Congratulations to UP Winners at Taste Awards!

Restaurant award programs like the recent Taste Awards are flawed. Someone gets left out, or judges have their own biases. That said, I am a foodie and a restaurant-goer. I live for food. And those who create the best culinary experiences should be acknowledged. The event at Tribe was well-designed (despite stage management teething problems) and was attended by a VIP cast of the local restaurant and bar scene.

Taste partnered with this magazine to introduce and present the people’s choice category for best culinary awards. It was a true public-voting system—something I can really get behind. Here’s what I have to say about the winners.

Best Mediterranean: Mediterraneo.

Don’t know if this category was made for these guys, but they deserve the recognition (making my personal top five in Nairobi). The other day I mealed on a divine Lamb Shank in fresh juniper sauce at the Westlands location. What imagination.

Best Indian: Open House.

For all the Sundays we order mutton biryani and kheema takeaway, I am glad for their victory here. They have the best flavours at the best value.

Best Asian: China Plate.

I didn’t see this coming. This is a very wide category that could have seen Zen Garden and/or Thai Chi at the top. Even so, China Plate has many fans, including me.

Best Continental/Grill: Tamambo. Best East African: Carnivore.

The Tamarind group really raked in the awards on the night. Tamambo is also in my personal top five. Steak. Chips. Dawa. Say no more. And who else does open flames and meat better than Carnivore?

Congratulations to all the winners.Worth noting is Tatu at Fairmont’s the Norfolk. Its Executive Chef, Hubert Des Marais (spotted at 1:00 a.m. after the awards program munching a Chicken Inn burger, because apparently no one really ate at the Taste Awards) won Chef of the Year. Chef Hubert is brilliant, and the award couldn’t have gone to someone more affable or talented. Well-done Nairobi. See you next year.

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