Out of an African Kitchen: Recipes and Stories

Hotelier and guest lodge owner extraordinaire Nicky Fitzgerald poses the question, ‘How can you possibly feed guests who, when they are not on safari, are eating in the best restaurants on the planet?’ As she goes on to say, ‘It is a daunting challenge to prepare food in the middle of nowhere for guests who come from all four corners of the world, from different culinary cultures and who, quite rightly, expect the best of the best when it comes to choosing where to stay for their next holiday.’

 

Angama Mara not only rose to the challenge, it has exceeded it. Perched on the edge of the Great Rift Valley overlooking Kenya’s lovely Maasai Mara, Angama Mara and its bush kitchen draws inspiration from the finest ingredients to be found in Kenya: beautiful vegetables from the highlands, tropical fruits a-plenty from the coast, cheese from a renowned supplier just outside of Nairobi, prawns from Malindi, freshwater fish from Lake Victoria and beef from the north. As you will discover as you read this book, Kenyan cuisine is deeply influenced by Arab-inspired Swahili dishes from the coast and Indian food from the significant communities that have called this country home for many generations. Aren’t your taste buds dancing with delight at the very thought?

 

This quirky anthology of recipes, reminiscences, anecdotes and stories was compiled and written in honour of the chefs at Angama Mara, and its guests who made the dream possible. The food and the breathtaking scenics were photographed by Sam Linsell, herself a well-known food stylist, food and travel photographer, and cookbook author.

 

Contents: Our story; Our good neighbours; At the lodge; Proudly Kenyan; In the Shamba; A touch of the Mediterranean; On the Out of Africa kopje; Picnics on safari; From somewhere in the Middle East; In the Maasai boma; More than a touch of India; At the forest barbecue; Meet the chefs; Say it in Swahili; What to cook?; Index.