San Francisco Food Blog

Chef Soleil Banguid channels flavor memories of growing up in Brazzaville (capital of the Republic of Congo in Central Africa) onto the menu of his Hayward catering business, Soleil's African Kitchen (510-228-6747). His Tangawisi is a ginger drink based on a time-honored Congolese recipe for good health, though he swaps lemon juice for the traditional mango tree sap. The proportion of ginger and honey is just right, so the flavor of the root ends up stimulating, not harsh. Soleil's Tangawisi (as well as an array of hot Afro-Caribbean foods) is available at his booth at the Island Earth Farmers Market at the Metreon (101 Fourth St. at Mission).