Antoinette Nkulu is originally from Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. She now lives in Cardiff and works for Mewn Cymru, an organisation which supports ethnic minority women.

Antoinette talks about cassava:
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How important is food in your life?

Food is important for everyone as it helps keep the body healthy. I always pay attention to the quality of food I eat.

What do you most enjoy cooking?

I love cooking, and I especially enjoy fish. Congo is full of rivers and fish is an important staple of the diet.

If I want to cook for my Welsh friends, I usually cook chicken. One of my favourite recipes is grilled chicken. We call it soso au makala. I skin and clean the chicken, and marinade it for a few hours with onions, garlic, ginger, chives, tomatoes and palm oil. I also add a Maggi cube which you can only buy at Asian shops. Then I grill the chicken, and serve it together with rice or semolina which can be cooked like mashed potatoes.

Where do you go to buy your ingredients?

I have been pleasantly surprised since arriving in this country. It is very easy to find most ingredients I need. I usually go to Tesco or Lidl, and Asian shops in City Road in Cardiff sell many ingredients from Africa such as semolina, beans, and rice.

One thing I do find hard to buy is vegetables. Cassava is a major part of our diet. It grows everywhere in Congo, and is full of vitamins. You can eat the roots by drying them out and grinding them, and the leaves are a main staple of our diet. As far as I know there is nowhere in Cardiff that sells cassava.

Do you enjoy eating out?

I enjoy going out to eat, and I always pick fish dishes off the menu. Bengali restaurants are great for serving fish. I also like the Wetherspoons pub in City Road, Cardiff. They serve a great fish and chips.

Is food an important part of festivals and African community gatherings?

There is a growing African community in Cardiff. It is traditional to get together for weddings, but as far as I'm aware there are no other gatherings. Recently there was a celebration of African culture at the Coal Exchange with plenty of food and music.

Your comments

Themis Dubae
Shopright in City Road, Cardiff, sell cassava. What a superb shop. This shop has it all ... check it out.

Lisa Gregg
You can buy Cassava in London from Tesco and local shops, they do the Taj Brand and they are marvellous.

MM from Exeter
I had an interesting surprise when I visited Cardiff. There is so much african food stuff at the Afro-Ethnic shop on the City Road (209). I gave myself a real African treat.

Rekha Patel
If you want to buy fresh or frozen cassava you can buy in it Clare Road food store.

Lynda, Cardiff
I bought frozen cassava from the Asian shop in Tudor Road, Cardiff, opposite to the mosque on route to Leckwith Road.

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