Fest Kava
Deadlines or kava? We at Wan Blo have to admit that we opted for kava. There was just so many shells to be had Nasonal Festival blong Arts / Fest Nalingai / Fest Napuan / Fest Kava. Kava from Ambae, Epi, Malekula, Maewo, Pentecost all within a stumble apart. And if you didn't like that you could turn to the reliable regulars of Chiefs and Reynolds, backed up by Konata Bulu. Reynolds was definitely doing a strong trade in kale. It's taken us a few days but we've managed to get our heads back together and a newsletter out. Festival kava reminded the Wan Blo Team of all that was good and bad about kava. Good things about kava are kava and storian. So many stories from people from all over Vanuatu. Bad things about kava are tumas kava and people who don't drink kava. With that in mind Wan Blo has put together some guidelines for those who aren't to keen on the "dirty water" so they can enjoy the experience of a nakamal without ruining it for the regular drinkers. Our Odd Spot this month features banana pie, while the Letters Section may get tongues talking this month. We've been inspired by our feedback to have a reader's poll. We want you to tell us what your favourite nakamal is for 2009? Send us an email by 30th November 2009 so that your voice can be heard. We hope to have the results out in time for the final issue of 2009. Enjoy,
The Wan Blo 100 Team
Top 10 November 2009
1. Hannington (17.5)
2. Shefa Bayview (17.5)
3. FW4 Pink Light (17.5)
4. Chiefs (17.4)
5. Viti Nambunga Ohlen (17.3)
6. The Dark Corner (17.1)
7. Surf (17.1)
8. Maevo (17.1)
9. Fresh Galaxy (17.0)
10. Joseph's Nakamal FW3 (17.0)
Nerd's Corner
Well another month and another nambawan, making it three different top nakamals in three months. This month the top three all scored 17.5, however on countback (kava quality, then ambience) Hannington's takes out the top spot for the first time ever.
Hannnington's is a model of consistency, having never dropped below fourteenth. Since the second edition Hannington's has not been outside the top ten. All top six nakamals have all been reliable regulars and in the contention for poll position month after month. This month it's a bigfala ale, lukim yu, to Obama Nakamal which plummets from 2nd to 37th and to Fes Baket which slides down to 13th. That opens the door for the ever consistent (there's that word again) Maevo and this month's highest debutant Fresh Galaxy (check out Kava toktok) to slide into the top ten. Other debutants this month are White Tooth, Malapoa (23rd) and Stoa, Malapoa (26th). Also this month Jay's Nakamal in Nambatu has been renamed "Konata Bulu" (check out this month's oddspot and their gudfala sign for more) and York Street (formerly Tarioto Seaside) has been renamed "York Street Green Light" to differentiate it from it's Man Ambae owned, pentanque loving neighbour "York Street Red Light". And remember, at Wan Blo, the numbers always add up. Your local Wan Blo nerd.
Odd Spot
"Wan Blo 100 witem banana pae"
Best Enjoyed by: Anyone who wants the convenience
of Chief's but isn't cool enough to rock up in a truck
Least enjoyed by: Anyone who isn’t 170cm or less. Low archways designed for the vertically challenged. Not a problem when the reflexes are working pre-kava but may become an issue after a few shells.
The best bit? An incredible spread of kakae. Which incidentally included the first pie I've sited at a nakamal outside of Independence celebrations. And it was good. Strong on the banana, not shy on the coconut and a base that supported the flavours without taking over. Pie. It's not just an indefinite number.
The worst bit? Well it's still being constructed, so you may find yourself sitting on a brick block, a
broken chair or in the event of rain, a gazebo with no roof.
The strangest bit?When you go to the bathroom (which can't be faulted for cleanliness) the light is shared by two toilets. This can result in having to leave the door ajar. No sweat for me, but may be a bit confronting for the Ladies both using AND passing by. Additionally the passage way to the bathroom has a width approximating the width of my shoulders. The only time in my life I've had to do a five point turn when walking...
The verdict? It's a new one, and it certainly has a way to go before it's challenging Vila's best but it's definitely is one to keep an eye out for.
Konata Bulu - Enjoy it, like a fat kid on pie.
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We're available online. Go to our partners at www.vanuatukavastore.com and click on the link to Wan Blo 100.
A Bar on Kava
Kava bars for non and occasional
Kava drinkers
Lets face it, as wonderful as kava is, it is not for everyone. Kava is an acquired taste that not everyone can force themselves to acquire. In the Wan Blo 100 letters section we have witnessed valiant readers resigning themselves to the fact they are allergic to kava, many of us know the feeling of '2 day kava' where we are not productive at work, and some of us just do not have the stomach for regular kava. Does this mean Non and Occasional Kava Drinkers (NOKDs) need to forsake this cultural activity and miss out on the whispered conversations nd ambiance of the nakamal? No it does not. Provided NOKDs can follow the rules below, their relationship with the nakamal and kava drinkers does not need to end. Golden Rules for NOKDs at the nakamal: Shut up – remember where you are and adjust your behaviour accordingly. This applies particularly to those substituting kava with Tusker. Conversations must remain soft and whispered or you might find your kava-drinking companions subtly drifting to the other side of the nakamal. Slow down – highly animated, fast conversation and movement is a no-no. Follow the pace of kava drinkers and relax (it is possible to relax without kava). This also applies to heading home or onto the next venue. Nothing kills kava like being rushed away, so be considerate and let the evening unfold slowly. Lights off – light and kava do not mix! Mobiles and camera flashes are likely to elicit cries of pain from your kava-drinking companions. If you can follow these rules then you are invited as a NOKD member to the nakamal. Here are some good NOKD nakamals around Port Vila. Shefa Bayview Nakamal, George Pompidou Beautiful views, good food and availability of cold Tusker and soft drinks make this a good NOKDs choice. Sit back, watch the sun set over Vila Bay and share a story with your kava drinking companions.
Hanningtons Nakamal , Opposite Korman Stadium Overlooking Second Lagoon, this is a relaxing place to welcome the evening with or without kava. Tusker, food (including great samosas) and soft drinks available. Sophie's, Nambatu Not the most scenic of nakamals, but its opening hours make it a popular spot for a late night tusker or soft drink and the food selection is the best of any kava bar in Port Vila. This nakamal could be likened to a dark, quiet, unhygienic restaurant! It even has a small TV facing the seating area to keep patrons entertained. Green Light Seaside, Seaside Another popular late night tusker drinking location. The large amount of space also makes it a good place to hide noisy groups of NOKDs. Selection of food and soft drinks available. Molkis Nakamal, Club Hippique A bit of a journey out of town, but a beautiful setting just about in the water of Second Lagoon. A favourite of horse riders and cricketers after playing at the club hippique venue, to wind down and take in the environment around them. Some soft drinks and food are available. Maevo Nakamal, Seaside The view draws patrons to this nakamal, perched on the edge of a high bank overlooking the lagoon. It is quiet and friendly, with Tusker, soft drinks and some food available. Reynolds, Numbatu Not only do they do a great kale at Fest time, they also have great kakae, great seating and plenty of dark corners. Conveniently located close to town. So to all those nakamal friendly NOKDs out there take heart, you can have your nakamal and not drink the brew. However please remember there are sometimes when you might need to renege on your NOKD ways, for example a chief offering kava to you in a remote village is unlikely to understand that you "experience a mild skin rash and dehydration as a result of drinking kava and would therefore like to sit this one out, but do you have any Tusker?" Good luck.
Kava Tok Tok
Name: Godwin Address: Freswota Occupation: Draftsman Age: 54 How long have you been drinking kava for? Since I was 21 (33 years). How many shells do you drink per week? 10 (10 a week *52 weeks = 520 a year * 33 years = 17160 shells) What is your favourite nakamal? Fresh Galaxy and Georgie Kava Bar. From? The kava is clean and my mornings are fresh. What three people would you like to drink with? All my friends from work: John, Izac and Paul. Final words... When you drink you make friends. This interview was conducted at Fresh Galaxy approximately 7pm
Letters Dear Wan Blo, Sorry but this months (October's [Ed])ratings are bullshit If I may be so bold to say. Hanningtons Kava is wota nating finishes too early and has poor kakae whereas Reynolds at Namba tu melo melo is Namba wan! Try Zacharies kava beside his store at Freswota three for what I rate as best kava I have ever tasted in 13 years of drinking at least five days a week. Regards but I give little credence to your ratings now. This is not for publication of course but will write you a letter for next issue Not Happy
Dear Mr Happy, It seems we're not very good at following instructions either. Of course if you write correspondence to an editor of a publication surely you would expect it to be published. That reminds me, we never did get that other letter you were going to write. I'm sure we at Wan Blo 100 have emphasized the subjectivity of the rating system, so I am not going to return to basics, however I would like to make a couple of points. We love kava. We love to drink kava. We love to go to different places that drink kava. This system was born out of our love of kava. If your favourite nakamal doesn't make it into our top 10 it doesn't mean that you have to stop going there. You can still drink kava at your favourite nakamal content in your opinion, that it is the nambawan nakamal in town. Why? Everyone has their reasons. Perhaps you think their kava is nambawan. Perhaps it is your neighbourhood nakamal. Perhaps all your friends go there. Perhaps you are good friends with the owner. Perhaps you have your eye on one of the serving girls. There are plenty of reasons and unfortunately we, at Wan Blo, aren't everyone. But what we can do is provide a forum for your opinion on kava to be published. Which is a great segue for our next article...
We'd love to hear from you! Normally in this section we talk about how we want to hear from if you know of a great nakamal that is not on our list, or you would like to comment on anything on this issue. And we still do (just be prepared for you thoughts to turn up in writing in our next issue!!!) But this time we want to make your voice the feature of our next issue. Our next issue is the last of the year and what a great way to finish the year then with a reader's poll. The majority of the letter's we've received this year have been about your favourite nakamal not making it to number one (as so bluntly pointed out by this month's letter). Well, here's your chance to make a difference. Send an email by 30th November 2009 to superkavavanuatu@hotmail.com and tell us which Port Vila Nakamal was your favourite for 2009. You can give us your reasons if you want, or you can just send in the name of your favourite nakamal. It doesn't even have to be on our list. Just make sure you tell your friends. We want this to be as big as possible so it really does belong to yufala. Next month we'll compile the list as voted by you. The great thing is, we at Wan Blo can have a month off and get back to what we love doing, drinking kava!
Vanuatu Kava Store is pleased to announe that they have partnered up with the team from Super Kava to present to you the ultimate Vanuatu Nakamal Review.
The team from Super Kava tirelessly and meticulously go to numerous nakamals in both Port Vila and Luganville each week and whilst enjoying a few shells also apply their unique rating system. The Super Kava rating system includes factoring in the quality of the kava, ambience, the food available (kae-kae), cleanliness, their attitude to customers and woman as well as other facets integral to a good nakamal.
Vanuatu Kava store will be publishing Super Kava's free monthly nakamal review, however if you wish to receive them directly then contact Super Kava and add your name to their mail out.
August 09
York Street Returns to the Top
Well July may well have been one of the toughest months on record for our dedicated staff here at Wan Blo 100. After a shell or two, rating nakamals can be a challenge at the best of times, but combining this with the excitement of kava at Independence celebrations has tested even the strongest members of our team.
Some of the stalls we drank kava at over Independence would be worthy of a top 10 spot. Although only being open one week of the year might cause them some problems in the reliabilty category. However, we are happy to say that despite the lure of Independence kava stalls we still managed to get around to more than a few nakamals during the month.
The month of July has seen some changes to the top 10. After dropping as low as 4th in June York Street has returned to the position it held for the months of April and May and taken the number one spot for it’s third time in five months. Nemo despite improving it’s score from last month has dropped one place to second.
Last Flight in Luganville and Ride on Nakamal in Freswota 3 have both made their first appearances in the top 10 coming in 5th and 8th respectively.
Another reminder that Wan Blo 100 have partnered up with the fantastic team at Vanuatu Kava Store meaning that our newsletters and ratings are now available online.
Keep the feedback and letters coming as it is the best way for us to improve our ratings and newsletter. It is also a great source of information for us when looking for new nakamals worth trying. Email any suggestions for nakamals or any letters to the Wan Blo 100 Team.
regards
Wan Blo 100 Team
Top 10 August 2009
1. York Street (18.0)
2. Nemo (17.8)
3. Katidral Nambanga (17.8)
4. The Dark Corner (17.7)
5. Last Flight (Luganville) (17.5)
6. Hannington (17.3)
7. Maevo (17.3)
8. Ride on Nakamal (17.3)
9. Reynolds (17.1)
10. Shefa Bayview (17.1)
Odd Spot
"I think we're a bit short on bread."
It may be the worst kept secret in Mele, but right next door to The Dark Corner Nakamal is a house in the village famous for making fabulous local bread. In an interesting coincidence it seems the bread is timed to be ready at approximately 4:40pm everyday. Now we may be reading far too much into this, but if one sits at The Dark Corner on an average night, 90% of people who purchase the bread will down a shell on the way past. 40% will even shell bakagen on the way back home. Not only is this a great bit of marketing of behalf of the family selling the bread, but I bet never before have so many people volunteered to go out and buy bread for their family. Hey, I've never eaten so much bread in my life!
The Dark Corner 17.7
Tips from a 'teaspoon' kava drinker
I have a confession. I am a teaspoon kava drinker. There are times when I look down into my Chinese bowl and as the kava smell hits my nostrils and my stomach groans (not from anticipation) that two questions come to mind. Firstly, "why am I drinking this?" Secondly, "why am I going to order another wan blo 100 in another ten minutes?"
There are small sacrifices you have to pay to allow the kava to speak to you and to fuel the fire for a long storian with your friends or random strangers afterwards. So here are some hints to get you through those few necessary gulps:
1. Don't think about how bad it will taste. As soon as you receive your shell, find your spot and skull it. The more time you spend pondering, the harder it will be to drink your shell and the more likely it is that your friends would have sat down already with the water and PK you need as a teaspoon kava drinker (refer to June edition). The only thing you are allowed to think about is finishing the shell.
2. Don't stop halfway through your shell. This is a BAD move. You might think it'll help you stomach it better, but it doesn't.
3. If you have a light stomach, order a wan blo 50. There is no shame in this, particularly if you are outside Port where the shells will most likely be larger.
4. Think about the awesome stick meat or other aelan kaikai that you can reward your efforts with afterwards.
5. Drink a Splash Lemonade afterwards to flush out the kava taste completely.
Enjoy fellow teaspoons!
To find out what kind of kava drinker you are go to www.vanuatukavastore.com and scroll down to the link for Wan Blo 100. Here you can read the article titled "Wasem Mouth" from our June newsletter.
What kind of kava drinker are you? Email us at superkavavanuatu@hotmail.com with any stories.
News Flash
Shefa Bayview Nakamal i gat niufala management we oli bin upgradem ol services blong nakamal olsem
- Nuifala Staff
- Fulap Decoration
- Gudfala Quality
- Gudfala Quantity
Update we i bin hapen recently, kava i bin sakem wan lady mo mekem oli skramem hem i go bak long haos. Wan sel, hemi nok aot wan taem!
Shefa Bayview Nakamal, now more than just a great view.
It's Raining Kava!
Well hasn't the weather been rubbish! Those days of watching the sun go down whilst enjoying that wonderful feeling that kava brings is starting to seem like a distant memory.
The question is; in times of bad weather do you stick to your trusty old faithful nakamal? Or do you seek out one that is perhaps a little more 'weather friendly?'
Located close to Parliament House, one Nakamal that continues to shine even in torrential rain is Reynolds. Reynolds boasts enough undercover area to host a parliamentary sitting.
Reynolds Nakamal. Great in rain, hail or shine
Drinking kava at Reynolds will eliminate all those feelings of animosity that have frustrated you all day about the rain that just won't seem to go away. In fact after trying the kava on offer at one of the five windows to choose from, the sound of the rain on the roof of your private booth may even add a further calming effect to that after work shell.
Now I don't want to type cast Reynolds into the category of 'Wet Weather Nakamal Nomo' as it still offers all of the essentials such as strong kava, great kaikai and friendly service, all of which contribute to its current position in the top 10 of the official Wan Blo 100 kava rankings. But if it is X-factor you are looking for in times of rain, look no further than Reynolds.
Reynolds 17.1
Letters
Dear Wan Blo 100,
Firstly I'd like to say that you're newsletter is great. It's good to read about all different kinds of nakamals from lots of different areas.
I just wanted to ask why there are no nakamals from Malapoa on your list and if you are planning to go to some soon?
There are many great nakamals in Malapoa and I think it would be worth you while having a look at some. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Malapoa Kava Drinker.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for your letter and advice to have a look at Malapoa. Yes we certainly will try and get to Malapoa in the next couple of months. As this is only our 6th newsletter we still have many places to explore such as Ohlen, Erakor, Eratap, Mele Maat just to name a few.
I must say though many times I have sat on a bus at night as it takes a detour through the streets of Malapoa and have found myself gazing out the window marvelling at the site of the vast quantity of nakamals on offer. Several times I have had to stop myself singing out to the bus driver to pull over so I can sneak in for a final shell. Once we do reach Malapoa you'll be the first to know.
Regards
Wan Blo 100
Hi,
I am interested in finding out about kava and allergic reactions. I recently had the most awful case of hives (never had it before- happy to supply an appalling picture) and have nailed down to a reaction to either pamplemousse (was eaten in huge amounts) or kava (just started drinking). So far I have heard of two others who have had the same reaction. Do you or the team know of others?
New Kava Drinker
Dear New Kava Drinker,
In answer to your query, there is a lot of published evidence regarding the incidence of allergic reactions to kava.
Kava is a psychoactive substance from the pepper family, Piper methysticum, which has been used worldwide, not only as a deliciously refreshing beverage, but also as treatment for states of anxiety, tension and insomnia throughout America and Europe. With data from clinical trials of medicinal kava, evidence for allergic reactions, (and other side effects), is derived. Allergic reactions of two types have been noted post kava ingestion,
- Type 1; a mild allergic syndrome with specific mention made to the appearance of urticaria (hives) and
- Type 2 which is far more serious involving an anaphylactic reaction (airways swell and close over).
These two types of allergic reactions occur to approximately 1.5% of people in the studies. This is actually quite a large amount, in fact data from one trial conducted in Germany reports that between 1986-2001 there were 27 reports of urticaria associated with kava intake, and this was the most commonly reported adverse drug reaction, with gastrointestinal disturbances (including diarrhoea, nausea and heartburn) rating 13 reports.
Anyone with allergies to any of the pepper family (black pepper etc) would be highly likely to experience an allergic reaction to kava, along with people prone to asthma attacks, or other allergic reactions.
Although many substances invoke allergic reactions, kava is very likely to have caused your hives, as well as a state of relaxed bliss.
Hope that was helpful,
Dr Pepper
Santo
We'd love to hear from you!
If you know of a great nakamal that is not on our list, or you would like to comment on anything you've read inside Wan Blo 100 please send an email to superkavavanuatu@hotmail.com
We found Nemo! 
What a huge month is has been for Wan Blo 100. Reviewers have spent the last month travelling in pairs to a number of islands around Vanuatu to expand our nakamal database and continue our search for the perfect nakamal.
The biggest result of the month was the number one rating of Nemo Nakamal in Luganville which now becomes the first nakamal outside Port Vila to claim a number one position. We will be sending more reviewers to Luganville this month to ensure the strong standard is being maintained.
Katidral Nambanga, who have poached a number of the best Kava squeezers from the neighbouring Katidral Nakamal, claimed second place while Hannington’s continues to push for number one with another strong month claiming 3rd.
Former number one, Tarioto Seaside, officially changed it’s name on April 23rd to York Street. With the name change came a change in position as it dropped to 4th. Erko Nakamal in Erakor also had a name change to John’s Nakamal.
Finally, after all of the great feedback and letters that continue to come through we have begun our letters to the editor section. Please keep the letters coming though as we continually receive great tips on nakamals to check out or interesting people to speak to. Please send your your letters or reviews through to The Super Kava team
Enjoy the June issue.
Wan Blo 100
Wasem Mouth
It’s a well known fact that kava tastes pretty ordinary. I mean, really, there no dancing around this topic, it tastes like absolute rubbish, and if it didn’t deliver that sweet delicious buzz then outside of a ceremony there’s no way you’d put it anywhere near your tastebuds. In fact, the more you drink, the more repugnant the taste becomes. Little surprise then, that a common feature at nakamals is the presence of the mama’s selling a variety of kae kae to help you forget about the taste and shift your mind back to that incredibly interesting, hushed conversation you were having with a stranger.
However, how a person deals with the kava aftertaste is a personal choice. But people generally fall into broad categories. Here are some observations from my drinking experiences:
The lucky Dipper
The ‘Lucky-dipper’ is the person who comes to a nakamal prepared to chow down on whatever kae kae is on offer that day. Some days this will be a feast for the tastebuds, with pineapple, banana cake, nems, stick meat and all sorts of delicious island treats, but other times, it will be taro and liver – and that’s it.
The Hard Bastard
The ‘Hard Bastard’ comes ready to smash the kava. That’s it. They have no time for kae kae – and anyway, it removes the novocaine felling in the mouth.
The Water Boy
The ‘Water Boy’ has no problem with kae kae, they could be a ‘luck-dipper’ or a ‘bastard’, but there’s no way they’re drinking that water that’s on offer. So they bring their own bottle. These people should realise that the water on offer is probably the same water used for the kava. The money they spent on purchasing water could have been better spent on extra shells.
The Booze Hound
The ‘Booze Hound’ is all about the kale - kava and then beer. Many nakamals provide for the booze-hound, by selling Tusker alongside the shells, and it serves as a useful wasem mouth as well as an augmentor for the buzz.
The Tea Spoon
And finally, then you have the ‘Teaspoon’. The ‘teaspoon’ is someone who just can’t handle the heat. They can’t deal with the kava, they can’t deal with the water and they can’t stomach island kae kae. Why they even bother is anyone’s guess. They’ll have to stop on the way to the nakamal to pick up a ‘kava pack‘, replete with water and their own kae kae. These people are best avoided at nakamals.
The following are some items often used by the ‘Teaspoon’ at a Nakamal:
Our advice is stick with the island kae kae and avoid being labelled a teaspoon.
Which type are you? Have you any others to add to the list.... contact us with your thoughts.
Nakamal with no name
Located halfway up the hill to the Digicel tower at Nambatri is a hidden gem. Unfortunately the owners have yet to give it a name. For now, let’s call it Nakamal Antap.
Nakamal Antap is far enough away from the main road of Vila that you find yourself in a bush- like environment with only the noise of the crackling camp fire to accompany that wonderful kava feeling.
This place is all about levels, with a table for two just a little further up the hill for those conversations that require some more privacy.
Nakamal Antap will cater for any weather conditions. If it’s raining there are plenty of seats under cover, if it’s cold you should have no trouble getting a spot close to the camp fire and on those beautiful clear Port Vila nights a view over Nambatri at dusk awaits.
The only category that Nakamal Antap didn’t score particularly well in was ‘kae kae.’ The reason for this was that currently they only offer a small range. However, having said that, they did have chocolate cake so you can’t really complain about that can you?
If you find yourself in the area of Nambatri this is one of those local neighbourhood nakamals that is definitely worth checking out, and if you do go grab us an update on their name while you’re there!
(Nakamal Antap Rating 15.0)
Letters
Dear Super Kava Vanuatu
I was compelled to write after reading your latest ratings for May. While I agree with many of them, I’m astonished that Tarioto Nambatu only received 0.5 for hygiene. Quite simply the toilet there is the best I’ve ever seen at a Nakamal. Inside, very clean, with fulap toilet paper plus really charming candle lighting. This surely warrants not only 1.0 for hygiene (which would have put it into first place) but extra points towards ambience and attitude to women. It was so nice in fact that I felt myself getting slightly aroused – alas that night there were no good looking men in the kava bar.
little miss kava
Dear little miss kava,
Thank you for your letter. Yes we agree the toilet at Tarioto Nambatu is certainly one of the better facilities going around in Nakamals. We must remind you however that the hygiene mark is not just for the toilet. Other areas of cleanliness may affect a nakamal not receiving the full marks for that category. Unfortunately as these scores are an average of everyone’s scores within the Wan Blo 100 team I am unable to say for sure why Tarioto did not receive full marks. Either way I’m glad you enjoyed yourself at Tarioto Nambatu both in and outside the toilet!
We’d love to hear from you!
If you know of a great Nakamal that is not on our list, or you would like to comment on anything you’ve read inside Wan Blo 100 please email us !
The to 10
Ok the moment you have all been waiting for the top 10, which includes 3 new Nakamals!
Score is out of 21.
1. Nemo - Luganville - Total: 19.0
2. Katidral Nambanga - George Pompidou - Total: 17.6
3. Hannington's - 2nd Lagoon - Total: 17.5
4. York Street - Seaside - Total: 17.3
5. Tarioto Nambatu - Nambatu - Total: 17.0
6. Chiefs - Namabtu - Total: 17.0
7. Las Flaet - Eapot Road - Total 16.9
8. The Dark Corner - Mele Village - Total: 16.8
9. FW4 Pink Light - Freswota 4 - Total 16.8
10. Bamboo Nakamal - Nambatu - Total: 16.8
Until next month - ALEZ!!
May 09
Tarioto Stands Firm
Tarioto Seaside has become the first nakamal to claim back-to-back number one positions in the official Wan Blo 100 rankings after another strong performance in the month of April.
The pair of Tarioto’s were challenged by a much improved Hannington that jumped six places this month to claim third.
Other big movers were Maevo that moved up from 7th to 4th and Reynolds notched up their first top 10 finish by improving two spots.
In a big surprise Las Flaet dropped 3 places to 5th and the previously rock solid Katidral dropped from 11th to 29th.
Reynolds moves into the top 10 for the first time
In other news Wan Blo 100 will be starting a letter to the editor section next month as a result of some great letters that are coming through. All of our readers are encouraged to send us their thoughts (whether good or bad).
Due to numourous requests we have also reprinted the ‘Rating System Explained’ article from the first edition.
Finally we would like to invite any of our readers based outside Port Vila to send in a review of a Nakamal from their area. If you live in Santo or are fortunate enough to have email access on some of the other islands we want to hear from you. Please send through any reviews to The Super Kava Team.
Enjoy Issue three and keep the feedback coming
Wan Blo 100
The Top 10 May 2009
Points totals out of a possible 21.
1. Tarioto Seaside - 18.0
2. Tartioto Nambatu - 17.6
3. Hannington's - 16.9
4. Maewo - 16.8
5. Las Flaet - 16.7
6. Bamboo Nakamal - 16.7
7. Shefa Bayview - 16.7
8. The Dark Corner (Mele) - 16.7
9. Wharf Nakamal - 16.6
10. Reynolds - 16.5
Odds Spot - Whats in a Shell?
Different horses for different courses, right? Well, at nakamals around the place your tasty shell is likely to come in a variety of receptacles. Sometimes you’ll get a cheap Chinese porcelain bowl, while at other times you’ll get the full visual effect of a clear glass bowl. However, at Tarioto Nambatu, nestled away behind Vila Handprints, they go the extra mile. Providing hollowed-out coconut shells that sit proudly on the counter, you can truly get that kastom experience – right in the middle of downtown Port Vila.
The Rating System Explained
So, your local nakamal gets a score of 17.4.
What does that mean? Is it good or bad? Should
you stay local for tonight’s shell, or maybe
wander somewhere else? These are all
legitimate questions one’s likely to ask
themselves following the publication of kava
ratings each month. To set the record straight,
we thought the first edition of Wan Blo 100 was a
perfect time to outline the various criterion that
nakamals are rated on each month.
Each month a bunch of hardy kava evaluators
that include men, women, Ni-Vanuatu and
Expats head out to the various nakamals of Port
Vila (and beyond) in the name of “research”. The
evaluators then rate each nakamal visited
according to a standardised scoring system. All
ratings are kept confidential until the end of the
month whereby they are collated and averaged.
The averaging process accounts for the variety
of tastes and preferences of each of the
evaluators.
In total, a nakamal can score 21 points across 7
important categories. These categories are
broken down into:
Kava Quality (out of 6): Strength is definitely
important here, though so too is smoothness. A
shell that tastes like a mud pie is likely to be
rated lower than a shell of smooth, clean kava.
Ambience (out of 5): The most difficult of all
categories to rate. What constitutes ambience
for one person may be the opposite for someone
else. Generally speaking this category reflects
how comfortable you are likely to feel at the
nakamal. It’s important to be in an environment
in which the kava is allowed to ‘talk’ to you.
Views and serenity can be important to some
people, though so too can the friendliness of the
regular patrons. Environmental factors are key –
some prefer a nakamal located in a quiet natural
setting and others like a nakamal surrounded by
a hive of activity. Some want a nakamal that will
assist them to relax at the end of a busy day,
whilst others see it as another networking
opportunity. Ambience is a personal thing and
the experts out in the field chosen to rate
nakamals for Super Kava Inc come from a wide
variety of demographics that we feel cover most
bases.
Reliable Opening Hours and Operation (Out
of 3): Obviously you want a nakamal that is
open. So those locations that are frequently
closed are going to rate lower than those that
are always open. Running out of kava too early
in the evening is also likely to lead to a lower
score.
Service (Out of 2): How quickly does it take to
get a shell? How friendly are the staff? Is there
water provided for a post-shell cleansing? These
are all the major considerations when it comes to
service.
Kakae (out of 2): This reflects both the quantity
and quality of kakae. The presence of stick meat, nem, tuluk or lap lap will go a long way to assuring a high score.
Attitude to Women (out of 2): We view a good
nakamal as a nakamal that allows entry and
provides good service to everyone.
Bonus Hygiene Point: A point is awarded for
those nakamals that go the extra mile when it
comes to hygiene. A clean toilet with toilet paper
is always appreciated. While a clean drain to
wash out your shell is also very important.
Deuce or Kava?
Located near Port Vila stadium and nestled in between the netball and tennis courts, Demsas Nakamal may well be the first true ‘Sports Nakamal’ in Port Vila.
Demsas moves away from the traditional modern day sports bar that usually includes massive plasma screens and expensive sound systems. Instead it maintains the quiet dark atmosphere of a nakamal with a pole-position view of the action on the surrounding netball and tennis courts.
Entering Demsas feels like you’ve stepped into a mini independence week, such is the activity surrounding the individually lit stalls.
With more than a handful of kava windows to work your way through, a quiet after tennis shell at Demsas can quickly turn into a 6 hour marathon that will effectively eliminate any benefit gained from your sporting activities.
With plenty of seats, great toilet facilities, friendly service and of course excellent kava, Demsas is the perfect place to enjoy a shell after the football at Stad, or after playing a tough match of netball. Hey if your captain isn’t looking you could even have a sneaky one at half-time.
No doubt the word is out on Demsas, but don’t worry there is plenty of kava to go around
(Demsas Rating 16.2)
Kava Tok Tok
Name: Moses Kaho
Address: Teouma
Occupation: Groundsman, KaZaa Field
Age: 27 years old
How long have you been drinking kava for? 9 years
How many shells per week? 4 shells per night, 7 nights a week.
(9 years of drinking 28 shells per week = 13,104 shells)
Favourite nakamal: Hannington’s, 2nd Lagoon
From? “It’s close to my work and I like being near the water.”
If you could drink kava with any three people in the world, who would they be?
Sam – Moses’ friend
Joe Iaruel – Fellow groundsman
Pierre Chilia – Moses’ boss
Final words? “I drink kava because it makes me feel good. It talks to me.”
This interview was conducted at Hannington’s Nakamal approximately 6pm.
We’d love to hear from you!
If you know of a great Nakamal that is not on our list, or you would like to comment on anything you’ve read inside Wan Blo 100 please Contact the The Super Kava Team
Until next time alez!
April 09
Tarioto sends out a Message
Newly rated Nakamals dominate the top 5 this month with Tarioto Seaside, Tarioto Nambatu and Wharf Nakamal all impressing the team from Wan Blo 100. All three Nakamals were recommended to us via emails from dedicated Wan Blo 100 readers, reminding us that although at times we think we know all the good places to drink kava, there are often amazing nakamals that slip through the cracks. Keep up the good work with all your recommendations.
‘Go Farther With Kava’ was voted as the most popular slogan for the newsletter, narrowly defeating ‘Small Spell, Bigfala Shell’ and ‘Every Shell has a Story.’ Thank you to all those who voted.
In other news Wan Blo 100 has updated our rating system to give you the readers the option to search for the perfect nakamal that suits your needs. Perhaps you don’t care about ambience and kakae, all you want is good kava quality, well now instead of straining your eyes by examining every nakamal, you will notice drop down arrows on each column. Use these arrows to search for the top 10 in every category. You’ll be surprised by some of the results.
Finally we would like to invite any of our readers based outside Port Vila to send in a review of a Nakamal from their area. If you live in Santo or are fortunate enough to have email access on some of the other islands we want to hear from you. Please send through any reviews to The Super Kava Team.
Enjoy Issue two and keep the feedback coming.
Wan Blo 100
Top 10 March 2009
- points score out of a possible 21
1. Tarioto Seaside (18.0)
2. Las Flaet (17.9)
3. Tarioto Nambatu (17.3)
4. Shefa Bayview Nakamal (17.2)
5. Wharf Nakamal (16.8)
6. Bamboo Nakamal (16.7)
7. Maevo (16.5)
8. The Dark Corner (Mele) (16.3)
9. Hannington (16.3)
10. Nakamal Antap (16.3)
The X-Factor
A good nakamal means different things to different people. Generally speaking, the kava has to be strong enough for you feel it so that you get that comfortably numb, super-relaxed kinda feeling. Some might say that you can hear it talking to you. After all, that’s why we go, yes?
But aside from that, a good nakamal has to offer something more. You may even call it the X Factor. This was hinted at in the first newsletter when “ambience” was discussed. I guess this is where the X Factor comes in.
The X Factor can change from day to day, nakamal to nakamal, dependant upon a myriad of things. It can be as simple as how good/bad your day has been, the attitude of the other patrons who are also frequenting your nakamal of choice, storian with friends and strangers alike, and the people you have come with, if you have chosen to come with any at all.
The X Factor can also be affected by noise. This is a shout-out to all Tusker drinkers out there: subdued tones in the nakamals are always – always – appreciated by my fellow kava drinkers.
This goes for television too. While I can appreciate the attraction of third-party entertainment, loud, bright noise can be a little hard to take after a particularly strong shell or two!
There is something about the X Factor though that is hard to pinpoint, that is somewhat intangible, and it may well be a combination of the afore-mentioned. Avoiding getting the tail end of a shell spat on your foot also helps you to enjoy your nocturnal relaxation just that little bit more. I would suggest that the X Factor is often a combination of all of these factors, but so much more.
Simply put, it could just be your night. If you are lucky enough to have this X Factor nakamal experience, enjoy it. Savour it. And above all else, listen to your kava, my friend!
So the X Factor is much more than whether there is toilet paper in the toilets, or whether the meatballs/stick meat are still hot when you’re looking for that tasty wasem mouth. But let’s be honest – it all helps create that nakamal experience that we all want.
And just as an aside, with the recent onslaught of dengue around Vila at the moment, some repellent on offer in nakamals wouldn’t really go astray either… Mi jus telem nomo…
So You’ve Got a Truck?
So you’ve found yourself with a truck for the day. The options appear endless. Perhaps a family trip to Blue Lagoon, Honeymoon Beach or Hideaway Island? Or if swimming is not your thing maybe you would use the truck to go to the market and stock up on food for the weekend?
If any of the above options sound like places for you, unfortunately you will be missing out on a truck experience to beat all others. That experience is Chiefs Nakamal.>br>
If you don’t already know about Chiefs Nakamal please unsubscribe from this email service now. Chiefs is a model of consistency. Always busy, always strong kava and you’re always likely to see the ‘who’s who of Port Vila’ in attendance.
However if you want to improve your experience further, bring a truck to loiter around. Soon you will discover that gathering around those wheels will take your ambience experience to dizzying new heights. If you don’t have a truck, Chiefs also gives you the opportunity to make friends with someone who does.
Chiefs has a strange aurora about it, ask around, rarely do people describe Chiefs as their favourite Nakamal, but when asked which Nakamal they attend the most the answer will continuously come up Chiefs. Figure that one out! I think deep down it’s everyone’s favourite. It’s ok, you can admit it. (Chiefs Rating 15.9)
Kava Tok Tok
Name: Willfred Bovu
Address: Freswota
Occupation: Satellite installation technician – Sivicom, Nambatu
Age: 28 years old
How long have you been drinking kava for? 7 years
How many shells per week? 4-5 shells per night, 4-5 nights a week.
(7 years of drinking on average 16-25 per week = approximately 7,462 shells)
Favourite nakamal: George Sivi, Freswota. Opposite Freswota Park
From? “It’s close to my house and all of my family and friends drink there. And the kava is not too strong there.”
If you could drink kava with any three people in the world, who would they be?
Patley – Willfred’s friend
David Beckham
Nick Tari – Willfred’s friend
Final words? “Kava is good, but sometimes makes you weak.”
This interview was conducted at Chiefs Nakamal approximately 6pm
We’d love to hear from you!
If you know of a great Nakamal that is not on our list, or you would like to comment on anything you’ve read inside Wan Blo 100 please Contact the Super Kava Team
Until next month Alez! |
