After hitting my 100 posts mark, I have felt the need to move my blog to a .com site. The good news is that I'll transfer all my posts there. The other good news is that I have added a new HEALTH category. The new website is http://thewineandfoodreview.com . Click here
Same fresh content in a new site.
Keep it here...
THE WINE AND FOOD REVIEW
The best review for fine wine and food....
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Monday, 7 July 2014
PRIYAN P.K: DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, FAIRMONT THE NORFOLK
I was having a busy week doing restaurant reviews and
attending meetings. It has been a while since I interviewed someone. Lucky for
me, The Wine and Food Review had an interview with the Director of Operations
Fairmont, The Norfolk. My photographer
Bundi accompanied me and we got there at 10.30am. My interview took place at
the Cin Cin bar and Priyan got there at around 10.32am.
He looked rather sharp
with his well pressed suit. He is very
friendly and affable. This was my chance to know how he does it and what it
mean to be a director of operations of such a reputable brand.
Here is the
Q&A.
Tell me about yourself
I’m the Director of Operations,
Fairmont The Norfolk. I am very passionate about the hospitality industry.
How did you get into the hospitality industry?
I wanted to be a pilot but later on, a relative pitched the
idea to me that I could be great in the food, wine and hospitality industry. I
thought I could give it a shot. I developed a penchant for this industry and I
have never looked back
How has your career journey been like?
It has not been easy and I didn’t get to a leadership
position overnight. I have had to work very hard. In fact, by the age of 15 years
I was washing plates in a restaurant. I have also worked as a bartender and
later a sommelier in Dubai. I have also learned about cigars and I even went to
Cuba for a cigar competition. It has
always been a great experience for me and I take the time to learn as much as I
can in whatever position I am. I won the best bartender award in 2004 and later
I got to be the Food and Beverage Manager in Fairmont Dubai. I’ve made
significant career moves over the years. I received a call from my manager that I
should report to Kenya to fill the Director of Operations slot and here I am. I
came to Kenya in 2012.
What are your thoughts on the Kenyan Food & Wine scene?
The Kenya food and wine scene is growing and it is great that
I have been able to witness this tremendous growth in my own establishment as
well. The local talent has great
potential if encouraged or given the right support. This evident from our own bartender, who I
helped nurtured and is now one of the Best Mixologist in Kenya with Awards to
reinforce. His exceptional skills which he learnt on the job training have
taken him as far as South Africa for further refinement.
It’s rather hectic being the director of operations. It is
my job to make sure that the hotel is running smoothly and that the guests and
clients get quality food and service. I get to the office not later than 7.30am
every day. I do my rounds in the restaurant and I check that everything is in
order. At 8.30 I talk to clients and I ensure that they are well taken care of.
At 9-11am I have a daily sales meeting with my team. From 11am I catch up on
emails and any work and then continue the rest of the day making sure that all
operations are in check.
Being in such a challenging position, how do you make it
work?
I love working in the Hospitality industry. Work has its challenges
but I have great experience and I always take the time to make sure that the
clients are happy and that we maintain the Fairmont Brand standards. In my post
there’s very little time for rest or relaxation. It must come from the heart
and one has to have passion and drive. I love what I do.
Have you organized many events in Kenya?
Yes I have organized very many events because I believe that
is one way to elevate the scene in Kenya. I have organized food & Wine
Pairing Dinners, Wine and Cheese events, Skyy Vodka Night and Babes and Bubbles
among others. I love food and wine dinners and I love it when I invite a
sommelier /winemaker to talk to people as opposed to just having a simple dinner.
I also ensure that the food and wine list is carefully crafted. If I am having
a dinner, I craft the food and wine list weeks prior to the event to to ensure
guest are offered the best food pairing experience.
Tell me about Babes and Bubbles event?
This is an event for the professional young lady who is
looking for a sophisticated and relaxed environment to unwind and catch up with
her girlfriends. The night features flowing Champagne Taittinger Nocturne and
accompanied by delectable hors d'oeuvres, with a DJ on board playing Café Del
Mar fusions. Served at the sleek Taittinger Champagne Bar
How do you unwind?
I love to cook. I even bought a Jua Kali jiko. I love Kenyan
cuisine. I enjoy eating Nyama Choma and Ugali. I also love dining in other restaurants and watching the food network. It entertains as well as relaxes me.
How has your overall experience with the Kenyan people been
like?
I love Kenya. I have enjoyed my stay here because Kenyans
are very warm at heart. My staff also get the job done and they give genuine
service by greeting people with a smile and they understand the client needs.
Kenyan people are also motivated.
What would you tell anyone aspiring to be like you?
I would tell people not to second guess themselves and once
you know what you want. Go for it, set goals and make sure you achieve them.
Photos- Bundi Anassi Photography
Photos- Bundi Anassi Photography
Saturday, 5 July 2014
#RECYCLEKENYA WITH NAKUMATT
I have a collection of winebottles in my house. I wanted to make some DIY craft thing or just store them in a cellar but I think this is clutter. I found the perfect way to get rid of them without throwing them witrh my trash. I will start a better collection soon. This is an initiative by Nakumatt chain of supermarkets.
This is a great initiative.
This is a great initiative.
Wednesday, 2 July 2014
GRAPE VARIETIES
If you are new to wine there are some facts that you need to
know. Wines have two names. One is the winemaker’s brand name while the other
is the grape variety. That’s why you have seen the following names on more than
one wine Chardonnay, Beaujolais, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti, Pinot Grigio /
Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc Merlot, Pinot Noir and zinfandel. These
names represent the grape varieties. Let me show you with this Angels Tears that I was sipping over
the weekend. The label says it all in terms of the varieties, the year and the region.
Winemakers also mix more than one variety of grapes but they
always give the ratio. For example a wine may have 50% cabernet sauvignon and
50% Merlot. There are two types of grapes; black and white grapes. Black grapes
are not necessarily black but they have blue, deep red and purplish hue.
White
grapes are those with lighter shades like yellow, green and pale yellow.
Contrary to popular belief, any grape can make any wine. It is not true that
white grapes make white wine and black/red grapes make red wine. What gives the
wine its characteristic colour are the components of the wine. As I had said in
this post, the skins are left for longer in the winemaking process for the red
wines. The red wines are Beaujolais, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti, Merlot, Pinot
Noir and Zinfandel while the white wines are Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio / Pinot
Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Winemakers can make white wine with red
grapes because the juice is clear.
There are differences in the two. Red wines have tannins
which come from the grape skins. The tannins go into the wine during the
winemaking process. Tannins provide a dry, puckery sensation in the mouth and
in the back of the throat. Thy preserve wines and this is why red wines can
stay for longer. Do you notice sometimes when you sip wine that there is a dry
taste and aftertaste especially as you swallow. Well those are the tannic
tastes.
Friday, 27 June 2014
THE SIDELINED WINE :ROSÉ WINE
Often times, people don't talk enthusiastically about rose wine. Its like that friend you are indifferent to.You don't know whether to be happy or sad to see them. For most people, it is either white or red wine. People think of rose and they automatically think Sunday afternoon picnics and family days. Or those uneventful weekends with cousins or friends.
This is a wine that is stereotyped and sidelined and almost ignored. I have also been that person who had no regard for it. I thought that it was the wine for girls in frocks running through fields and meadows. I don't know where I got that impression. Probably from an old movie or book. This wine hovers in limbo between red and white. In hindsight, red wine is wine that has been left with the grape skins on. Theses skins are responsible for the wine colour. The more wine stays with the skins the deeper the colour. Red wine is the best because it has a lot of antioxidants.White wines have no skins included in the wine making process. Rose wine on the other hand, is wine that has had the grape skins for a few hours. I recently changed my opinion on rose wine when I tasted the Abeso Rose Frizante. I loved this wine. It tasted of pomegranates and it reminded me of the fruit.
We had a pomegranate fence when I was growing up but we never did anything with the fruits. I regret not knowing that I could have made fruit salads or grenadine. Grenadine is a common bar syrup made with pomegranate fruit and it is used to make cocktails.
The wine was made by exposing the skins of the grapes for 5 days. It had a slightly pink colour and it was so fruity. This was a great wine and it went well with pork. I have learned to do away with the misconception that rose wine is somewhat inferior.Next time you go wine-shopping, show some love for this wine.
This is a wine that is stereotyped and sidelined and almost ignored. I have also been that person who had no regard for it. I thought that it was the wine for girls in frocks running through fields and meadows. I don't know where I got that impression. Probably from an old movie or book. This wine hovers in limbo between red and white. In hindsight, red wine is wine that has been left with the grape skins on. Theses skins are responsible for the wine colour. The more wine stays with the skins the deeper the colour. Red wine is the best because it has a lot of antioxidants.White wines have no skins included in the wine making process. Rose wine on the other hand, is wine that has had the grape skins for a few hours. I recently changed my opinion on rose wine when I tasted the Abeso Rose Frizante. I loved this wine. It tasted of pomegranates and it reminded me of the fruit.
We had a pomegranate fence when I was growing up but we never did anything with the fruits. I regret not knowing that I could have made fruit salads or grenadine. Grenadine is a common bar syrup made with pomegranate fruit and it is used to make cocktails.
The wine was made by exposing the skins of the grapes for 5 days. It had a slightly pink colour and it was so fruity. This was a great wine and it went well with pork. I have learned to do away with the misconception that rose wine is somewhat inferior.Next time you go wine-shopping, show some love for this wine.
Thursday, 26 June 2014
WINE TIPS
Here's a great way to chill wine. Put green grapes in the fridge. then put them in a glass when serving wine. it is a great way to present wine especially when you have friends over plus the wine remains cold.
Enjoy
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
BACK TO BASICS: THE SCREWDRIVER
This is so basic. It is like learning the alphabet once more. The screwdriver is a very easy drink to make. It is interestingly uncomplicated. It’s probably
the first cocktail recipe I ever learned. It also has a very interesting name. People who worked in oil rigs in the Middle East would open cans of OJ(Orange Juice) with a screw driver. They would take cans and cans to cool off from the hot sun. If you are looking for that burst of
vitamin C, this is the drink to go for.
Yesterday I was feeling under the
weather. Do you have those days when you are feeling lethargic, lazy and
demotivated? Work seems to take a toll on you and you need a break? I was
having such a day. I have learnt never to ignore that feeling. Sometimes, your
body sends you a message that it is low on electrolytes and you need to recharge
your batteries. I decided to fix a tall drink with a lot of freshly squeezed
orange juice. Oranges have a lot of ascorbic acid and they smell fresh. This
will definitely change your mood.
To make the screw driver you need
- Absolut Vodka
- Fresh Orange juice
- Orange wedge for garnish
slice the orange and cut in half to get a wedge for garnish |
Procedure
- In a mixing glass pour the vodka and juice.
- Stir with a bar spoon
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Add the mixture
- Garnish with orange wedge
I have not written what amount of vodka to use because it
depends with the individuals preferences. I put an ounce of vodka because
I did not want a potent drink plus it was a weekday and some work needed to get
done.
I definitely felt better and this drink gave me the
motivation to finish a project I have been working on for weeks. Try it.
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