SECRET GARDEN

Hello people, I am back after a long time to share my experiences in the eating world. I guess I have lost enough weight to allow me to eat out again...hehehe!! Onto the first restaurant I visited recently.

Secret Garden is a restaurant located in 14 Riverside Drive, Nairobi. I had heard a lot about this restaurant from friends, so when I got the opportunity to go...I decided why not!

 I guess it is called Secret Garden because it seems tucked away in this office park. It has indoor and outdoor seating. We opted for outdoor. It was quite busy and only one table was available. Lots of people seemed to be having their lunch meetings.

We got down to business right away. I ordered the sweet pork chops, please note that the waiter confirmed my order before going to the kitchen. My friend ordered the chicken. Once again our very friendly waiter read the order back to us.

Food was on our tables in 15 minutes. I looked at my food, very aesthetically put on my plate. However, I wondered since when pork looked like this; but I was hungry so I kept my mouth shut.

The lamb chops

 

Chicken

 

Tasting my "pork", it tasted just like nyama choma. I thought perhaps my senses had gone kaput. So I forced my friend to taste it. After almost eating half my plate, he agreed with me that it was not pork at all, and there was nothing sweet about it. I called a different waiter who told me that I had been served lamb chops. He called the waiter who served us. Our dear waiter was baffled as to what I was complaining about as he was sure I had ordered the lamb chops. This mind you is the same waiter who read back my order to me to confirm he had written down the right thing. I asked him to check his notepad and hey presto!!!I had indeed ordered the pork.

So we had to wait 15 more minutes for the right order. Yes, I wanted what I wanted. If not that I was in good company, I am sure the diva in me would have come out!
So finally pork arrived. It was delicious. I really hadn't liked the lamb chops earlier, I felt they needed to be marinated more to give them flavor.The pork though was amazing. It was well cooked, tender, sweet but not too much.

Finally!!amazing pork.

We were too stuffed to have dessert though, so maybe next time.

Disappearing acts!!

Shame on me I know..........But guys I have a good excuse. Going to all these places, it seemed I just ate my way through....and well it started to affect my waistline. So......ehhhhhhh!!had to give some of these places a rest and watch what I was eating. Now I have to make healthier choices...goodness!!!Let's see how that goes. Post soon.


 

Portugal!!

I was in Lisbon recently and to be honest I am not much of a sightseer but my colleagues managed to drag me out. Went to a place called Castelo de S. Jorge. Gives you a good view of the city below.

 

After a good stroll round the castle, we went to a restaurant called Ja Disse at Bairro Alto. My colleagues were determined to have the sardines which apparently is really popular in Lisboa. I opted for the pork and beef...yes, yes....not very adventurous of me...but hey!!aren't the Portuguese known for their good meat?? I think the sardines were really good though, seeing as one of my colleagues had two orders.

Some bread pudding kind of thing with shrimp!!lol!!don't rem the name but it tasted better than it looks:-)

 

Villa Beach Restaurant

Villa Beach Restaurant is one of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel restaurants. Fantastic place to just have a casual lunch and enjoy the awesome views of the Burj Al Arab and the beachfront. Word of advise though...In this summer weather, please use the services of the buggy from the hotel to the restaurant. It is too hot and too far to walk.

When we got there we chose to seat indoors. I was definitely not brave enough to seat in 45degree weather...no matter how good the view is. We were shown to a table by the terrace doors...so all was not lost.

Our very attentive and friendly waiter gave us the menus. The food served is mostly Mediterranean but you can still have your steak and lamb chops if that's what you prefer. My date opted for the King prawn with French fries and I ordered the Angus beef tenderloin(medium done), with French fries and a bucks fizz while I waited for my meal.

 

 

 

 

 

Food was good, however, my steak was more medium rare than medium. Prawns were delicious..more queen than king though if I have to say so. We were too full to eat dessert and the conversation was so good that we lost track of time and they were already closing, so maybe next time I will give it a try.

Prices range from about AED 100 - 170 for the main course.

Would definitely try again. A romantic dinner this perhaps, where I can enjoy the outdoors and a meal on the beach.

I am back......

Hi guys,

I am sorry I haven't been blogging for awhile. Times have been crazy busy and laziness at times creeps in...sigh!
 I have loads of places to write about...so lets get to it.

Kami