THE TRIBE HOTEL

Its one of the boutique hotels we have in Kenya. A boutique hotel is a property that sets itself apart by the individualized attention and quality service it gives its customers. Its located along Limuru road, Gigiri, Nairobi. These hotels facilities are specifically made to cater for the needs of the modern tourist, the VIP and the modern celebrity. There is security and privacy for the guests and they go through great lengths to ensure that their guests are comfortable. It also has great facilities like great meeting spaces that are very private. The guests can hold board meetings in these conference/board rooms. The staff is very friendly and they treat you like family. They respond to your every need and give you comfort.

This hotel hosts many events. For example 'Tribal Chic' which is a fashion event that showcases the works of great designers both local and international .Another event is the 'New Years Eve party'. They also hold special parties like birthday parties etc. This hotel promises to be set apart from the normal or common hotel room and it brings you to a world of hip design with an emphasis on detail and luxury.

It has an urban feel and the colours blend well. It has hand crafted artifacts and collectibles from all over Africa. This helps in diversity and capturing the essence of all countries in the lovely African continent. Its location is also a major factor to its uniqueness. It is located along the United Nations headquarters. It is located 25km from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. It has 137 guest rooms and suites. the suites extend this level of luxury and offer unparalleled level of class . Inside the colours are earthly to evoke a cool atmosphere. The ambience of this place is amazing. The hotel also has a spa, The Kaya Spa, to ensure that guests relax.

 It also has the following facilities, a well stocked library with thousands of books, a well stocked bar, a heated pool surrounded by falls and gardens and a jiko restaurant. The in-house restaurant offers continental cuisine with an African touch.It is open for lunch and dinner from 6.30am to 11.00pm .The lounge is open from 6.30am to 12.00midnight.The types of food that they offer are grilled meat, vegetables, pasta, pastries. Next to the house there is the village market.

I loved their food. Here are a few pictures to whet your appetite. for more information check out their facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tribehotel  and their website http://www.tribe-hotel.com/

Beetroot and crab leg, pickled beets, cherry tomatoes, lemon vinaigrette

The perfect burger for a Saturday lunch!

 Pan-fried duck breast, pancetta layered potatoes and orange zest

 

Chocolate mousse cake, homemade vanilla bean ice cream

 

Fettuccine, cherry tomato sauce, fresh basil.

House smoked salmon, viking salt, onion marmalade and horseradish

 

Homemade coffee macaroons

Chocolate chip meringues

Devil's chocolate muffins

 

 
Vanilla & strawberry cupcakes

photo credits. the tribe hotel

Enjoy...

WINE AND FOOD PAIRING FOR A COCKTAIL PARTY

You have this huge party coming up at the end of the week. Invitation cards have been sent out. This is a very important occasion and it will host very important people. You have been placed in charge of the wine and the recipe for that day. What do you do and what are the factors to consider?

Here is a small guide I prepared on how to make sure that the food and wine department works hand in hand with other departments like sound, decor to ensure a spectacular cocktail event.

You must consider the number of invited guests, who are they, what is their age bracket and what class do they belong to. You don’t expect to serve cheap and generic wine to V.I.P’s.

How long will the event last. With all this in mind you can approximate the average glasses per person per night and the amount of food you need to prepare. When it comes to food ensure that the food is in sizeable/divisible parts which are standard. For example kebabs and quesadillas are a great idea to serve in such events. Meaty snacks, salads and dips are also great for a cocktail party. Since the event will be invite only you won’t have to deal with surprise guests who will run out the food.

credits.123rf.com

Another very important tip is to ensure that you serve at least two vegetarian meals like fruit salads and garden salads to accommodate any vegetarians who might be in attendance. You should offer some low fat foods for those watching their weight. Choose a few dishes that can be made /ordered way ahead of the party to avoid last minute rushes and badly done food. Garnish the platers or trays that you will use to serve the guests. It makes it attractive.

Here is a guide to tell you what food and wine to pair.

If you are serving any food with shrimp you can serve the following wine: Frascati, Sauvignon Blanc, Grüner Veltliner .If the food you plan to serve is in an acidic sauce like tomato sauce or vinegar look for wine that is acidic. Acidic food should be paired with acidic wine. Foods go well with the wines they grew up with. For example if you are serving Italian food serve Italian wine. If the food is full flavoured like tuna fish serve with full flavoured wine like Chardonnay. Here is a table that makes the work easier.

WINE&FOOD PAIRING CHART

FOOD	WINE
CHICKEN IN A CREAM SAUCE	CHARDONAY, FULL WHITE BURGUNDY
FRIED CHICKEN	SAUVIGNON BLANC, CHARDONNAY, VINHO VERDE
ROAST CHICKEN	CHARDONNAY, WHITE BURGUNDY
CHICKEN SPICY/SMOKY	CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ROAST TURKEY	CHARDONNAY, PINOT NOIR, RED BURGUNDY, VINHO VERDE
DUCK AND OTHER BIRDS LIKE QUAIL	PINOT NOIR, RED BURGUNDY
ROASTED/GRILLED BEEF	SAUVIGNON, MERLOT,CABERNET,MALBEC, RED BORDEAUX,SHIRAZ, ZINFANDEL
BEEF IN SAUCE	CHATEAUNEF-DU-PAPE, CABERNET SAVIGNON,MALBEC, SHIRAZ,ZINFANDEL
BEEF IN ACIDIC/VERY SPICY SAUCE	CHIANTI, BARBERA, SANGIOVESE
LAMB	BAROLO,NEBIBIOLO, BAROLO
FISH IN RICH SAUCE	CHARDONNAY
MILD FLAVOUR FISH IN LEMON SAUCE	SAUVIGNON BLANC, VINHO VERDE
SALMON FISH	PINOT NOIR, PINOT GRIS, BURGUNDY,CHARDONNAY
CAVIAR	DRY CHAMPAGNE
GREEN VEGETABLES	CHABLIS, CHARDONNAY
MUSHROOMS/POTATOES	PINOT NOIR
TOMATOES	SAUVIGNON BLANC, BEAUJOLAIS, RIOJA, VALPOLICELLA,CHIANTI
APPLE BASED DESSERTS	SAUTERNES
CHOCOLATE	BRANCHETTO D’ACQUI, ASTI SPUMANTI, MUSCAT

 Credits https://www.facebook.com/TheNairobiWineGallery, http://www.foodandwinepairing.org/wine_pairing_board

photo credits.the Nairobi wine Gallery

WHERE TO SHOP FOR GREAT WINE IN NAIROBI

If you have a heart for wine and you are looking for where to get that bottle of great wine to serve for a very important dinner or for yourself, look no further. These are the areas to get great wine in Kenya. As a wine aficionado, I can vouch for them.

CHANDARANA SUPERMARKET

This is located in 3^rd floor, 197 Lenana Place, Lenana road. One can order online from their websitehttp://www.chandaranasupermarkets.co.ke and there is a secure online ordering system. You can also go personally and check what they have from their portfolio. The minimum order is 1000kshs and there is free delivery in Nairobi. For example a classic wine like the Moet & Chandon Brut, Champagne, France retails for 6,395kshs. The Sky Vodka and Sky Blue Vodka are 1,195kshs.

MIA WINES INTERNATIONAL

Mia Wines and Spirits International are leading importers of Fine Wines and Champagnes. Their portfolio consists of 300 different wines from South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Spain, Germany and France. Examples of the wines that they sell are Nicolas Feuillate Champagne and Chateau Talaud from France, Mara Wines, Springfield Estate, Juno, Goats Do Roam from South Africa
The Sadie Family Wine, The Chocolate Block and Ken Forrester, Blue Nun Wines from Germany and Santa Carolina from Chile. For deliveries one simply emails them at sales@miainternational.co.ke  .Payments are made via Mpesa and they have free deliveries in Nairobi.

WINES OF THE WORLD WINE BAR AND SHOP
These are located on the ground floor, The Junction in Lavington. I recently visited this place. They have a wine shop and even have a wine tasting room. They have a lounge area with nice furniture that help you relax as you sip your wine. They have a vast cabinet of wines and spirits collection and it is one of the best I have seen. There are over a100 types and selections of wine. A glass of quality wine retails from as low as 350kshs onwards depending on the type.

COMMON NIGHT CLUBS, BARS AND LOUNGES
Most of the clubs in the city have wine in their counter. Though most may stock beer, vodka and other quick selling types of alcohol, most actually sell good wine. Examples of clubs that have a good wine portfolio are Waka Waka Bar, Resturant and night club, Tribeka, Skyluxx lounge, Club Sylk and Galileos club among others.

KENYA WINE AGENCIES (KWAL)
They have great brands in their portfolio that are locally made and distributed .Their wines are Highlife fortified wine, Kingfisher, Highlife medium sweet, Yatta wines, Rocamar caprice and Black tower.

WINES AND SPIRITS SHOP
There are wines and spirits shop in every town. These are small shops that are owned by individuals. One can browse through their brands. Although it is hard to get all brands there, one can order and they can get it from the various distributors.

SUPERMARKETS
Some supermarkets have an alcohol section and one is likely to get wine there. Examples of these supermarkets are Nakumatt and Chandarana Supermarkets.

credits- hometown-pasadena.com

credits www.fivepoints bottleshop.com

Whether you decide to shop online for your wine or you decide to look for it yourselves. You will most probably get your brand of choice in the above spots. Im still looking for other great bargains which ill share with you.

ABOUT THIS BLOG THE JOURNEY

For five years I have been scouting for information on wine, whisky, gin and great food in Kenya. I have looked for information on great websites from different countries, social media and even talked to great food and wine enthusiasts. Closer home, the details are not so defined. A few blogs have been started and Kenyans are getting information on where to shop for wine and food, how to prepare food and cocktails, and events. I couldn’t get all the information on sites and I had to do a lot of research on my own.

The FOOD&WINE Review will focus on the following drinks. alcoholic drinks like premium whiskies, gin, premium vodkas, premium wines and spirits, other wine, great fruit juices, energy drinks and other accompaniments. It will also focus on great food.

We will highlight the various hotels, clubs and stockists of these items. We will also keep you abreast with events that revolve around food and wine.

EVENT ALERT:THE ‘LOVE WHISKY’ FESTIVAL KENYA

KBL Kenya Breweries Limited unveiled a festival in East Africa. This is a drive to increase the sales dubbed the  ‘Love Whisky Festival’ .The Nairobi Klub house(k1) hosted the 1^st Love Whisky Festival. The event was targeted at East Africans and the theme of the night was ‘Whisky is Vibrant’. This sought to open up people to the idea that whisky is not only a drink for the men in bars but it is a lifestyle drink that should be enjoyed in the right way.

The event focused on Scottish whiskies and the way to mix and drink it. I am very new to whisky and I am hoping to learn a lot in terms of how to drink it. I wanna savour all the tastes and try different cocktails and mixes.

The range of whiskies in this events’ portfolio are;

1.       Scotch whisky-Johnnie Walker(Red Label)

2.       Irish Whisky-J&B

This is the events calendar;

21^st November-The Norfolk Hotel.

22^nd November-Karen country club.

29^th November-Electric Avenue.

22^nd November-Carnivore.

The following are the amazing photos from the event. The photos are uploaded with permission from Love Whisky. You can check out their page https://www.facebook.com/LoveWhiskyKenya.

Enjoy.

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

Enjoy.

EVENT ALERT: THE NAIROBI FINE WINE SHOW

The tickets will be 3200 including all the wine you can taste and some bitings. Ticket on sale now at Southern Sun reception and pre-booking through m-pesa is available too. The date for this event is Saturday  30^th November 2013.It is organized by Five Star Wines and Nicci Pain who is the owner of SA Cigar club.

Check out the page here https://www.facebook.com/pages/Five-Star-Wines

Below is the poster for the event;

ENJOY YOUR FOOD&WINE

YOURSTRULY

JEAN

WINE REVIEW:DROSTDY HOF S.A WINEMAKERS COLLECTION

Drostdy-Hof is a range of South African wines that stems from the true Cape tradition of creating proud wines since 1804. The cradle of this famous wine is the fertile and temperate Tulbagh Valley in the cape fields. This haven was discovered by the Dutch and these fields yielded the best wines. Each bottle is made according to standards and tradition that has been passed on over centuries. Think of a secret recipe. It is due to this that this wine has its distinctive taste.

Today I’m reviewing and appreciating the South African wine portfolio. We have three different ranges: the winemaker’s collection, standard range and the light range. In this range have managed to taste Merlot and Pinotage. I got them at a wines and spirits outlet in Kahawa Wendani, Nairobi area. Here’s my take on the Merlot. I am still burgeoning in this wine tasting journey and I have a journal where I document every detail however sketchy. Merlot was deep red almost maroon and it reminded me of blueberries and strawberries. It left a certain aftertaste in my mouth. Some woody taste. Pinotage was the same only purple in colour. It had a more defined taste of berries, very distinct. I was doing this wine tasting alone so I didn’t get a second opinion or expert advice.

In the Winemakers collection:

 ADELPRACHT( Available in 750ml)

COLOUR-Brilliant light straw with yellow and golden tinges.

NOSE-Tropical fruit with nuances of overripe berries.

TASTE-Full bodied with intense fruit flavours and a lingering aftertaste.





( Available in 750ml)

COLOUR-Pale green with golden hues.

NOSE-Aromas of citrus and tropical fruit, supported by a spicy finish.

TASTE-Smooth in texture with well integrated melding of fruit and wood.




MERLOT( Available in 750ml)

COLOUR-Dark red with lighter edges.

NOSE-Strawberries and mulberries with a hint of vanilla.

TASTE-Rich and juicy with lots of berries and slightly tannic aftertaste.






PINOTAGE ( Available in 750ml)

COLOUR-Deep purple.

NOSE-Delicate berry fruit with palms and vanilla

TASTE-Medium bodied with a distinctively berry aftertaste.




SAUVIGNON BLANC( Available in 750ml)

COLOUR-Light green.

NOSE-Tropical fruit with green pepper and a hint of grassiness..

TASTE-crisp with lingering aftertaste.


CABERNET SAUVIGNON( Available in 750ml)

COLOUR-Ruby red.

NOSE-aromas with berries and prunes.

TASTE- medium bodied with a ripe, warm frutiness and soft tannins.





Enjoy your food and wine.

Yours truly Jean

For more information, Visit Drodstdy Hofs official website http://www.drostdywines.co.za/




Image credits: www.roseu.be, winetimes.co , www.uchumi.com , www.africashome.com.au, homemag.co.za , http://www.weinschenker.nl