Gastronomically branching out

Even though I'm on a tight budget, which means my funds have to last until the end of the year, every so often this urge arises to get away from the starch-filled buffets here in Kigali (cheap though they are) and try something different—namely, starch-filled Mexican food.

There is only one Mexican restaurant in Kigali, though strictly speaking it is an Americanized version. (But, hey, I'll take it.) Its name is Meze Fresh and it specializes in burritos and tacos. So the other day, in conjunction with doing a return visit in the area, I decided to splurge on a burrito for lunch.

The interior, including the bathroom, was clean and the décor tasteful. The young guy behind the counter pulled out a large tortilla and proceeded to pile on it whatever I wanted. There was the usual rice and beans, plus pico de gallo (mild or fiery hot), grated cheese, tomato, mushroom, sauteed onion, purple cabbage, guacamole, pineapple salsa, mango salsa (extra charge), and choice of meat (beef, chicken, pork, or goat) or vegetarian. I learned that the owner is from California. He wasn't there at the time, but the server said that the employees get free food, which is quite a special perk for them.

I had the chicken burrito with mango salsa (4400Rwf, or $6.30), and was it huge and delicious! I thought I might save part of it for later, but then instincts took over, and it was gone in no time. Mmm! How great, I thought, to experience a part of "home" away from home. 

Restaurant review number two:

After visiting the burrito place, I was starting to get into eating something other than local foods, and so during a day in field service working with a brother visiting from South Africa, he suggested going to this Italian restaurant called SoleLuna. This place gets positive reviews on a website for expats and is noted for having the best pizza in Kigali.

There were dozens of pizza combinations on the menu. We ordered one pizza (cheese and spicy salami) and one calzone (tomato, ham, capers, artichoke), each roughly 6000Rwf ($8.60). Both were excellent; the pizza in particular had a thin crust, which I like. The sauce was flavorful with the right amount of spice. Ambience is relaxing and there is a nice view of the city.

So, there you have it. One burrito place and one pizza place, both highly recommended. What do you think? Should I become a restaurant critic?

By the way, I think I may suggest to some of the local brothers that eating spicy food will help them cope with this current run of "freezing" weather (64º-68ºF, or 18º-20ºC) during the evenings. One of the young brothers running microphones at the meeting this week had a thick sweatshirt on! I tell them that if they ever hope to visit America, they had better start conditioning themselves now for real winter cold, yes, the kind where your breath freezes in midair. (Nobody believes me, of course.)