Bringing the vibrant flavors of East Africa to Detroit, Baobab Fare embodies the spirit of “Detroit Nu Nyumbani” — Detroit is Home.
Originating from the East African country of Burundi, Nadia Nijimbere and chef Hamissi Mamba launched Baobab Fare in 2017, named after the iconic African “tree of life.” The husband-and-wife duo began with pop-ups on the street and at festivals, and in 2021 they opened their brick-and-mortar location in Detroit. Their food truck, Waka, meaning “shine,” has served Baobab Fare on wheels since 2022.
With dishes such as mhogo — shredded pan-fried chicken in a tangy mustard-onion sauce, served with yellow beans and yuca root, a staple of Burundian cooking — and their signature numbing, meaning “home” — tender beef slow-simmered in ripened tomato sauce and served with corn salad and peanut-stewed spinach — the menu offers unique combinations and complex flavors.
Home-style Cooking on the Road
A 2023 winner from an episode of Food Network’s Chopped, chef Mamba teamed up with Chef RV to show us how to bring East African flavors into our own dishes.
Cooking from a Thor Four Winds Class C motorhome, Mamba and our host Carlos Parisi show us how to make veal liver stew, chapati and African tea. While Mamba is accustomed to cooking in a food truck, he points out that the layout and space of the kitchen inside the Thor Four Winds makes it feel like cooking at home, which he enjoys more. The abundant storage space throughout kitchen allowed Mamba to have everything he needed within reach.
Beginning with the liver stew, the Four Winds’ large Dream Dinette was perfect for preparing the ingredients. Both chefs had plenty of space to chop vegetables and trim meat at the same time. In the kitchen, the three-burner gas cooktop was the M.V.P. Mamba was able to pan-fry the liver stew, brown the chapatti dough and heat the African tea without missing a beat.
Ingredients
Veal Liver Stew:
- 3 chopped tomatoes
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 bulb chopped garlic
- 1 pound liver
- 2 large pinches garlic powder
- 1 medium pinch curry
- 1 medium pinch black pepper
- 1 pinch salt
- Juice of 1 lemon
Chapati:
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 ¼ cup water
African Tea:
- 3 to 4 cups milk
- 2 large pinches clove
- 1 pinch ginger
- 1 pinch black pepper
Creating Community at Any Corner
This was Chef Mamba’s first time stepping foot inside of an RV, and he was thoroughly impressed with its spacious design, beautiful décor and sense of home it provided. He enjoyed the experience of cooking inside of the Thor Four Winds, and hints that an RV may just be among his next adventures.
The Thor Four Winds Class C gas motorhome is the perfect RV for a weekend getaway, a long vacation or even a month-long trip! The Ford E-Series chassis gives you 325 horsepower, plus an 8,000-pound trailer hitch to bring along your commuter car or trailer with off-road toys.
Each Four Winds is built with sidewall cage construction, a vacu-bond laminated roof and a one-piece fiberglass front cap. There are also lighted rotocast storage compartments for extra storage. Inside, you will enjoy residential vinyl flooring that is easy to clean and great for those that travel with pets. Laminate countertops make clean-up a breeze after cooking on the three-burner gas cooktop with oven and glass cover. The large refrigerator is powered by both electric and propane. The jackknife sofa folds out to a bed, and with the cab-over bunk and queen bed in the rear bedroom, the Four Winds can sleep up to eight comfortably.
Want to see more? Check out the previous episode of Chef RV!
Learn more about the Thor Four Winds Class C motorhome by checking out the First Looks on General RV’s YouTube channel. General RV’s experts can also answer all your questions and provide recommendations based on your unique needs. Visit your local General RV dealer to explore our huge selection of travel trailers and motorhomes for yourself. We have thousands of RVs in stock including all the best brands from top manufacturers. After you’ve found the perfect RV, we’ll provide a personalized orientation to get you on the road with confidence.