African Harambee, Tuesday, 10/30 (2007)

After pulling the ol bait-and-switch with the last posting, it seems time to see if we can figure out what Gypsy Boy's deal is.

I propose a dinner at African Harambee on Tuesday, October 30th. I like 6:30 for a start time, but both time and date are negotiable based on who wants to come.

African Harambee
7537 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL

I'm a tentative yes.

Both the date and time works for me.

-The GP

I'll be there, been meaning to try it for a long time....

I'm in.... Any start time is fine with me.

Please put me down as a maybe. There's a small chance I'll be in Budapest, but if I'm in town, I'll be there, about 15 minutes late. Thanks!

Golly. Top billing (in a manner of speaking). Seriously, though, many thanks to Joe for setting up an event that I promised to do--and then forgot about.

I'll be there. One definite (plus one possible).

Actually, on second thought, how about this: happy_stomach will come in my place and I'll go to Budapest in hers.

I'm in! Probably plus one, but I'll know for sure closer to the date.

The menu looks great. Count me in for tasty pan-African food on 10/30 at 6:30. See you then.

Count me in. Thanks for organizing this.

Jyoti

Yes, please -- one for me.

Sonja

I'll be there. Thank, Joe, for setting this up.

Wow, great responses: I count 10 and four maybes

germuska
The GP
nr706
tarte tatin
Gypsy Boy
Geli
happyeater
jygach
SGFoxe
Josephine

tentative:
GAF
happy_stomach
Gypsy boy's +1
Geli's +1

With a crowd like this, we should probably plan a menu ahead with the proprietors. I'll make contact this week and see what's involved; I'll also check the classic BYOB question, etc.

Count us in as well (Robert and Catherine).

germuska wrote:With a crowd like this, we should probably plan a menu ahead with the proprietors. I'll make contact this week and see what's involved; I'll also check the classic BYOB question, etc.

I'm still in no matter what, but just wondering if there was any update on the above....?

Well, I can finally state without fear of contradiction that I will be me, myself, and I--alone. No maybe, no Lovely Dining Companion.

tarte tatin wrote:

germuska wrote:With a crowd like this, we should probably plan a menu ahead with the proprietors. I'll make contact this week and see what's involved; I'll also check the classic BYOB question, etc.

I'm still in no matter what, but just wondering if there was any update on the above....?

As a matter of fact, I stopped by AH on my way home from work tonight and made some arrangements.

The price will be $20 per person, not accounting for tax or tip. That means you should expect to pay $26 if we assume 10% tax and 20% tip. African Harambee does have a liquor license, but we are clear to bring our own (BOOB?!) with no corkage. We worked out a selection of dishes which will be served family style. More detailed descriptions of the dishes can be seen in the scanned menu in this post.

PiriPiri Nyama (beef)
Peanut Stew (chicken)
Spinach Meat (lamb)
Dried Fruit Curry (chicken)
Che Bu Gen (shrimp and tilapia)
Yemisir Watt (lentil stew)
Vegetable Tagine
Vegetable Tahini
couscous
injera
ugali

Copious parking is available behind the restaurant, and of course it's very close to the Howard Stop on the Red/Purple/Yellow lines.

Here's my revised list based on posts in this thread and external conversations. This is 14 or 15 if Geli's guest comes. I think we could go up to 20 without much issue. I'll give them a call on Tuesday mid-day to give them a final count.

germuska
The GP
nr706
tarte tatin
Gypsy Boy
Geli
happyeater
jygach
SGFoxe
Josephine
GAF
happy_stomach
Robert
Catherine

maybe:
Geli's +1

germuska wrote:African Harambee does have a liquor license, but we are clear to bring our own (BOOB?!) with no corkage.

That menu looks fantastic! Thanks, Joe!
If people are interested in bringing our own (no, I won't use the acronym!) to share, what would more experienced hands (or mouths) suggest as appropriate with this type of food?

I have a tentative guest so I'm 1+?

Sonja

Final bump to get people to cancel or confirm. Also to note that I listed the start time as 6:30 pm and there was no objection, so that's when I'll be there. I'll call Sisay with a final count early tomorrow afternoon.

Regarding the beverage matching, I'm actually not very familiar with much that's on our menu. Also, should people want to purchase from the bar, of course that's possible, but we'll just do it separately from the main bill. I do know they have Bedele, an Ethiopian beer, and odds are good they have Tej (honey "wine").

I'm confirming my attendance. Thanks for pulling this together. I'm glad Tarte Tatin asked the question of what to bring if we wanted to bring our own. I hadn't realized they had a liquor license (skipped right over that in the earlier message.) It might just be easier to drink what they have -- might add to the authenticity.

See you tomorrow night!

Hi Joe,

I am confirming that I plan to be at the dinner tomorrow night.


Jyoti

I have a class until 6, so we may be a bit late, but we will be there,
Robert

confirm

I'll be there

I'll be there, with beer, about 10 minutes late.

I'll be there, and my +1 too.

According to Alpana Singh, Ethiopian food is similar to Indian food as far as drink pairing goes. I know African Harambee isn't all Ethiopian, but that might be a good reference point. I have a book called "What to Drink with What You Eat" and it recommends many things, including Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, beer esp. IPAs and wheat beers, champagne, Merlot, light-bodied zinfandels...and many other things.

Whoops, didn't mean to require everyone to repost, although I see that my post wasn't totally clear; I just wanted to avoid too many last minute cancellations (and to see if any new folks wanted to sign on while there was time.)

Here's my list. You only need post (or PM) if you aren't on it and want to be, or are on it and can't make it. Otherwise consider yourself confirmed.

germuska
The GP
nr706
tarte tatin
Gypsy Boy
Geli + 1
happyeater
jygach
SGFoxe + 1
Josephine
GAF
happy_stomach
Robert
Catherine

(16 so far. Given how long this has been posted, I don't expect a lot of new names, but I think we'll stop at 20 should any emerge.)

I had an upsetting bout of indigestion last night and must put myself on the maybe list -- I'll probably decide as I am riding north on the subway --

Sonja

ps my possible guest didn't materialize

I have been looking forward to this dinner since Joe first posted about the possibility back in August. So I am really, really, really sorry to do this at the last minute, but I must cancel....

My dr. just called to say my test results show I have strep throat, and he gave me a stern lecture on being contagious for 72 hours after starting antibiotics. I was hoping that it was just a garden-variety cold and sore throat (I had planned not to get too close to anyone) and that, in fact, some of Harambee's food might fix me right up.

I just left a message on happy_stomach's cell phone, hoping she could convey the situation to you....

My apologies to all. I am really, really disappointed.... Joe, please let me know if you would like a financial contribution to offset this last-minute cancellation.