A Waiter Stands

A waiter stands. That is the first thing Francis tells me when I ask if we can take a seat for this particular interview. So I proceed with the interview standing.

     

1. How long have you been a waiter?

Close to two years now

       2.What do you like about your job?

I get to meet different types of people, learn something new everyday and of course it is my source of income

      3. Who is the most notable personality you have heard the pleasure of serving?

Oliver Mtukutzi

 4. What advice would you give to those who want to join the service industry?

One has to be jovial, humble, hardworking and love it. A guest will always be able to tell whether you are willing to serve them or not. Great service with a smile goes a long way   

       5. What is the common misconception people have waiters?

That it is a dead end job for uneducated people.  What people fail to realize is that it is a great starting point within in the hospitality industry. It is not unusual to hear of hotel general managers who began their career as waiters.

6. If you were to have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be?

     Julie Gichuru (media personality) – She cares a great deal about the country.

John Chege (former general manager of the Nairobi Safari Club) – He began his career as a kitchen steward

James Mwangi (Equity Bank CEO) – He can teach one a thing or two about success

Pope Francis - I like that he cares a great deal about the plight of the poor.

I leave the interview with a greater appreciation for a job that requires one to be on their feet all day. 

Thank you Francis

Travel Tips

Author Ciiku on her blog .http://beingmrsbabes.wordpress.com , offers practical tips on how to go about planing for your dream vacation.

Travelling.
"That is my life. If I could do it more often than we do, it would be awesome but I am pretty happy we do it as we do. And I am glad that I have the funnest travel companion because he makes it so much better. Even better is being married who enjoys travelling as much as I do.
So how do we do it?
Well, it is a combination of factors but one thing that is important is: we decided early on ONE BIG TRIP a year. The Honeymoon to Bangkok in 2011, Capetown/Jo’burg in 2012 and Dubai last year. Then we mix in the local (cheaper) travels throughout the year."

Read the rest of the article here: 
http://beingmrsbabes.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/travelling/#comment-3741

Our Valentine’s Day Chocolate Mousse Recipe

A little something from our Valentine’s Day dinner menu 

                                              Ingredients

                                                     Cooking chocolate (250g)

                                                Egg Yolk (75g)

       Egg White (75g)

      Running cream (50g)

Sugar (375g)

        Whipped Cream (500g)

Process

• Separate the egg whites from the yolk then set aside

• Whisk the egg white until it is puffy, and then add the sugar and mix well until you are able to form soft peaks. Set aside

• To melt the chocolate, break it up into small pieces and place in a small heat resistant bowl, in a large saucepan with water simmering over medium heat. Once melted, pour into a mixing bowl

• Add the yolks and then the running cream

• Once done, add the egg white and sugar and whipped cream, fold until all ingredients are mixed well using a spatula

• Spoon the mixture into the small glasses/ bowls, cover in cling film and refrigerate for at least three hours.

Everyone will love it!

Hilarious Origin of Names of Towns and Locations in Kenya

It is not often that you come across articles that give us a glimpse into history in such a fun way. This article by Kresearcher manages to do just that

Kenya is home to many trading centers and towns some with very interesting names, but have you ever thought of how the name of your town or village came about? Some of the names came about by what we can term as sheer coincidence and twists which are funny.

Dagoretti Corner: The place was originally known as “The Great Corner” and the Africans could not pronounce it correctly and the corrupted version became Dagoretti Corner which was directly from The Great Corner which has stuck to this day. The Great Corner was the site of the first airfield in Kenya; a patchy grass runway around the present Meteorological Department.

Enjoy reading the rest of the article here:

http://kenyanhistory.wordpress.com/2013/11/16/hilarious-origins-of-names-of-towns-and-locations-in-kenya/comment-page-1/#comment-78

Nairobi Nights

If you are photographer visiting Nairobi, the city offers wonderful views. Take for instance these wonderful pictures by professional photographer Steve Kitots on his blog: Confessions of a Fotographer.



Here is the link to Nairobi Nights
:http://stevekitots.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/nairobi-nights/

A day in the life of a hotel room steward

The room steward in any hotel is tasked with the most important job. That of ensuring that hotel rooms are in tip top condition after and during a guests stay. Here is what I learnt from Lucy, one of Nairobi Safari Club's best room stewards.

Lucy hard at work

1. How long is a normal work day for you?

8 hours. 7 am - 3 pm

2. How long does it take to clean one room well ?

30 minutes

3. How many rooms do you have to clean daily?

14

4. What are the characteristics of a good room steward?

They must be well groomed, trustworthy, cheerful, hard working and know how to communicate well with the guests, as they vary greatly from the tourist to the business traveller and to important government and religious officials. 

5. What famous guests have you catered to?

Mama Sara Obama. President Obama's grandmother and the Vice President of the Comoros Islands.

6. Who are more tidier men or women ?

Men tend to be more tidier and laid back, than women.

Thanks Lucy!

5 Popular Tourist Attractions in and around Nairobi

1. The Nairobi National Park
The only park in the world situated in a capital city. Best experienced through a game drive.
http://www.kws.org/parks/parks_reserves/NANP.html

2. The Nairobi Safari Walk
No game drive needed, guests enjoy a walk and at the same time get to see the animals. Its popular with the locals and tourists alike for dates and wedding photo shoots.
http://www.kws.org/parks/education/nairobi_safariwalk.html

3. The Nairobi National Museum
Only a ten minute drive from the hotel. Its an opportunity for one to experience Kenya's rich cultural heritage. If you are a bird watcher, the museum has a large display of birds and arranges bird viewing tours from time to time.
http://www.museums.or.ke/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

4.The Bomas of Kenya
This is also a venue where one can experience Kenya's cultural diversity. Be sure to visit the traditional villages and watch the traditional dancers.
http://www.bomasofkenya.co.ke/

5. The Banana Hill Art Gallery
This is for the art lovers. The gallery has grown steadily over the years to become one of the best art galleries in Kenya.
http://bananahillartgallery.com/