for a moment I groaned inwardly. As much as I love going for 'High Tea' at posher than posh hotels, I was really hoping that Labadi had deviated from the norm just a bit this time. They had indeed. I can't remember the last time I had prawns for breakfast, but prawns it was, done tempura style. There were salmon and cream wraps, profiteroles stuffed with a variety of fillings, bacon-wrapped sausages and a huge array of pastries and bread. But we were there for a good cause and that made the experience all the more worthwhile.

Places & Gastronomy in Ghana: Art Deco Furniture at The Orangery

First you view the exquisite art deco furniture in Art Deco, located in Adabraka, then you sit out on the patio and enjoy your crepes. The Orangery bills itself as a creperie; and crepes were the order of the day when we visited.
It was suggested by a friend who had been there once and could not stop raving about the crepes served there.
The furniture at Art Deco is exquisite, and is indeed art deco furniture - minimalistic clear lines and more importantly locally made. This is one of the better, if not best furniture stores in Accra but it's like a well-kept secret. Why I don't know, because it has truly beautiful furniture!

Places in Ghana: Arts Centre

I set out looking to take a few pictures of the Arts Centre in Accra...I left there with offers of rare Ashanti artifacts and ivory carvings. Yes, ivory carvings. Never mind that trade in or the sale of ivory is banned in Ghana, or in pretty much all of Sub-Saharan Africa,

Gastronomy in Ghana: The Pavillion Bar and Restaurant at Hillburi

The cappuccino mousse served at the end of our meal is what sealed it..."The best food I've ever tasted in Ghana" was my daughter's verdict. Okay, to be moderated slightly, without the tweenie hyperbole.

The Beaujolais Nouveau... yet again

Yes, the third Thursday of the month of November and the corks were popped last night as we celebrated the Beaujolais Nouveau once again. I can hardly write great tomes about the wine, not at all, but I can go on forever about the cheese.

Places in Ghana: Aburi Botanical Gardens

Barely forty minutes out of Accra, and you can find yourself surrounded by tropical forests and astoundingly beautiful flora, limited fauna and surprising bird life...we came across turkeys on our walk.

Gastronomy in Ghana: Cafe dez Amis

Some of the best croissants in Accra can be had here. On a good day you will definitely get light, flaky on the outside and soft on the inside, golden croissants...

Places in Ghana: Joe's Perspective Art Boutique

"It is not an art gallery in the typical sense – more of a concept store" is what the owner and creative director behind Joe’s Perspective  Art Boutique, Kukua Ampah calls it.

Places in Ghana: Uzuri

Uzuri, meaning ‘Goodness’ in Swahili is a newly-opened gift shop in Labone

Conversations in Ghana: Borlabie - Artist

"Is that a Borlabie?" is an oft-heard question in some circles in Accra. That is because Ebenezer Borlabie, or simply Borlabie, is a prolific artist with his highly recognisable street scenes and galloping horsemen paintings.
The story behind the horsemen, who are inspired by the Tuareg people of the Niger, is both amusing and serendipitous. When he started painting, he never set out to paint horses or horsemen.

Gastronomy in Ghana: Melting Moments

It was one of the first places in Accra I went to that promised good coffee with ambiance. Melting Moments is a coffee shop cum cafe in Labone.

A ship in harbour...

I was on a warship on Monday night and it was quite an experience. Yes, it was docked and floating at zero knots - but I was on a ship that has been at sea for the past seven months - stopping at various ports around the world...the wanderlust in me was thrilled to no end.

Golf in the tropics

I was invited to play in a Golf Tournament this past Saturday. I have never played in as many golf tournaments as I have since moving to Accra.