Market in the midst of uncertainty

I am constantly impressed by the ingenuity and persistence of people — who continue to find ways to survive and even thrive in the midst of uncertainty and economic decline.
Pretty, for example, owns a small pick up. Once or twice a week she drives to Mutoko, pays people to pick whatever is in season, loads up her truck and sets herself up by a Harare roadside. Currently she is selling loads of juicy mangoes. My local street-corner offers sweet potatoes and watermelons – also from the back of a truck — Farmers’ markets at Maasdorp Avenue (Wednesdays and Saturdays) and Amanzi (Fridays) continue to grow and flourish. The yoghurt seller has been making yoghurt as a hobby for home consumption since she was 18 — and in the last few years has found a market for her speciality — a delicious thick, Greek yoghurt – either plain or vanilla. Labneh – a Lebanese cream cheese — made from strained yoghurt — and flavoured with garlic or herbs is another popular product. Homemade sesame triangles or frozen strawberry puree make a perfect accompaniment.
Her market neighbour has a quail business. Starting with hatching a few eggs they now have 3000 birds and  supply restaurants and a few retailers with quail meat and quail eggs both fresh and pickled. She confessed that she had never eaten quail meat herself — but I bought a couple from Food Lover’s market and we roasted them for a special country dinner.
I’m not that competent with preparing small birds so I consulted my brother-in-law, who has lived all over the world and experimented with all sorts of produce. A very talented cook, he now makes his home in the South of France where quails are common fare.  He told me he didn’t have a fixed recipe — but often spatchcocked them and roasted or barbecued them. I handed over to my husband– who made a little stuffing with bread, herbs and peaches — wrapped them in bacon and roasted them in a little, hot, rural oven for max half an hour. They were delicious — more delicate than chicken but not as gamy as bigger birds. Lovely flavour and we will certainly try them again and share the recipe with the market quail seller!
Meantime Shop Café has also taken up a market stall — selling their homemade bread, cakes, quiches, biscuits and other treats including trays of cress and sunflower seed sprouts. Clearly still much in demand, they had virtually sold out by 10am last Friday at Amanzi. They have continued to operate Saturday breakfast and lunch and occasional Sundays at Doon estate but good news is that from March 12 they will re-open for lunch Tuesday to Friday at Amanzi — using the side kitchen, verandah edge and outdoor café space. Bookings can be made through Amanzi. Look forward to having their lovely buffet available again.
More optimism was present at the launch of Colour Spekes last week. 5.30pm — height of rush hour — ensured that it took a while to negotiate the traffic into the Joina City underground parking, but once having attained the 14th floor, the city view was amazing. Harare looks so much better from above — comfortably elevated from the chaos below!  Colour Spekes — a partnership between Urban Spaces, Hivos, Trust Africa and the City— has emblazoned Speke Ave next to town house with fabulous road murals — engaging the public in city art. Check out their facebook page Urban Space Colour Spekes — or go downtown and see it for real.

g.jeke@yahoo.com