DAY 19: The Somali Experience at MAANDEEQ RESTAURANT AND CAFE, 1535 S. Havana St., #H

South Havana, from 1500 South down to S. Parker Rd., appears to be an epicenter for African and Korean food.  Having some "experience" with Korean food, I thought I'd start with the African options.  

Aurora has a multitude of Ethiopian restaurants and markets, but what it also has are Somalian and Nigerian establishments.

Described as a "meeting place for Somalian expats in search of the comforts of home", and a place for those "searching for a different eating experience", MAANDEEQ RESTAURANT AND CAFE was yesterday's restaurant of choice. 

 A shot of MAANDEEQ'S most lovely, eye-spinning decor--which leads one to believe that this must have been a Chinese restaurant in the past.  We loved the cultural pastiche.

 What was most memorable, by far, was the fact that my friend Tracey and I walked into a place inhabited entirely by Somali men.  We felt instantly that we had crossed a cultural threshold. The only other women in the restaurant were a pair, in head-to-toe traditional dress, sitting in the other room.

Our first waiter, young and very uncomfortable, couldn't speak English and approached our table, without a menu and with a one word question--"beef?"

After a moment or two of silence, he was soon replaced by another who brought menus, but whose English was still very limited.  Apparently, few of their customers are not Somali.

We asked him to bring what he thought we should try, as neither of us had ever had Somali food.  Take note of the prices--at the end of our meal, our bill was totalled in our waiter's head. I'm not sure how we were charged.

Again, there was a huge language barrier.

Our lunch began with a light cilantro broth with shredded carrots, turmeric and lemon

The spread was a spicy goat stew with a salad, a plate of greens and cabbage and a plate of "Ugaali Dish"--grits made of white hominy.  The bowl of "soup" is actually a sauce (similar to the broth, but richer) to be poured over the Ugaali.

A platter of vegetable rice followed.
After eating, we both ordered a sweet, spiced tea with milk--similar to chai and very delicious!

Overall, the food was very interesting and quite good. 
Pricewise? $26.00 for the both of us.