Bukom

This had to be one of the most disappointing stops on our journey. We headed to Adams Morgan to go to Ghana Cafe. We arrived when the restaurant was supposed to be open but a sign on the door said be back at 6:30. So we walked around a bit checking out some of the other places; wasting time basically. At 6:45 ish still it wasn't open. We had a long trip home so we decided to make another choice, knowing full well that when we came out Ghana Cafe would be open. Bukom, another African restaurant, had a good reputation so we decided to try it.
By now we are getting used to being the only WASPs in these restaurants. The stares as we walked in didn't make us feel too uncomfortable. There were hip looking people there so I thought it would be good. The first thing I noticed was that the place seemed quite dirty but people seemed to be enjoying their meals and our kids were not the only ones there, so I tried to overlook it.
We are becoming familiar with the African dishes, so we try to find things we haven't eaten yet. I got Komi Ke Kenan which is croakers (fish), kenkey and a sauce called shito. The fish is tasty but so boney that is difficult to eat. We tried to put a good spin on it, but kenkey tasted to me like spoiled cornmeal mush pressed into a log. I just couldn't eat it. Julian got the Eguisi which is a West African specialty we haven't tried yet. It has goat, melon seeds, and spinach. We ordered gari to go with it, since we liked it at Roger Miller. This gari was just a big glop of stickiness. Julian says he liked it but I tasted the sauce and the goat is just overpowering, and of course there were bones. Julia's cassava leaf dish was ok. The jollof rice accompianment, which we loved at chez Auty Libbe, was like some really bad version of boxed tomato rice pilaf with a bag of frozen carrots, peas and green beans in it. John's fish and beef platter was no better. Both the beef and fish were boney and dry. I must say, although I don't love everything we have had as far as African cuisine goes, Chez Aunty Libbe and Roger Miller prepare their dishes which such love of the cuisine and a desire to see people enjoying their food that it makes you like the what they make. I guess the Bukom chef must cater to people who just want a mediocre taste of home. With that, I think we have decided we are through with sub Saharan African cuisine. I think we are all tired of the bones.
When we walk out the door we see that Ghana Cafe across the street is crowded with people who seem to be having a great time. Still, I don't think we will bother coming back to try again.