Warm Maafe Peanut Stew in Cordoba Diner

Golden-brown chunks of meat and vegetables rest in a thick, rich peanut sauce within a shallow ceramic bowl. The stew sits centered on a worn wooden table, illuminated by the flickering orange glow of a single candle nearby. Warm light reflects softly off the oily surface of the sauce and the rim of the bowl. A metal spoon rests in the mixture, its handle catching a bright highlight against the dark wood. The late summer air is still, but the candlelight dances across the uneven texture of the food, showing the hearty, celebratory nature of the meal in this quiet Cordoba diner. A smear of sauce rests on the inner edge of the bowl near the spoon handle.