Thursday, August 25, 2011

For the Foodies: Mawa's Taste of Africa

Mawa's Taste of Africa

Few things compare to the aroma of my mother-in-law's kitchen when she's making Liberian food -- so flavorful, spicy, and hearty. But she lives up north so I only get to enjoy cassava with palm butter, rice bread, and slap-yourself-silly pepper sauce a few times a year. On occasion, hubby makes a big ol' pot of the jollof rice (a.k.a. "that guuud rice", as it's been coined by my Southern friends). So boy was I pleased when I came across Mawa's on Yelp! I went with some coworkers and what a treat.

Mawa's is a cozy little place with a huge menu, so make sure you look online before you go, lest you end up dazed and drooling at the table. Rather than re-write the whole thing, check out my review on Yelp (see the gadget on this page), and if you go (or have already visited), please let me know what you think. In a nutshell, Mawa's combines attentive customer service with a wide selection of foods to suit any palatte (even the highly-Americanized) in a comfortable, casual atmosphere. Everything the reviews said about Mawa herself being a great hostess is true.

This place is not exactly like mommy's or hubby's cookin', but it's mighty good.

'via Blog this'

Upcoming Events - US Open, Blazen, DIESEL, & Cosby

Andy Roddick's killer serve! Aug 23, 2011 @ Winston-Salem Open
Photo Credit: Susan Mullane/camerawork usa

Wow, it's been a long time. Forgive me, ya'll. It's been a busy 12 months.

Friends have mentioned that we don't share enough of what's going on around town. So without further delay, here are some events going on around the Triangle and slightly beyond.

THE WINSTON-SALEM OPEN - August 20-27, 2011, Winston-Salem
This week-long event is part of the US Open Tennis series, which culminates in NYC next week.  A friend and I attended this event Tuesday, and I have to tell you -- if you're anywhere in this area and enjoy tennis action, this is a must-go event. For less than $40/ticket, we saw some of the best players in Men's tennis from around the world, including Americans Roddick, Isner, Blake, etc. Tickets are a little higher for this weekend. The court is quite intimate. You can experience 135 MPH serves less than 30 feet from you. It was so exciting, with great players, perfect weather, and a relaxing atmosphere! I just checked (4:30 pm ET) and you can still get tickets for tonight or tomorrow's events. FYI, Winston-Salem is less than a 2-hour drive from Raleigh.

D.I.E.S.E.L. Back to School Event - Saturday, September 17, 2011, Durham
I'm extremely excited in anticipation of this event, which is being hosted by my church. I've posted before about the Power Of The Tongue Cafe, and open mic poetry/ministry arts event for adults.  D.I.E.S.E.L. is a back to school night for youth age 13-19, as well as youth pastors/leaders. It's going to be an awesome day of spoken word, mime, dance, Christian rap, workshops and food... and did I mention it's free? For more information, please search "D.I.E.S.E.L." on Facebook or go to cupofsalvation.org.

BLAZEN - Saturday, September 10, 2011, Raleigh
We went last year with a couple of youth, and I have every intention of being there again this year. I'm hoping I can get a whole crew of people to roll with me. This is taking place at the Catch the Fire Center on Leesville Road, just off 540. Per an email I received from one of the team members:

"Please understand that we are NOT a dance team, we use dance and other forms of the arts to express God's heart to a generation that has grown weary of typical pulpit messages. Our heart is to see a generation awakened to the reality of God and see their hearts SET ABLAZE to forever burn for Jesus Christ." 

Here's a sample...

This is going to be soooooo good.

BILL COSBY - January 21, 2012, Live @ DPAC in Durham
It's hard to find live clean comedy, but I'm hoping Cos will fit the bill (ha). It's been a long time since I've seen Cosby, but it's certainly worth checking out. Plus, I've yet to visit the Durham Performing Arts Center and would like to see the inside of that gorgeous building. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Friday, Aug 26, 2011.