Small Business in focus… Moraikobai’s unique dishes tempt taste buds
DPI, Guyana, Friday, September 7, 2018
September is Indigenous Heritage Month and for this period, small business focus will feature our Indigenous brothers and sisters, who use their unique skills to sustain their livelihoods.
Every year as we celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month, many look forward to indulging in unique Indigenous dishes. Many of the dishes, such as; tuma pot and pepperpot, are prepared with a variety of wild meats including labba, deer and bush cow. Also, on the list of dishes to enjoy during this period is cassava bread and some of the more popular drinks like piwari and fly.
During the past week, a 12-member team from Moraikobai Village in Mahaica-Berbice has been operating a food and beverage booth at the Heritage Village in Sophia.
Heading the team is councillor of the Moraikobai Village, Mary Joseph, who said many residents from her community look forward to Indigenous Heritage Month to sell their products.
Joseph said the residents of Moraikobai begin preparing for heritage celebration months in advance. This year she, along with two additional persons, prepared 150 cakes of cassava bread for sale. Jospeh said she is heartened since patrons of the event have responded positively to their dishes.
“We get our products sold because it’s pure and natural stuff. We do not add anything. No essence, ajinomoto [monosodium glutamate] … For example, we do not put anything in our cassava water, it is pure. When cooking the tuma pot which has fish and other meats in it, we do not add other seasonings to give it flavour, it has its own flavour. We just add salt and pepper; steam the meat with black pepper and that is the flavour.”
The Moraikobai councillor added that this year the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs supplied them with benabs and means to travel, removing their usual challenges of transportation and accommodation.
The increase in vendors from Moraikobai Village resulted from efforts by the Village Council to promote farming and self-help activities in the village.
Joseph encouraged residents from other indigenous villages to become involved in farming and to obtain the necessary food-handler certificates in order to participate in the annual exhibition.
Persons interested in sampling Moraikobai’s dishes can place orders on 602-4165.
By: Crystal Stoll.
Image: Jameel Mohamed.