The first happened last weekend at my local java haunt, Beachside Coffee Bar.  I noticed they were pouring an intriguing Uganda Bugisu. In all my years of coffee drinking I can safely say I’ve never had a Ugandan coffee, ever.  Not only was it never presented to me (I don’t think), but I’ve never really given it any thought that this country that borders  one of the greatest coffee bean growing countries in Africa – Kenya, could even produce a decent product.  Coffee, unfortunately, isn’t the first thought that comes to mind when one hears the word, “Uganda,”  yet coffee makes up 95% of all Ugandan export. A country slowly bouncing back from the Amin regime but still  infamously known for its extreme poverty, corruption and civil wars, having a Uganda coffee on the menu was compelling.  So, as I sipped the steaming brew I realized I was not only holding just a cup of coffee but in that cup was a whole lotta hope.  And that’s a very good thing.

On a small but interestingly geeky side note, the Bugisu bean is processed in Mbale, just west of Mount Elgon where the beans are grown.  And alongside of  Mbale, is a national park called Uhuru.  Uhuru, which means “freedom” in Swahili, is what inspired Gene Roddenberry to name the USS Enterprise’s chief communications officer, Lieutenant Uhura.

My second epiphany, was actually a two-parter.

When I received my shipment of Kenya Nyeri, I held a fistful of the cool beans in my hand and realized I was actually holding a piece of Africa.  The oddly shaped half-orbs the color of cooked asparagus looked  innocuous enough, but there was just something about holding those little buggers that were hand-picked, processed and shipped from almost 10,000 miles away that seemed arcane and mystical.  I realized that I can not screw up the roast of these beans that so many had worked so hard on making it possible for me to have a delicious beverage in the morning.

I roasted to  Full City + and anxiously waited the requisite 48 hours for the beans to rest. Well the cup, I gotta say, was as perfect a cup of coffee I had ever made. I was amazed but dumbfounded that I could brew such a drink.  It was fragrant, clean, sweet, smooth, intense.  My first thought was, “So this is what Africa tastes like.”  And I really couldn’t imagine it tasting any other way.   My second thought – I felt like a pilgrim and this coffee was my turkey.  I hope the Kenyans know how grateful I am.

More later…

Last Sunday, I made a bacon and egg pizza.  My rolled out dough is getting better at being a little less amoeba-ish but still a far cry from being called a circle.  Nonetheless, the breakfast pizza I made for dinner came out fairly decent.  I think my next kitchen accessory purchase will and should be a pizza stone.

Today’s eggy endeavor preferably required meat, and the only readily ready meat I had on hand was a frozen lobster tail.  Lobster eggs benedict it was.  I had never made a hollandaise sauce before – always found it a bit daunting.  Over-heat it and it becomes scrambled eggs.  Under-heat it and your sauce will be forever runny.   My finished sauce was a bit thicker than I would have liked, but I surprisingly poached a pretty good egg, the lobster tail meat wasn’t as dry and I thought it’d be,  and the English muffin held up pretty good so I was  happy with the end result.  My cholesterol probably shot up after today’s meal, so I’ll have to start liking oatmeal again.  Stat.

I am usually dubious of cuisine “mash-ups” such as Mandarin and Islamic, Chinese and doughnuts, the sushi/cream cheese combo that is the Philadelphia roll.  Indian and pizza was no exception.  But, as with most food I do try for the first time, I thought it was pretty good.  Pretty damn good, in fact.  The crust, which was basically a very big naan, was thin and crispy.  The meat was tender and abundant, and surprisingly  the spinach curry sauce went well with mozzarella.  The fresh ginger,  red onion and cilantro gave it just enough oomph to push this pizza to be one of my San Francisco faves.  Though I can’t vouch for the rest of the menu, you will find no better Indian pizza.

Chicken Indian pizza

Golden Gate Indian Cuisine and Pizza Restaurant

4038 Judah (near 46th Avenue) in the Outer Sunset

(415) 564-5514

http://goldengateindian.com/

P.S.  I still don’t get the Philadelphia Roll.  It doesn’t exactly repulse me, and I understand the whole salmon/cream cheese connection, but cream cheese with rice?