Wednesday 17 August 2011

13 days to go…


……but who’s broadcasting…sorry I mean counting?

Yesterday local radio channel Alger Chaine 3 called me (not Dz-Chick but her alter ego) for a little chit chat, to talk about how the Algerian community abroad were spending their Ramadan,

I had to think hard before broadcasting my negative waves and sarky comments, the presenter who was a lovely girl called Soraya seemed to encourage good vibes, so I obliged her and the listeners and told them how our community here is united during the holly month of Ramadan, how we meet in Algerian shops and ignore each other, how nobody invites you to share their chorba at home, but Borris Johnson unites us with Ramadan nights and the Eid Festival, they ate it right up!

She went on to ask if I cooked….awkward pause….yeah I cooked chorba about ten days ago, I think it’s still there and is probably growing new chorba, she seemed to have a good sense of humour

She enquired if I had the adequate kitchen supplies and if they had William and Kate on them!! After another pause..…I said I used an old saucepan to make my soup and anything with William and Kate is for Japanese tourists, I did however try to pick up the positive tone by giving her what she wanted “we organise dinners at weekends in little Algerian restaurants or we hold Ramadan nights between friends until the wee hours of the morning” I think she was satisfied with my version of Ramadan, the version of a single Algerian girl in London, I am sure they phoned other people who would have offered a much better image of a united family Ramadan with a table full of varieties of foods and treats and Ramadan nights full of mint tea and sweets and worship.

I was fasting though so I couldn't make anything up it was all true, I indulged in some Ramadan socialising;
I have discovered a little gem of an Algerian café in Brixton called Khamsa, an authentic little place that does not try to pass for Moroccan to increase covers, that doesn’t sell Mezze because it’s expected to and it doesn’t try too hard, it’s plain simply Algerian and authentic, run by an Algerian couple who are so friendly, young, vibrant and talented, incidentally they also run the first Algerian Radio in London, called Rihet Bladi which literally means “a whiff of my country” they broadcast live every Sunday from 6-9pm and you can request songs online, Djamel who is the owner/presenter broadcasts in English, French, Arabic and Berber a variety of cultural programs and topics http://www.rihetbladi.com/

Saha ftourkoum...over and out!

32 comments:

  1. You are becoming a celebrity DZ-chick, I mean your alter ego....

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  2. Vrai celabriti :)
    I agree they tend to like you to say what they'd like to hear, the closer to the stereotype of britain the better they feel :)
    funny enough I've found Khamsa by googling randomly and the reviews were great and the menu sounded exactly like proper algerian stuff, I was meant to check it out but didnt get around doing that as I'm based oop north and its south of the river :) Next time might bump into you there, i'll be having loubia b’darssaand ajhroum di felfel then a nice Hout fi razma finishing off with tea and baklawa (Warning: read after iftar !!)

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  3. Khamsa is lovely, food is lovely, you should definitely try it, saha ftourek Malek, am soo hungry today!

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  4. saha ftorek you and Boris :) I'm still looking for shoes for el aid, cant find any square ones :)

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  5. Ana rah nelbess jebba kbayl!

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  6. Gosh, you *are* famous.

    Thanks for tip on Algerian food, next time I'm in London, I'll be sure to go.

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  7. Not famous...perhaps a bit public!

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  8. let me see if I understand what you're saying....
    A radio presenter in Algeria wants to interview an ex-national living in London, she has two choices: (1)-dial numbers at random until she connects with you, or (2)-calls you coz you're famous.

    I'm thinking its the latter but you're insisting it is the former.

    Ok. I believe you.

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  9. Well it was definitely not random and I am not famous either, they just have my details at the Radio as I have featured before on a couple of programs and so they invite me sometimes!

    :) is this more believable?

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  10. public ... as in exhibitionist or more liek in the pablic eye in the vein of a celabraetey?

    having said that, i've always wanted to be part of an entourage and be famous by proxy

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  11. In the public eye...somewhat but far from being in the vein of celebrity ...YIKES!

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  12. what's so yikes about that?

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  13. Why would anybody want to be famous! it's dreadful to be in the public eye, subjected to scrutiny and curiosity!

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  14. sounds good..i am so hungry and tired and i am going to kill my flatmate who is polish (rayha naftar 3liha) so i am staying in my room until iftar time then i will give her a lesson..

    I shall try this place next time i am in London..

    Saha ftorkom ya jma3a...(I just need a teddy bear hug today, it was one of them days :()

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  15. Stay in your room Haniya, not worth it, I got so angry with a colleague earlier but had to go to the toilet and screamed and had a very tense conversation with myself and then went back to my desk smiling!

    Saha ftourek ma belle

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  16. would you rather be semi-famous ... kinda like you are now :P ?

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  17. hahaha nice one; with notoriety comes fame though, so that should be following shortly.

    just own up to it, have your own tv show or something, or adopt a baby from somewhere!

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  18. wash tayabti lyoum dz-chick?

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  19. eeesh I hope not! I like to sneak out of my house in flip flops with no pedicure and blend into the crouds although it's hard to do when you're as strikingly beautiful as I am....

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  20. I bought a ready made fresh soup from waitrose :) you?

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  21. i didnt yet..i am gonna grab something from the freezer

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  22. oh get over yourself! you've got all the traits of a celabrat∑ (narcissistic at that) in the making ... well without the actual fame! :P

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  23. @ Daode: lol I'll try but it's difficult...am in love with myself

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  24. lol - you're funny, in a good way, i'll grant you that.

    no green salad tonight?

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  25. Oh que si...salade verte toujours au menu.

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  26. still eating that after the ramdams? or will you be taking a break from the verdures?

    on a more random note, i had what felt like an out-of-body experience earlier during a pretty ghastly burp, so unreal, jte dis pas.

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  27. "jte dis pas" I would have preferred if you didn't actually...ghastly! lol

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  28. i know but sharing is caring and such.

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  29. Bullseye!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeKSiCQkPw

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  30. I just watched this video! lol ridiculous but so funny!

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