From Accra, I traveled west to Cape Coast. This and the next post are dedicated to this region and activities I suggest if you are visiting. My first adventure in Cape Coast was a cooking class (information on that is in my last post) in which palm oil was used in just about every dish. I was intent on learning about this ingredient, so rich with earthy flavor, and used almost exclusively in African cooking, so I visited a local producer and learned about the process of maki

I started off my food adventure in Ghana sampling the many dishes of Africa's West Coast at various restaurants in Accra. Edikang Soup I began with edikang soup, native to Southern Nigeria but eaten throughout Ghana. The soup is made using ‘ugwu’ (the native name for fluted pumpkin leaves) and Malabar spinach, which is locally referred to as water leaf. Chicken Pepper Soup Another Nigerian soup that is popular in Ghana is chicken pepper soup, which includes chicken of course

Long before it became the capital of an independent nation, Accra was part of the Gold Coast, a place shaped by trade, colonial ambition, and the early foundations of a nation that would eventually lead Africa into independence. The streets, forts, and landmarks that remain today are more than historical sites; they are echoes of a complex and difficult past that still informs Ghana’s identity. To walk through Accra with this history in mind is to see the city differently. Th

Ghana, or The Republic of Ghana, is a country situated on Africa's west coast. Some interesting facts that I learned about this lovely country are: 1) The word "ghana" means "warrior king" in Mande, a West African language used throughout the region today. 2) Though surrounded by francophone countries, Ghana's official language is English. 3) The currency used in Ghana is called the "cedi" which means "cowry shell." These, small, snail shells were once used as currency thr