Sweater Weather Adventures

Sanaa Jabeen

Sanaa is the editor of Yummy Magazine. In her column, you’ll get advice on new things you should be fangirling about.

Tribal Gallery

Bill Muganda (Kenyan Library)

NEW SPA AT THE ARBOR

Everyone knows and loves The Arbor, nestled in the heart of Lavington and almost always at the top of people’s recommended list. For years now, it’s been a stable and familiar environment for its fans- you know what to expect and that’s that. But recently, The Arbor launched their new spa and massage section. They have taken their passion for wellness when it comes to food and space and turned it into a more holistic experience for customers. A few steps away from the restaurant is their massage parlour and a small section for nail care. By request, I was welcomed to try their 60-minute Swedish massage on a Friday afternoon and after a busy work week, I was glad for the chance. Full disclosure, I am not a fan of massages. Other than the price always being intimidating, I never feel as comfortable as people always say you’re supposed to feel. It’s usually so stressful for me and I would rather have a manicure. Having said that, I put aside my unease and gave The Arbor a try. First, I am the type of person to be comforted by the presence of food so the knowledge that I could have the massage then eat my feelings in less than 5 minutes made me feel much better. I needn’t have worried though. The space was beautiful and the team was lovely, talking me through the massage and making sure I was comfortable. The masseuse was kind enough to notice my discomfort and allowed me to share my thoughts on what I wanted and didn’t want. Safe to say, my tense shoulders felt exponentially better. The massage was soothing and more importantly for me, worth every penny. If you’re like me and want to relax BUT not spend too much money, The Arbor is your spot. And best of all, you can finish the experience with a happy dog to make you smile, plants everywhere and food!

NEW BAKERY AT PAN ASIAN YAO

Pan Asian Yao

Ekta Patel (NotJustAFoodieReview)

Pan Asian Yao and its affiliated chain of restaurants have been making a buzz in the Nairobi scene for months now and it doesn’t look like they’re about to stop! Their bakery recently launched and I had the honour of trying out most of their menu. We had cupcakes, customised cakes, special edition mandazi desserts and my favourite, blueberry tiramisu. My baking tour started with a sit down with the Chef who walked me through all the treats and the goals for Pan Asian Yao and future projects. Like most Chefs, Chef Rahul has a passion for reinvention and beauty in the somewhat absurd. His Mandazi treats are proof of this: Chocolate filled Mandazi’s and caramel flavoured ones? Yup! He’s got them all! And, unlike the Tiramisu you and I usually have, his team have done a retelling of the classic dessert by creating their own version of ladyfingers and adding blueberries for an extra twist of flavour. For now, the items from the bakery are only available at Pan Asian Yao but will be available at Nyama Mama’s soon.

BRUNCH AT RADDISON

Raddison Blu in Upper Hill is, for me, the equivalent of a dreamscape. Thriving orchids in every corner, an interior that had to be designed by an artist and restaurants that make you proud to be there. Chophouse and Larder are a sight to behold but my focus, for now, is the Sunday Brunch at Larder. I am a breakfast person but slowly, brunch is growing on me. If you spend enough time with me, you’ll know my biggest complaint about restaurants and brunch here is that options are lacking. Menu’s start to blur together and I miss the surprise of actually having a meal with a story, not just for show but because it tastes good! When I went for the Sunday Brunch at Raddison, I fully expected the usual spread and that would be that. I was wrong. I was greeted by the usual spread, yes, BUT I was also introduced to eleven food stations, each with their own unique offering. Now, maybe you’re like me and worry sometimes when presented with so many options because a little voice in the back of your head is wondering ‘Can they all keep their standard of quality?’ The answer? Yes, they can. And you can see it in the way Executive Chef walks up and down the stations, speaking to every chef and tasting the meals as he walks by. Even the General Manager was present to make sure everything was going fine. I walked through all the stations, twice! Each Chef at the stations took me through their meals and believe it or not, my first meal of the brunch was the Traditional Mutton bone soup filled with pepper. It was delicious and led me to my next choice: Mahamri and Barazi. And then, Shawarma. And then Taco’s. I also sneaked in a few Chicken Lollipops from the kid’s station and finally, ended my brunch trip with naan and paneer from the Indian station. The brunch was definitely unique and being surrounded by people who looked as curious and happy as I was, I had the sense that this is probably why brunch is becoming ever so popular. I salute the Radisson team for their unique brunch menu and recommend it to all of you who are in for a slightly different brunch with an obviously passionate team. If you’re lucky, you’ll find that peppery soup that is still on my mind!

KOREAN DINNER AT TRIBAL GALLERY

Tribal Gallery

Bill Muganda (Kenyan Library)

I am lucky to have been to fairytale land. A land of yellow lights, enchanting entrances, winding staircases, surprises in every corner, candlelight, fireplaces and a balcony of dreams with beautiful furniture, a setting reminiscent of a painting. I have been here and you’ll be amazed it’s only a cab ride away. I am speaking of the elusive Tribal Gallery and it’s special Korean dinner - A unique, hidden secret of a dinner hosted at the Tribal Gallery in Loresho. The gallery is run by Louise and is a place of wonderful art and furniture, specially handpicked by it’s curator. And once in a while, Louise will invite cooks to run her kitchen and the gallery will open for a few guests, just for one night to wine and dine in the most intimate setting of carefully organized table settings, printed menu cards and perfectly placed fireplaces. The night began with my ogling and then an introduction to Louise, a Scottish woman who used to be a humanitarian and is now dealing in art. Her accent made me want her to never stop talking and her friendliness made me feel at home. My staff writer and I sat in one of the cosiest rooms with strangers and enjoyed wine and a 6-course Korean meal prepared by a mother and daughter duo Kyung ah Lee and Young ah Choi- the mother being the holder of traditional dishes that inspire a tradition of expressing love through food and lives on through her daughter. Each meal was rich and an adventure for me, and the night ended with the last of our dessert at the balcony, covered in pashmina shawls wishing we never had to leave, over lazy conversation with Louise and her friend Paola. The dinner was an experience I am probably never going to forget and I hold that night in my heart as a treasured memory. If you think I am exaggerating (I am not) I encourage you to follow them online and wait for news on the next dinner. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Pan Asian Yao

Ekta Patel (NotJustAFoodieReview)

MUGG & BEAN AT SARIT

The new phase 3 of Sarit has opened up and with it comes a new foodie experience! One of these is the new Mugg and Bean branch that is the second branch for them (The first being at Village Market). The new branch is located right opposite Carrefour and has been designed industrial style for a chic but warm look. The new spot will have more seating space for you to sit and indulge in your meal as well as a kids corner equipped with PlayStations. For people like me who carry laptops everywhere, there are sockets located strategically and their menu is unique enough to warrant a couple of visits a month just to see which meal is your favourite. They just opened so go have a look and enjoy! P.s: They also have a section where you can keep your trolleys while you wait, where has that been all my life?!