According to Kochforum, an Internet site, Ombo (which is ostrich in the Owambo language) is one of very few restaurants internationally that specialise in dishes using various parts of the ostrich and not only steaks. With this information in mind we made a note on our travel itinerary to have a meal at the restaurant when in Swakopmund.
It was not difficult to find Ombo, as it’s centrally situated and within walking distance of most accommodation establishments. There is a small beer garden in addition to the restaurant. It’s fun to sit outside, weather permitting, where the à la carte dishes are also served and where you can watch the world go by. Inside the décor is tasteful, with reminders everywhere of where you are. The tea and wall lights have ostrich-eggshell shades, all made and decorated by Petra, wife of Ombo owner Ralf Matthäi. The eggs are recycled from the Matthäi’s farm Ostrich Paradise along the Swakop River just outside the coastal town.
A friendly waitress brings the menu and we are surprised by the variety of ostrich dishes on offer. As we are here to eat healthy ostrich meat – extremely low in cholesterol and fat – we choose as a starter Ostrich Carpaccio with Sauce Vinaigrette, topped with parmesan cheese and roasted sunflower seed, and Maultaschen (a type of ravioli) filled with ostrich mince meat and a white-wine pepper sauce (a dish created by famous German chef Hermann Rahn), followed by Ostrich Liver with apple-onion sauce and mashed potatoes and Ostrich Sosatie on rice with avocado crème. What an explosion of tastes! Up to this point we had only eaten ostrich steak, not an unusual item on à la carte menus in Namibia. But these dishes gave us a totally new feast for the palate.
All ostrich main dishes are served with a side salad and a glass of ostrich-egg liqueur. Other interesting dishes are Ostrich Goulash with red cabbage and dumplings, Ostrich Meat Loaf with caraway cream sauce and Spaetzle, and Namibian Paella for two, with ostrich meat, fish, prawns and mussels on rice, or when available Ostrich Egg Omelette (a family meal), served with salmon and green Swakop River asparagus. Vegetarians need not despair, as there are also dishes for them, and for those who like fish or chicken. Served with a good glass of wine, what more do you want! And if you haven't had enough yet, there are delicious desserts on offer.
I'm curious about Petra and Ralf Mathäi, the people behind this specialist restaurant and the ostrich farm. Both came to Namibia from Germany four years ago in search of the sun and adventure, and Petra's wish to work with animals. They found a piece of land along the Swakop River that was for sale, and bought it with the idea of starting an ostrich farm. After attending courses on the breeding and care of these fascinating birds, they began breeding with 10 birds.
Today, after only two years, there are a couple of dozen ostrich on the farm. They also offer tourists, during a tour of the farm, an insight into the breeding and processing of the different parts of the ostrich. In November of last year they opened Ombo Spezialiäten-Restaurant. With his Namibian chef, Julius Holongo, Ralf put together the menu. As far as possible they use only locally produced ingredients in their dishes. Asked where his interest in food comes from, Ralph answers with a smile that his mother was the head of a large kitchen and that he has food in his blood. FACT FILE Where: Hendrik Witbooi Street (opposite Hansa Hotel) Open: Breakfast 07:00–11:00 Lunch 11:00–14:00 Dinner 17:00–23:00 Mondays open only from 07:00 – 14:00 Tel: (064) 40 3721
