I visited my grandmother’s hut in the countryside and was greeted by a pot on a three-stone fireplace filled with githeri (maize and beans) and potatoes buried in the ash for a slow roast.
Once the food was ready, it was served in steel enamel coated plates painted in various tropical bright and bold colours such as red and yellow. Serving porridge or tea in these cups left a smoky aftertaste due to the smoke from the firewood.