From Failure to Perfection: Nyaguthii's Chapati Journey
Growing up in Kiambu, Nyaguthii was surrounded by the delicious flavors of Kikuyu cuisine. But there was one thing she struggled with, making chapatis. Despite her strong connection to her culture, making this simple yet important dish always felt like a challenge. But she was determined to turn her chapati failures into family favorites. Here is her story: When she first married Waiganjo, she didn’t know much about making chapatis. Waiganjo loved chapatis and would often say, “Nyaguthii, you know the way to my heart is through a good chapati.” Nyaguthii would smile nervously, hoping he didn’t notice the fear in her eyes every time it was chapati time. Her first attempts were far from perfect—sometimes they were too hard, other times too oily. Waiganjo, being the kind man he was, never complained, but deep down, Nyaguthii knew she wasn’t doing it right. Their daughter, Wanjira, was still young, but even she seemed to know that chapatis should be better. “Mummy, why are these chapatis n...