Accra - Tim and I have reached the part of the trip where we have to visit the beach resorts in Accra to interview the executive chefs and to sample their menus. These are the places where the government of Ghana have their conventions and entertain foreigners. As the government owns both La-Palm Royal and Labadi Beach Hotels, one could say that these places are ground zero for how the nation conceptualizes and presents their food to the world.
On this day we went to the La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel to interview Executive Chef David Kore Fordjour. David learned his craft beginning at the tender age of 16 at South East London College. He has worked in New Jersey and New York City at such establishments as Sophie's French Bistro. He supervises a staff of 70 people in three different kitchens. During the course of the day he walks an average of 10 miles and works 12 hour days. He has been doing this for thirty years because he says it "makes me happy to make people happy".
After we interviewed Chef David, we ate at the Continental Restaurant's lunch buffet. For 70 Ghana cedi, we partook of umotuo (rice balls) with groundnut soup, fried eggplant, sliced roast beef, chicken, and fish with a pineapple and mango salsa. Unlike most African restaurants we have been to, there was actually a dessert spread. Apple pie, brownie, and cream puffs rounded out the meal.
When we finished, we toured one of the other restaurants that overlooked the ocean. Named the Ghanaian Village, this concept featured a more casual and less expensive local food menu. Wicker furniture and grass covered hut like pavilions helped to promote a tropical atmosphere. There was a very long fence that separated the resort from the beach. Upon approaching it we understood why, as there were four or five different craft vendors just waiting to sell necklaces and bracelets to the unsuspecting tourist. Also, in Ghana people actually live on the beach. There are no hurricanes or tropical storms to impede settlement on the beach. Consequently, villages are often located there along with the accompanying waste such settlements produce.
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| Lunch Buffet at the Continental Restaurant |
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| The World Health Organization was having their ebola conference here... |
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| Chef David was very generous with his time. |
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| Roast beef, chicken, fruit and a roll for Tim. |
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| Peanut soup, rice ball, fried eggplant, and fish for me. |
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| The long fence and settlements on the beach adjacent to the resort. |
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| A typical table setting complete with hand soup at the Ghanaian Village Restaurant |
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| View of the La-Palm Royal from the beach |
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