Happy Thanksgiving!

The original pilgrims celebrated their autumn harvest with a feast of thanks and gratitude. Thanksgiving is exactly that - a time to be thankful of what you have, a time to celebrate with friends and loved ones and for me and other shop-a-holics, "Black Friday" Sales!! I'm getting giddy just thinking of this:-)

This is my first Thanksgiving back in Kenya and I am definitely missing the buzz of activity that would be in my kitchen at this time. For a good number of years I was always the 'go-to' house and I loved trying out new recipes to wow my friends with. My menu always consisted of an 18Ib Turkey, Dressing, Sweet Potatoes, Mac 'n' Cheese, Creamed Spinach, Creamed Corn, Green Bean Casserole and Cranberry. In addition to that, I had other dishes that I had been trying to master throughout the year so that I could debut them at Thanksgiving. I loved the first smell indicating that the Turkey was really starting to roast, yelling at Jonathan to clean the house faster before the first guest arrived, hearing the first knock, spiking the hot cider and eating until we almost OD'd. Ahh the memories!

This year, I am there in spirit with all my friends and thankful for the years we all spent together. I have also passed on the baton to my friend, Kaka, and hopefully he will do me proud. Of course, I will be needing pictorial evidence that he actually did all the cooking. Happy Thanksgiving!

Savanna Coffee Lounge

 

Last week my brother and I we were driving past Nairobi Hospital, saw that the newest Savanna Coffee Lounge had opened up,on Ralph Bunche Rd, and made a mental note to check it out. This is Sasini Coffee House Limited's third installment of its kind in the city - the other locations are on Loita Street and Museum Hill. Sasini's vision is to put Africa on the map by opening a multitude of "African-themed coffee houses".

After a hard day of apartment hunting, Jonathan and I decided to make a pit stop at Savannah and find out what all the hoopla was about. As I walked through the black-stained wooden doors (Lamu style in my opinion) leading to the lounge, I was immediately greeted by the gentle "woosh" of water falling on rock and what do you know? There is a water feature on one side of the wall, which drowns the noise from the street and let's face it...the voices in my head. As I pull myself from the hypnotic lull of the water, I notice that the patio area is markedly bigger than the actual lounge. Airy - that is how I would describe the Savanna Coffee Lounge in one word. One of the waitstaff says hello as Jonathan makes for the lounge (he hates being in the elements) and I cannot imagine why anyone would want to sit inside when the patio is so open and inviting. The Parasols on each of the tables are burnt orange and nicely complement the earthy terracotta tiles on the patio floor. I did look inside the lounge and loved the chocolate brown leather loungers/sofas as well as the zebra patterned pendants that hung above the counter - not bad at all - kind of stuff I would want in my living room! I think that must be what they were going for - "inviting" - just like your own living room would be.

Even though we are here on a coffee break, I take the time to really look at the entire menu and can't help but wonder when I'll be back for a real meal. I ordered my regular poison of choice - black coffee, no sugar and a ginger cookie. Jonathan ordered the Masala Chai, which is a mix of Sasini Tea with selected spices brewed in hot milk (smelled heavenly and according to Jonathan it was really good). Savanna offers everything from Breakfast, Soups, Sandwiches, Salads, to Burgers, Grill and Main Courses from around the globe. For drink selections, think Icy Fruit Slushies in 8 different flavors, Milk Shakes, Frapes, Coffee Chillers, Iced Coffees/Tea, Mocktails (the lounge is non-alcoholic), Smoothies and Luscious Hot Chocolate (Dark/White). Let's face it, I'll have to come back quite often if I'm going to eat my way through this expansive menu! One menu offering I'm dying to sink my teeth into is listed under the "Quick Eats" part of the menu - Buffalo Croquette (Buffalo mozzarella mixed with potatoes seasoned with a dash of herbs, and crumb fried to a sunny gold. Served with a sweet tomato chilly dip). Mmhh, these little balls of melt-in-your-mouth goodness are just calling my name!!

While I was there, the board of directors was having a meeting and since I asked to take pictures, I got to meet some of the members as well as the Head of Operations, Mark Matthews, who struck me as a laid back kind of guy who lets the operation run without the power trip. He and his staff made me feel very welcome and this is a place I would be happy to recommend to anyone. There are three reasons (apart from the food) that will make me come back to this place - great customer service, use of local artisans for all labor/aesthetics and use of locally grown ingredients.

License to sound...

So yesterday Jonathan was picking me up in my mom's matatu (slang terms: mathree or jav if you are uptown) and he got pulled over in Kilimani. Evidently it wasn't the cops who wanted anything but rather the Music Copyright Society of Kenya. Jonathan asked the dude what the problem was and was informed that the radio in the matatu needed a license and unless he paid Ksh3150 he would not be able to drive the van. And get this, it is a yearly license so you have to pay this fee every year!!! The guy informed us that the information regarding this had already been gazetted and thus everyone was aware of these newly imposed charges. My mom's matatu is a private van for family use and the radio doesn't even work so when Jonathan asked whether he would still have to pay he was told yes. However, if you removed the radio from the van then you would not be subject to this crap. But, if you have a radio that doesn't work i.e produces NO sound, you still have to pay!

We decided to stop arguing and just paid the fee and got a sticker to add to the multitude of stickers already on the windshield. The guy who gave us the sticker and receipt couldn't even articulate why the "copyright" society was doing this. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't copyright the legal right to own original works such as the written word, audio, video etc??? So I'm not sure why a "radio" should be under the jurisdiction of MCSK. The guy who took the license fee said that we were paying to hear the sound (this is a direct translation from Swahili). In my earnest effort to get the real reason, I decided to call one of the 6 numbers on the MCSK receipt and wouldn't you know it, none of them went through. One number was missing a digit and the other ones were a combination of "could not dial this number" or "mobile subscriber had turned off the phone" and one other that just displayed a message on my phone stating "Not allowed". Jeez!

Oh and by the way, just down the street was a guy selling a whole bunch of pirated CDs and DVDs - the MCSK couldn't be bothered in the least about this type of copyright!

Obama campaign documentary in the works

I was web-prowling earlier today and came across this New York Times article about a documentary about the Obama presidential campaign. The documentary, slated for next Spring/Summer, is still in the works and has been picked up by HBO. Actor Edward Norton's Class 5 Films has been filming since 2004 and will continue to get footage until the Inauguration. These presidential campaign behind-the-scenes stuff is usually very exciting because you get to see the real person. In fact, I remember seeing Bush's "Journey's with George" and I remember being struck at how funny he was on the campaign trail - which was a far cry from the frown we always saw on TV. So, needless to say, I can't wait until the documentary is completed and distributed for mass consumption.

Price Check!

Walmart's profits rose 10% despite financial crisis but for the rest of us, things are not that rosy! In Kenya, we have already began to feel the pinch in our purses, gas prices are crazy (Ksh93.80 per litre) and the farmers have been fighting a drought then now flooding rains. What gives? At any rate, a couple people have been asking me about the cost of goods and so I wanted to share some of my receipts with you. If you click on the image, you can see a bigger version.

Congratulations to the 44th President of the United States

AMERICA, WE ARE PROUD OF YOUR VOTES. THANKS FOR STANDING UP FOR CHANGE. YES WE CAN!

Longest Day Ever

This has been the longest day ever! Forgetting that I was in a different hemisphere, I woke up early so I could start setting up my laptop on the various election trackers available out there. Well, Kenya is 8 hours ahead of the US (EST) and right now it's 11pm and that means it is only 3pm in the States. My index finger is numb from all the surfing I've done all day to get election news, my neck has a crook in it and I'm starting to see a whole lot of white spots! So, I'm going to sleep for like 3 or 4 hours and by that time, some of the polling stations will be closed/closing so I will probably see some action in terms of numbers on my trackers.

If you haven't voted, stop reading this blog and get your hiney to the polling stations!!!

Shelby - here is your DAWA!

 
Shelby and I met at The Home Depot where we were both active in The Women's Link (formerly WIN - Women's Initiative Network). She left depot for Coke and I left for Kenya. In September, shortly after I arrived, Shelby was in Nairobi on a business trip and we hooked up for dinner at Spurs - Mayfair and ate till our waist bands popped! However, Shelby had been to Carnivore the previous evening and had the pleasure of drinking "dawa" and gushed over how she would love to get her hands on the recipe! Shelby, this one's for you - hope it tastes the same as it did in the motherland:-)

(Courtesy of The Tamarind Group)
The famous Dawa cocktail was first introduced to Kenya at the Carnivore.
In Swahili, "Dawa" translates somewhere between medicine and magic potion. Under the African sun the "Dawa" is the drink chosen to rehydrate, refresh ones being and sharpen the taste buds.

Dawa Power!
A stimulating concoction guaranteed to raise anyone's spirits:
*2 tots Vodka
*1 table spoon sugar
*lime cut into quarters
*Crushed ice

Put lime and sugar into a whiskey glass and crush slightly, add the crushed ice and pour in the Vodka. Enjoy!

NOVEMBER 4 - GO OUT AND VOTE

Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the Obama Family for the loss of Obama's grandmother, after a battle with cancer. She was 86 and died in her sleep with Obama's sister at her side. In a statement, Obama said this about his grandmother:
"She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure." (CNN.com)

The entire world is watching the American elections today. In Kenya, lots of people have asked for today and tomorrow off. There is a huge election night party at "The Carnivore" and I'm sure it will be bananas! Since we can't vote, we are urging the American people to go out and cast their VOTE today. This is as historic a day as most of us are going to witness in this lifetime and boy am I proud to be alive. The fact that the whole world is so into this particular election speaks volumes of what HOPE and CHANGE can do. This election has touched everyone because the same "hope" and "change" we want to see in America, is the same as we would want in our own countries, in our own lives and for generations to come. The cornerstone of America depended on this as well - way back then when immigrants came to America looking for "hope" and "change". This is not a foreign concept (as painted by the opposition) and I'm hoping all Americans want to see a fresh, young and determined face as the leader of the most powerful country in the world!!! Let your voices be heard across the world! Vote for Change.