FOOD & DINING IN MADAGASCAR / MADAGASCAR DINING GUIDE

Madagascar Info — Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:06 am

Author: Madagascar Info

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:06 am

FOOD & DINING IN MADAGASCAR

GENERAL

In Madagascar, eating well means eating a lot. Malagasy cooking is based on a large serving of rice with a dressing of sauces, meat, vegetables and seasoning. The people of Madagascar enjoy very hot food and often serve dishes with hot peppers. Local restaurants are often referred to as hotely.

The choice of beverages is limited. The national wine is acceptable.

National specialties

• Ro (a mixture of herbs and leaves with rice).

• Beef and pork marinated in vinegar, water and oil, then cooked with leaves, onion, pickles and other vegetables and seasoned with pimento.

• Ravitoto (meat and leaves cooked together).

• Ramazava (leaves and pieces of beef and pork browned in oil).

• Vary amid ’anana (rice, leaves or herbs, meat and sometimes shrimps), often eaten with kitoza (long slices of smoked, cured or fried meat).

National drinks

• Litchel (an aperitif made from lychees).

• Betsa (fermented alcohol).

• Toaka gasy (distilled from cane sugar and rice).

• Three Horses lager.

• Non-alcoholic drinks include ranon ’apango or rano vda (made from burnt rice) and local mineral waters.

Tipping: Not customary, although waiters expect 10 per cent of the bill. In European-style hotels and restaurants, the French system of tipping is followed. One should also tip in Chinese and Vietnamese establishments.

PLACES TO DINE

Le Restaurant
Quartier de Beharirika,
Antananarivo
Phone: +261 20 2228267

Tatao
22 Avenue General Ramanantsoa Isoraka,
Antananarivo
Phone: +261 20 2231927
Fax: +261 20 2235323

Mariette
11, Rue George-V,
Faravohitra,
Antananarivo
Phone: +261 20 2221602

Saka Manga
Rue A. Ratianarivo,
Tsaralalana,
Antananarivo
Phone: +261 20 2235809

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FOOD & DINING IN MADAGASCAR / MADAGASCAR DINING GUIDE