LE PALANKA: FINE AFRICAN-CHIC DINING & CUISINE.

DISCLAIMAER: my friends; Bettina and Ms. Moradewun told me to put a disclaimer that this restaurant was suggested to us by graffiti artists; Swift-9 and Smokey from PAWA254; who also happened to have done the graffiti art there…

September is here! Back in august; I and a couple of my friends from USA did a great cuisine tour of the new and swanky Le Palanka restaurant in Lavington.

The two ladies; both professors back in the states were in town on a research mission about media integration with arts. Both of them are great diners; foodies and they love African cuisine.

Therefore; thanks to the graffiti artist and up magazine; Le Palanka was a great place since they are all about upgrading the African cuisine.

Talk about The Palanka tradition pot that has the goat stew (Kenya); jollof rice (Nigeria); yasso chicken (Senegal) and Okra beef (Ghana).

The menu is not just about ugali and sukuma wiki but also dishes from Cameroon and Senegal among other African countries.

The meals are presented in an haute cuisine version. From grill sessions; desserts; palanka tapas to the starters.

Rarely in my restaurant reviews do I direct to talk about interior designs but for this joint I will make an exception. The décor sets the right mood for you to experience the authentic dishes.

The manager filled us in as he took us through the different rooms of the premises. What a tour it was! Designed by 30- year old Sirg Ndoume; the Cameroon interior designer did this place a great justice by giving it a befitting setting to accompany its high end delicious African food.

The design, taste and style is classy and it clicks on every way- with minimalist interior; with fine art and costume design lighting in different coloured rooms.

The design in all rooms and colours represent Africa the mama-land continent; hence providing a space to enjoy private; fine dining.

The furniture is sourced locally. The lights have drawings and the metal concept in them just does wonders; plus it is one of a kind. The green room was blow for me- with green walls; green curtains and a white dining table set. Add the great lighting and art- wooola! The look is complete.

The garden setting outside with water points is urban and contemporary. The restaurant walls re-live the portraits of great African heroes and you know what; Sunday is family day out with kids, bouncing castles are available too. Make reservations1

Will I go back to Le Palanka? I am already planning to! Highly recommended.

-for bookings to Le Palanka; email contact@lepalanka-nairobi.com or check www.lepalanka-nairobi.com

VINNY’S KITCHEN: ARE YOU NAIROBI’S NEXT KING OF BURGERS?

BY EMBUKANE VINCENT LIBOSSO AND MARK NYAMASWA.



June’s Up Magazine had a great story for the foodies that I feel it would be great to share

today on Vinny’s Kitchen; because we are all just about that…food! Food! And food!

Mark Namakwa pieced- Mikul Shah, Entrepreneur and CEO at Eat Out Kenya; literally ate his

way to a new title on his business card- “The King of Burgers.”

Taking part in Brew Bistro’s; Build Your Own Burger (BYOB) challenge, Mikul trumped

Capital’s FM Susan Wong by devouring 5.3 Kg of burger in only one hour.

As the showdown took form; it quickly dawned on the two competitors that the burger

wasn’t going to be an easy challenge and the two seasoned foodies went to the battle taking

different routes; Mikul starting with the burn before the patty; while Susan tackled the patty

head on.

They both took a short hiatus to admire the onion rings as they allowed the burger time to go

down easy. Soon the battle went on, at some point Mikul remarked, “I feel like my food pipe

has become my stomach!”

After the arduous hour-long task; the two contestants were rendered immobile. Susan could

not even sit up straight.

Chef Tim’s burger remained invincible; but Mikul Shah won by the virtue of eating 350 grams

more than Wong.

If you feel like you have the guts and appetite to take the king title of the burger; join the

Brew Bistro team; every Tuesday evening for the ultimate BYOB CHALLENGE; while Dj Andre

will be playing soulful tracks on the decks to help your food settle well and easily.

-to be registered into the BYOB CHALLENGE; contact Eat Out on +254 (0) 713-328-688 or call

Brew Bistro and Lounge +254 (0) 719- 648 138.

Brew Bistro is located on the first floor of Piedmont Plaza, Ngong Road.

NAIROBI’S OKTOBERFEST 2013: BEER, MUSIC, ACTION!

The 203rd  Oktoberfest is upon us- one of the most anticipated and exciting calendar events!

Beer lovers all over the country and the world are indeed raring to go. Oktoberfest is a

sixteen day festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany and which runs from late

September to the first weekend in October. It is the world’s largest fair, with more that 5

million people attending every year.

Only beer brewed within the city limits are allowed to be served during the festival and the

beer brewed is significantly stronger (5.8 to 6 per cent) compared to the normal German

beer.

And in keeping with this tradition in Nairobi; Brew Bistro will brew its premium beers that

are guaranteed to satiate the fussiest beer aficionados. With as many as five foaming mugs in

each hand and buxom waitress in colorful Bavarian costumes; pushing through the crowds,

and keeping a steady stream of cold beer flowing from the barrels, the event promises

nothing but fun.

We, like our German counterparts, enjoy a cold beer and fortunately for us; The Big Five

Breweries are throwing us our very own Oktoberfest party at the Brew Bistro Lounge.

With premium beers on tap; as well as a wholesome German food, it is set to be a sure hit. Be

sure to also try the tried and tested Big Five stalwarts such as Nyatipa; a well-rounded bitter

with an ideal hand of foam and the classic golden blonde simplis; with a complex yet well

balanced malty character.

Live entertainment is on the menu! Live entertainment will be on site to soundtrack

festivities, so grab your lederhosen and a stein and make your way to an epic night in

celebration of good beer.

NAI NI WHO SHOWCASES THE ART OF CYRUS KABIRU…

August 3^rd saw the grand finale of the Nai Ni Who festival; but with its end; it has left many talk on the lips of Nairobi’s urban crowd.

When the festival touched the Lavington area; one man was exposed through this. A painter; creator of shades and a sculptor; Cyrus Kabiru who has a spacious studio at the quiet Kuona Trust premises allowed the public to don his famous c-stunners shades that are made from found objects and recycled materials.

“When I was young; I was the best toy maker. I grew up with thrown bottle tops. But still I think of myself as a painter first;” he is quoted as having said this to Up Magazine writer; Anyiko Owoko.

Cyrus is the man behind the retro-funky shades dubbed the C-STUNNERS; which have earned him recognition worldwide.

In 2010; he won an award for innovative thinking at the Maker Faire Africa competition. Then come 2011 and he was among a select choice of African artists interviewed for a MTV AFRICA documentary on creative people across Africa.

Kabiru notes, “Every one of my glasses is a limited edition with a title and a story behind it.”

-see the pics here-https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.652894254728745.1073741863.609419172409587&type=3

ALL HAIL FIRST YEAR STUDENTS:

BY EMBUKANE VINCENT LIBOSSO

I

f you are reading this piece and you are a first year student; then you made it to campus. I wanted to do apiece that you as a first year will treasure and remember too since this will be your first Involvement issue.

New blood is ushered into campuses all year round. If there is anything any student remembers for life; it’s the day they were admitted to college. For me; when I landed my admission letter to Daystar; on the eve of the orientation week; I did not find any sleep.

I am sure it was the same with you, if not worse- thoughts lingering your mind; anxiety kept you insane as happiness takes the better of you.

For some; of course they had done “research” from rather unreliable sources about campus life and studies among others and thought; this will surely be a breeze.

Then came the orientation week. Accompanied by their parents; they arrived in style; pomp and color, some as early as 5 am; a time reserved only for a Kenyan voter! Our parents (God bless their hearts); as much as offices are opened at eight (Kenyan/African time of course); parents choose to start their journey early in fear of being late.

After successfully being admitted; a four year journey starts for this student who knows what lies ahead- or he thinks he does? For public universities; a Freshers Bash” is organized to welcome the new students in style and where the older comrades: ponyoka with a fresher”. For Daystarians; song and dance fills the air for a Friday night romantic dinner; as dust is blown.

Usually, first year students are put in those hostels where they are oriented again by the older comrades.

Tracing lecture halls is usually a problem. Many realize when it’s almost too late that they have been attending wrong lectures and a few even sit for the wrong exams!

The first month is all about “ballin” at expensive dining joints since you have the finances after your village flocked to wish you well and give you a lot of money. It is not long enough though; before you become old; and the “honeymoon” season ends; and you are welcomed to the “masafaras” club.

These signs and symptoms are normal for a “fresher”; so do not worry. It takes long for a first year scholar to identify their course mates by names or faces, to write their registration numbers without referring from their school identification card (don’t worry, we all hate those I.D photos too); to master unit codes and equally takes the same amount of time to know a lecturer by name.

But this doesn’t last for too long. Acclimatization happens very fist and the girl or boy who walked with their head down is now the nosiest.

They know that exams are not a big deal and the biggest discovery of them all; Google! Once they know this is a bigger source than the library; they are ready for the world.

They also know that weekends should not be spent in the boring hostels and they know all the waiters at the “local” by name. They change their dress codes; no more long skirts; no more polo necks. They now embrace fashion with both hands.

To some; dating one boyfriend looks odd and village like. They learn that they can drink from two glasses and walk unnoticed. They master the art of skipping classes and showing up during exams. And after it all; they now graduate to older students and watch first year students take their baby steps in the jungle that is Kenya University.

-this story is inspired by a piece that appeared on Sunday Nation’s Buzz; Campo Sanity segment on May 5^th 2013.