What happens when two of Kenya's best-known newsmen trade the studio for the kitchen? In this episode on his YouTube channel, Jeff Koinange teams up with fellow broadcaster Patrick Igunza to cook a Kenyan classic from scratch, and the banter never stops.
The day starts with planning the meal and a trip to the market. At Igunza's favourite grocer, the two pick out spinach and peppers in every colour, red, yellow and green, before heading to the butchery for the meat. Igunza knows the place well, and the staff clearly know him.
Back at home, the prep begins. Onions, tomatoes and peppers go into the pot and the stew goes on. While it simmers, the stories come out: life in the kitchen, cooking tips, and memories of growing up.
One of the best moments is a trip down memory lane to the 1980s, when a drought led Kenya to import yellow maize. Jeff and Igunza remember the free government rations, why some people refused to eat it, and how much they missed proper white ugali while living in America.
Then comes the main event: making the ugali, a job neither man takes lightly. The episode ends with the two sitting down to a hearty plate of stew, greens and ugali, a reminder that you can take a man out of the studio, but not the love of a good home-cooked meal out of the man. Away from the headlines, it is a warm, funny look at two colleagues who are clearly friends, and at the simple Kenyan dishes that bring people together around a table.
Special thanks to Royco for making this delicious experience possible.
Jeff Koinange TV
For more of Jeff in the kitchen, on the road and behind the scenes, subscribe to Jeff Koinange's official YouTube channel, @JeffKoinangeTV, and tell us in the comments what Chef Jeff should cook next.