Hungrygrrl

We walked into the craft fair in the old barn at Greenbank farm on Whidbey to the deep-throaty smell of grilled lamb. African food. I never would have thought.

After tasting some wine, we wandered down to the stand run by a smiling woman named “Dorcas,” of Botswana. We ordered lamb samosas but she made us try the collards, pushing a small cup onto us filled with greens and grains. We were hooked. We ordered a full plate, slow cooked collards and grains all topped with a lamb and yellow pepper kebab.

This was real comfort food, the greens so soft they seemed to melt on your tongue. Set next to black eyed peas and hominy, it felt like something your grandma would make you eat, something that would make you big and strong. The lamb was a bit tough, but so rich and meaty we almost didn’t notice. The sauces were all homemade–mango, sesame, pumpkin and piri-piri. My favorite was the sesame, it just worked so well with the grains, but they were all good.

Sadly no storefront now or anytime soon, but she sells her wares in the farmer’s markets on Whidbey (including the Sunday market at Greenbank farm). And she does have email.

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African Specialty Foods
Dorcas Young
mattanddorcas@whidbey.net
Greenbank farm farmer’s market (Sundays)
Whidbey Island, WA