AMALA AND EWEDU IN WARRI

Amala is a dish enjoyed by the Yorubas especially the Oyo people and it is generally served along side Ewedu. One of the major features of my lagos visits, is ensuring I have some before leaving. I looooove the dish, in fact there is one 'mama' at Sanya area of Surulere whose Amala/Ewedu just sits well with my taste buds. I am a natural food lover, so flavours and tastes are everything. I should be able to savour the taste of a good food and I should be able to tell distinctively the different flavours that give the meal its general taste. In reality, I practically 'listen' to my taste buds when I take any meal especially if I am having it for the first time. As a result of this, I have had so many dishes that aren't indigenous to where I come from. Oh God! I just love food!
So by now you all know I live in Warri and you will be wondering why on earth I chose to find Amala in Warri. Hmmm, my dear, I was passing one day o, then I saw a sign board that read Amala spot. I was very excited and immediately my hunger for Amala became intense. We have a lot of Yorubas living or doing business on my street, so I thought to myself, this Amala spot must be good, probably catering for the Yoruba community here. Two days after I saw that sign, I carried myself to the place and bought Amala and Ewedu.
First of all, the Amala wraps were so tiny, well, I said to myself that must be as a result of the cost down south. Then I settled down to eat it, a decision I still regret even as I write this. I do not know what specie of Ewedu she used to cook it, but it absolutely didn't taste like Ewedu. It wasn't slimy at all, the popular 'Iru' flavour was totally absent and the peppery taste that yoruba dishes are known for was completely missing. The only good thing about that meal was the Amala, it tasted and felt like Amala. I sincerely wish I asked for okro soup instead, I am sure I wouldn't have felt so bad. I felt like a child whose ice cream or favourite toy was taken from her, I was so disappointed.
Okay, I know you are thinking, 'what did she expect, it's the south-south'. Well, I expected that if a Yoruba woman decides to prepare a native dish in a community where she is sure there are other Yoruba people, she would do it right, even if it means receiving supplies from the South-West. There are Calabar kitchens scattered across this country, when you walk into them you are treated to a decent Calabar dish, that leaves you wondering why you haven't been able to make the same dishes even though you stay in the same town. There was a Yoruba woman in Uyo whose restaurant served strictly yoruba dishes and she did very well, was quite popular and had a large clientelle. I have eaten there before and I can boldly say she served Yoruba dishes,this woman on my street doesn't.
Thought to share my ordeal with you guys, thanks for listening. If you haven't tasted Amala and Ewedu before, I will sincerely advise that your first try should be maybe Ibadan. Go out there and try it. My motto is: 'If I try a dish and I don't like it, I wont try it again. But I wont assume that I wont like a dish by just looking at it, I would rather let my taste buds decide'.