Nairobi Eats

Corrine and I have made a fun routine of waking up with the sun (jet lags fault but I don't mind), relaxing for a few hours in the morning, and then walking or running the mile or so to the YaYa center where we have found a tasteful Java house. It seems to be a popular place for Americans and other tourists to get breakfast, or pastries or even milkshakes and lunch. We have learned tipping is not really a thing here and we can get a good coffee for 2-3,00 schillings. Everything is pretty inexpensive here. 

Brunch at J's

By Oyana's suggestion we have eaten at (and gone back to) J's Fresh Bar and Kitchen in the Westlands for both brunch and lunch. It's an adorable hip restaurant with outdoor seating encircled in hanging plants and succulents, with great background music, friendly staff, and DELICIOUS food. I was especially excited by their fresh passion juice I had with my avo smash brunch of two poached eggs with feta and coriander on a rocket (which is like arugula that I unfortunately had to pick off) all on sourdough bread. YUM. 

Lamb, sweet potatoes, and veggies
with mint sauce and fresh passion juice

Here we befriended our waitress Pheobe that we were happy to have on both visits and also made friends with a local couple of transplants who awkwardly saw us reading our lonely planet book at the table. She, a midwife from Belgium, runs her own busy private practice here so I obviously had to pick her brain a little. I found out it took her over a year for her licensing to be approved, and another three months of essentially free work to prove that her practice was up to code in Kenya..she said it was ridiculous but now is obviously happy she did so. She had fallen in love with her man in Nairobi 6 years ago traveling and has been here since, how romantic is that!

We have also gone out for incredible Indian food. Our books, locals, and Oyana suggested this place Open House (also in Westlands) thar definitely lived up to our expectations. We went home with full bellies of garlic naan and chicken Tika masala. 

The grocery store in itself has been a cultural experience. We've found a loaf of bread for about $1, avocados the size of mangos (huuuuge), local beers and spirits sold in a separate room, and produce that is weighed and priced by a grocer before going to check out. I was pleasantly surprised and excited to find a fair amount of health foods from almond milk to gluten free products. Although I stuck with soy milk to add to my coffee in the mornings because a smaller box of almond milk costs about $6 (!) compared to $2. We have also gotten in a habit of buying cokes in the afternoon for about 50 cents... in 85 degree weather, after lots of walking, for some reason nothing sounds better than paired with something salty! In the same mall as the grocery store I've also found a yogurtland equivalent... unfortunately not cheaper than in the states.  

Roadside fruit stand

    

We plan to try a roof top bar called Sakara later today and possibly make it to downtown to the KICC building for a 360 view of the city. Corrine has also been dying to get her hair braided, something that could be very convenient for Kilimanjaro next week. Just a few days left here in Nairobi...