Lunch at Olaam. Anyone?

FOOD & PLACES

Diners leave their Golf, Mercedes Benz and Japanese cars in Industrial Area to saunter to Olaam eatery in Nakawa. The attraction is traditional cuisines like odi (sesame), angara (fish endangered by extinction in West Nile) and beef in a variety of soups.

"Some time back, the Olaam portions were so big," confided James Mukwaya, who after dining at Olaam Restaurant, decided to marry an Acholi childhood playmate.

"After tasting a spoonful of the Acholi side dishes (vegetables or groundnut sauce), an ocean was not enough."

But if you cannot afford the expensive dowry of eight cows, driving an entourage of relatives and friends to Gulu, opt for a feast at Olaam Restaurant in Nakawa, not far from the foot bridge.

"The prices are the best you can get this side of River Nile," says an attendant whom the diners secretly call ‘Black Beauty'.

"A soda goes for sh1500. The finger-licking meals cost between sh4,500-sh6, 500," she advertises.

 
Oh, by the way, if you are her naughty admirer, and ‘Black Beauty' notices you are trying to make passes at her rather than stick to your plate, she will swiftly remind you of her marital status or simply flash the ring on her finger.

So, stick to your food and toothpick!

And once a diner tries to use food to throw vibes her way by thanking her for the delicious meal ("Apoyo tedo"), she will simply smile back. Now that's ebony beauty!

By the way, here's something I have noticed over time. While eating at Olaam's, I have observed that some patrons eat and spare a mouse-size of a food portion on the plate. It could be kalo (millet bread) or sweet potato. But there's a catch . . .

Doing this gives them a license to order for more side dishes. It is the Olaam salad of sorts.

"When not ordered in that style there is extra cost," whispers John Ojangole.

"I hear the Olaam diners are homesick Kampalans from different parts of the country who love dishes from north and eastern Uganda," he offers further - as a by-the-way.

OK to avoid traffic of people, be at Olaam by noon. Enjoy your lunch!