African Queen
I met Gerry, who runs the African Queen restaurant, while researching international kitchens and restaurants in Zurich. I visited many of them and realized how crucial they can be as a meeting place for people from different countries. I think opening a restaurant and introducing traditional food from your culture can create meaningful discussions. Food brings people together, even if they don't speak the same language. You can meet new people and share your culture through cooking the food from your culture.
Gerry has created an intimate and authentic restaurant in the middle of Zurich. He warmly welcomes everyone to his place and often handles both the service and the kitchen. I've been to his restaurant for lunch and dinner, and what stands out is his calm and genuine presence. You can have a good conversation with him about anything and he happily shares stories about Uganda - Country where he is from. I'd like to share with you a little chat we had.
What was the most surprising thing you encountered when you moved to another country?
There were a few things that were surprising, especially concerning the behavior of young people. My first cultural shock, I believe, was in England when I was going to Coventry for school. The lady who accompanied me from London to my school and I sat in the train. In front of us, there were two young people, a boy and a girl, constantly kissing. For me, it was a total shock to see a boy and a girl kissing so openly in front of others throughout the journey. I thought such displays belonged in private, not in public, but over time, I realized it was a normal sight.
And what surprised you about Zürich?
Another surprise was related to cheese. I didn't expect that someone could eat something with such a strong smell. My first encounter with this was at a store near the Bahnhof in Zurich when I went to buy milk but ended up in the cheese section. The smell was overwhelming, and it was a shock for me. These are a few of the surprising things I encountered, but they were not significant, just different from what I was used to.
Can you tell a bit about yourself and your journey from Uganda?
I did not know back then what to expect because there was no internet, but I wanted to leave to get an education in the hotel school and during my hotel school days in England, I dreamt of completing my diplomas and returning to Uganda to open a hotel, focusing on tourism.
I began my training in Sussex, England, and was contacted by my college's assistant director, offering me work training opportunities in different countries. I ended up in Zurich, Switzerland, where I trained with Hotel International. It was supposed to be two years, but I extended it, eventually staying for over seven years.
I later worked at Hotel Pullman, then for Swissair in gastronomy before Swissair grounded its flights. I worked for another airline for a year and a half and then joined Events company, organizing various events.
After a year of pursuing it, I finally realized my dream of opening the African Queen restaurant. It was a slow start, but word spread, and it became a hit, attracting both regular customers and curious diners.
Where does the African Queen come from? Is it connected to a famous film?
Actually, the name African Queen has nothing to do with the film. In my view, I thought, why can't we celebrate African women as African Queens? That's what was on my mind when I established the name. However, I remember my first customers, gentlemen used to come to look; they wanted to see who the African queen was. Then they found me, and some said, "Oh, you're the African king, where is the queen?" It's an amusing story that reveals how people think and what they're looking for.
Do you follow any food trends? Is there anything currently popular in Uganda?
Yes, very much. If something new catches my attention, I give it a try. Right now in Uganda, the new dish that's gaining popularity is street food, but it's becoming widely appreciated. It's called Rolex, and it's a hit.
Rolex is an omelet wrapped in chapati flatbread and refined with onions, cabbage, and all sorts of ingredients. According to one theory it comes from a southeast country of Africa in 1990. Today it’s the most popular dish in Uganda, even the fast food chain KFC sells it.
Just at the beginning of this year, I had a gentleman come in for an interview. He produces a luxury watch magazine and stumbled upon Rolex, wondering how it could be associated with a watch brand. He came here, I explained it to him, prepared the dish, took some photos, and he tried it. He was excited and featured it in his magazine, a watch publication, which is truly interesting.
Are there any specific cooking techniques, traditions, or ingredients from your culture that you cannot find here?
Yes, there are certain ingredients that I usually source when I go back home or when my friends from Africa, particularly Uganda, visit. I tell them what I need, and they bring it for me. For example, herbs and imported items like special fish, which I can order from a specific company that imports fresh fish. Additionally, vegetables, including a variety of vegetables from Uganda, especially what I refer to as special green bananas, which we use for a unique dish in the restaurant.
When you were growing up, in your family who liked to cook the most? How or where did you learn cooking?
In Africa, women in our house always did the cooking, like my mom, sister, and relatives. They cooked together at home. Sometimes, when we needed to collect firewood or do something that needed more strength, the boys in the family helped.I learned to cook at school. I found lots of ideas for dishes when I traveled. When I was in England, I lived with an English family who cooked at home. But when I became more independent, I started cooking for myself.
What gives you the feeling of being at home? Is it related to food?
Not so much food because I see food every day. I think what truly makes me feel at home are family ties. Knowing that I have my family here, finishing work, having a home, and not worrying about my shelter, having a roof over my head, food on my table, a bed to sleep in, and my family. These are the most important aspects of life that make me feel at home. Even when I visit Uganda, where I also have relatives, I still feel like I'm going there for a holiday, but I'm happy seeing new things, tasting different foods, and meeting people. So, I can balance between feeling at home here and in Uganda.
How do you measure the integration into a new culture? Do you feel like home here?
The question of integration is quite significant and a broad topic. It also depends on the individual. How you present yourself to people, how you feel about the local culture, and how you perceive the people all play a role. Being open-minded is essential. If you have doubts about yourself or other aspects, it can be challenging to integrate. It's also beneficial to listen to local people and understand their culture.
Some people are very conservative, some are reserved, and some are open, so you have to adapt to these different dynamics. As for cultural shock, when you first arrive in a new place, you might witness things that are different from your own culture. Over time, you have to accept these differences.
What do you really like about living in Switzerland?
The main thing is that it’s very peaceful here, nobody bothers you, everything is perfectly organized.
Visit African Queen:
https://african-queen.ch