Understanding ED LA�S Chisa Nyama lifestyle

Spira Tlhankane | Friday February 17, 2017 11:10

 

Some of us have gone for a drink or two without eating and the consequences are catastrophic when we wake up to a dreadful hangover in the morning. Scientists have revealed that alcohol is quickly absorbed on an empty stomach.

After a lot good reviews and mentions on social media, it looks like people of the greater Gaborone and tourists from other countries have found a solution at ED LA’S Chisa Nyama with the feel-good braai meat.

Arts & Culture visited the place to get the chisa nyama experience.

In Kenya, any gathering is an excuse for eating nyama choma, Swahili for “roast meat.” They serve this roast meat from the luxurious  and upmarket restaurants to roadside township cuisines. As it is tradition, local beer completes the nyama choma experience.

Locally ED LA’S is one of the best places in town and serves dishes like boerewors, chicken wings, pork and chicken gizzards just to mention but a few. It is a must if you want to experience typical African foods. Served with salads, chips or pap, the meat at ED LA’S will remind you why we are a beef nation.

For those who attend meat festivals, the flavour of chisa nyama especially pork will force you to forget what is said in the Bible about pig meat. When Arts & Culture arrived, the braai master prepared a whole lot meat at the braai stand and the aroma could alert neighbours nearby that we are in for a feast. Finally, the meat was served with chips and afterwards we realised why people have been talking nonstop about this place. 

Originally, nyama choma means “barbecued meat” in Swahili and it is the same concept that inspired Edwin Bothongo during his visit to Kenya.

In an interview with Arts & Culture, Bothongo said he saw this concept in 2005, loved it and decided to introduce it in Botswana. “Guys here will be drinking and there is nowhere to eat and they will be forced to go out and come back,” he said.

He said ED LA’S has become one stop for people because they get the chance to drink and eat at reasonable price. “I am targeting middle class because it’s neither cheap or expensive,” he said. Bothongo said even though they sell alcohol, the place is not a bar therefore one can bring a family to get a decent meal.

He added that they have introduced live jazz bands to soften up the mood. Bothongo said the most popular meal is pork and people love it. “It’s my own recipe and people said it’s the best,” he said. In order to be innovative, Bothongo said he recently introduced the Tuesday ribs special. “Monday is known as a ribs night so I decided to go against the tradition and be special,” he said. 

He said they operate from 9am and start selling food at 11am. As for alcohol, Bothongo said they follow the same trading hours as bars.

Bothongo said as a marketing guru, he sells and markets his product through social media. “We have a huge following of 12k likes on Facebook,” he highlighted.  Bothongo said Sunday is the busiest day and the place is always crowded.  “It’s the hottest spot in town right now on Sundays and I get a lot of customers from South Africa who understand this concept,” he said. People are welcome to bring camp chairs because the space is small.  Bothongo said he has three braai masters and there is no option for individuals to braai their own. “I want to avoid conflicts because people often fight for meat in bars,” he said. Bothongo said he is working on making it into a franchise and get bigger space because chisa nyama is a lifestyle. He said he always has a jazz event called sounds of jazz every last Sunday of the month. “I take half of the shop for people to enjoy chisa nyama there,” he said. He said the name ED LA’S is his nickname from University days and has now become a brand.

Going forward he said he wants to continue marketing Botswana through his restaurant because most tourists visit the place. “I want it to be the only place here that braai organic meat, it’s a tourist attraction,” he said.