#ILoveMondays: Lunching in Lamu
Hey Foodies,
OMG! It feels like it’s been 8 years since us guys had a chat! Do you guys feel the same? I hope so coz I have missed you guys so darn much. How have you been? What have you been eating? I have been ok. Well kinda…….. it’s been a hectic couple of weeks. Hard actually is the word not hectic. Kaz of Kathy’s Kitchen told us about Mars and God knows which planet not being aligned and being the cause of all the chaos in the last few weeks but apparently that has passed so I am looking forward to better days.
Before my hiatus I promised you guys a couple of posts about my Lamu holiday last month and though this might be a little long overdue I will still deliver. I hope you have already read about The Lamu Food Fest and The places we went to have dinner. If not just click the links. They are interesting reads, I promise.
Lamu was such a dream I really hope you guys put it in your to visit list. While you are there here are a few places you can go for lunch or just to have some juice and chill.
Whispers Garden
I know it’s kinda weird for something in Lamu to be called garden but it is a very cool, literally, it’s a place with an outside sitting area with some greenery. Large leafy trees that create a sort of breeze in the area. The café is owned by Baraka Galanie, an Australian Kenyan who has lived in Kenya for 26 years! For Baraka Kenya is home. She had such interesting stories about how she dreamed of the name Baraka as a child before she even knew what it meant and what life had in store for her and she then made people call her that. Later, when she began to travel the name made sense to her. She has lived in the Middle East, North Africa and eventually Kenya all places where Baraka had a meaning.
We went to Whispers with Gatuiri of leotunapika.com we first stopped by Baraka Gallery where she sells jewellery and clothes from all over Africa and a few items from outside of Africa.
At the café we had 2 milkshakes.
Gatuiri had a coconut milkshake which was just ok. We expected it to be more coconutty especially because we are in the coast and coconuts are in abundance. But they used store bought coconut ice cream so the flavour was not well developed .
I had a mango and ice cream that was tasty but again not enough mangoes. It is a breath of fresh air though having something different from the normal in Lamu and I would definitely go back. She had an array of cakes and juices so if you are ever in the area do stop by.
Lamu Palace Hotel
Located in Lamu at the sea front this was the 1st place we went for lunch and the 1st place we had an awesome meal in Lamu.
The reception of the restaurant was good. They were attentive and tried to get us settled. They then handed over a “free lunch” menu and told us that nothing else was available. It was quite limiting so we began to leave but one of the managers came and we explained why we were leaving. Turns out the waiter had not bothered to ask whether we were paying for our meal or not.
Anyway from then we were treated very well. They moved our table outside.
The food was amazing I had Fish Lamu which was grilled white snapper marinated in lime and served with a creamy chilli sauce that was absolutely out of this world.
Other dishes on the table were grilled fish which had no sauce
and Fish Meurnier which was also amazing the sauce was similar to the Lamu but with butter
We also had the pizza polo and the seafood pizza that were quite good.
On average the food costs around Ksh 800 ($8)
Majlis
On the last day Gatuiri and I set out to go for breakfast then lunch. We decided to go to Manda island. Our dhow ride there was amazing. Lamu truly is a beautiful place. On arrival you just know that this will be a different experience. The beach is whiter the sea seems bluer hehe if that is even possible. Well this side of the archipelago is not inhabited by many people as there is no clean water or electricity so only the super rich live there. Perhaps the lack of many inhabitants is what gave the place a cleaner feel.
Anyway we arrived at Majlis, which is at the sea front and we were met by a not so friendly guard who showed us to the reception. Majlis was breathtaking. The waiters at the bar were so friendly. They told us where we’d be eating from and asked us if we wanted a tour of the hotel. Freddie, who is in charge of customer care, took us round. He was so patient and made sure we knew everything there was to know about the hotel.
It has 35 rooms and was started by Moccia an Italian in 2008. It was actually his home before he passed away in 2010 in a car crush when his sons took over and made it into a hotel. They have some pretty nice rooms. I would love to stay there someday.
You can also go there just to swim and they only charge Ksh 500 ($5) per person for swimming.
For Lunch I had a seafood platter that had octopus, red snapper and prawns
Gatuiri had the red snapper.
We both enjoyed our meal and felt very sad that we discovered it on the last day. If you ever find yourself in Lamu this is a place you must visit.
I still have a few more posts for Lamu so be on the look out.
4 Comments
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Wangeci June 13, 2016 at 8:06 PM
lovely post
Lyra Aoko June 13, 2016 at 9:08 PM
Take me baaaccckkkkk!!!!
Laurah Mugeha June 14, 2016 at 11:43 AM
Seems like a really nice place.
lydz June 14, 2016 at 7:45 PM
Oh thank God comment section working:) Take me with yo next time Wangeci:)
http://lydzcrowningglory.blogspot.co.ke/