13 days to go…

……but who’s broadcasting…sorry I mean counting?

Yesterday local radio channel Alger Chaine 3 called me (not Dz-Chick but her alter ego) for a little chit chat, to talk about how the Algerian community abroad were spending their Ramadan,

I had to think hard before broadcasting my negative waves and sarky comments, the presenter who was a lovely girl called Soraya seemed to encourage good vibes, so I obliged her and the listeners and told them how our community here is united during the holly month of Ramadan, how we meet in Algerian shops and ignore each other, how nobody invites you to share their chorba at home, but Borris Johnson unites us with Ramadan nights and the Eid Festival, they ate it right up!

She went on to ask if I cooked….awkward pause….yeah I cooked chorba about ten days ago, I think it’s still there and is probably growing new chorba, she seemed to have a good sense of humour

She enquired if I had the adequate kitchen supplies and if they had William and Kate on them!! After another pause..…I said I used an old saucepan to make my soup and anything with William and Kate is for Japanese tourists, I did however try to pick up the positive tone by giving her what she wanted “we organise dinners at weekends in little Algerian restaurants or we hold Ramadan nights between friends until the wee hours of the morning” I think she was satisfied with my version of Ramadan, the version of a single Algerian girl in London, I am sure they phoned other people who would have offered a much better image of a united family Ramadan with a table full of varieties of foods and treats and Ramadan nights full of mint tea and sweets and worship.

I was fasting though so I couldn't make anything up it was all true, I indulged in some Ramadan socialising;
I have discovered a little gem of an Algerian café in Brixton called Khamsa, an authentic little place that does not try to pass for Moroccan to increase covers, that doesn’t sell Mezze because it’s expected to and it doesn’t try too hard, it’s plain simply Algerian and authentic, run by an Algerian couple who are so friendly, young, vibrant and talented, incidentally they also run the first Algerian Radio in London, called Rihet Bladi which literally means “a whiff of my country” they broadcast live every Sunday from 6-9pm and you can request songs online, Djamel who is the owner/presenter broadcasts in English, French, Arabic and Berber a variety of cultural programs and topics http://www.rihetbladi.com/

Saha ftourkoum...over and out!