The Culture of Beans and Roasted Plantain Lunch in Nnewi

Food is a very essential need of man and necessary in our everyday lives. This is one of the things all humans have in common. Recently there has been a drift to “intercontinental dishes” by a lot of people, while some have remained faithful to our local dishes.
One of the most popular local food in Nnewi is one made of roasted plantain (either ripe or unripe), beans, peppered oil sauce, African oil bean seed amongst other local and naturally grown condiments. This delicacy they say is very simple and easy to prepare and above all takes little or no time.
Our correspondent who went ahead to visit some of the places where this awesome “fast food” is sold. From the multitudes that gather around every spot, one can easily tell that this delicacy is really a hot cake. We asked a few of them some questions and they explained reasons why they love this food.
Their reasons ranged from its high nutritious content, its affordability and accessibility. You don’t have to travel long distances to get it. Though tedious on the part of those who prepare it, they confessed their happiness from the looks of satisfaction on the faces of their customers.
According to persons who affirmed beans and plantain to be their favourite meal for lunch, the best spots where the best hands make this delicacy are: Saint Mary junction Uruagu, Anglican girls Secondary School junction Uruagu, Abada junction in Otolo Nnewi, Maria Regina junction.
When asked, Mr Okechukwu Esomone said that the influence of the hot charcoal on the plantain, which is the common means through which the plantain is roasted is like a special makeup that makes the food irresistible.
A vendor who specializes in the preparation of this common type of food, Mrs Chinwe Obi, said “this is a business I started with less than ten thousand naira, with my kitchen utensils and a few other things, but today I make more than what an average civil servant ends up making in a day.” Furthermore, Mrs Obi said “My family’s takes lunch from this place, and it is still not like anything is lost.”
On preparation, another vendor who preferred the condition of anonymity said “It is easy to prepare, as the only thing that brings about a difficulty in the preparation is the cooking of the beans – which is done at home, however, the plantain is easier because as you put it on heat you can go about other activities, as the stew with which the both are mixed is prepared at home also before coming out.
When asked how much an average vendor makes in a day, Mrs Obi said “it depends on the condition of the day and the turn up of customers, as there is no specific amount; as a plate goes for two hundred naira (which is the least price), to four hundred naira (in which other things like fish and oil bean is added).

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