Whole tilapia fish at Alafia West-African Cuisine

Ismael Lawani may speak French, but his cuisine is a far cry from foie gras or beef bourguignon. A native of Benin, the Tucson resident opened Alafia West-African Cuisine this March in a small room off of Speedway and Swan Road. Most days you can find him behind the counter cooking up couscous with cassava root and pots of velvety peanut soup. But I opt for the "Afri-cue." He marinates a whole tilapia fish in mustard and African spices and then grills up the entire thing on a charcoal grill behind the restaurant. The belly is the butteriest part, but Lawani insists you have to eat the head, which is obscured by a sliced cucumber sitting delicately over the oily black eyeball. Avoid the bones, and you're in for a swimming great time! 1070 N. Swan Road, 520-331-7161

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