Hardest table to get in Nairobi at AN

 The hardest and most secretive table to get in Nairobi is at AN, a private house in the lush greenery of Gigiri where there is no sign, no security just a push-button where the electric remote doors are opened and your waiter for the night meet and greet you on the driveway, classy...

The food is very Japanese in style with twists all over and that makes it more interesting for most people who really don't understand a full Japanese omakase dinner or find some element strange to taste and texture, 

The nine small appetizers were the top this evening and stood out both in taste and presentation, the other dishes was just ok and average considering the menu price that they charge (all beverages sold separately) 

the meat was good and well cooked; the tempura just greasy tuna was ok (local) the crab filled tomato was to big and the broth way to reduced and the Macha cheesecake tasted nothing, so will I go back? for sure when they change the seasonal menus and I do like that the place is small (16 seats only) and a perfect hideout when you cant take locals anymore.

I was also expecting bigger selection of sake.

Plating real dishes compared to fake

 You see al lot of food photography on most social media sites and many look absolutely amazing with great details and immaculate finish  but this is very seldom food that is plated for real live restaurant presentation where time, speed and temperature needs to be controlled, how many time have you had food that are in best case lukewarm and lifeless??  I have many times for sure.

To take accurate pictures that reflect true servings are always a challenge and you need to take out time consuming elements and still meet some kind of standard, not easy but I prefer to stay as close as possible to the reality on the served plate, here are a few pieces just like that.

Gibanica Serbian cheese pie from god sent

 Gibanica is one of my absolute favorite breakfast item and also great for snacks, midnight cravings or to use as small bites topped with some ham and or salami, its a quick fix and rather simple to make but always give a big impact on your guests, here is one recipe that I usually use and I really want you to try make it, your will not regret, the photo is from yesterday

Gibanica is a Serbian pastry that can be described as a filo dough pie most commonly filled with white cheese (sirene) but there are also some sweet variations of the gibanica recipe. Today, this pastry is popular all over the Balkans and similar variations can be found in some other Slavic countries too. Throughout history, Serbia under Ottoman and Habsburg rule and many food connoisseurs refer to gibanica as a mix of Turkish and Austrian influences. At a glance, the pastry looks like a mix of strudel and burek/byrek (from google)

• 500 grams (1.1 lb) Phyllo Dough
• 4 pcs Egg Large
• 150 ml (5.07 floz) Extra Virgin Olive Oil or sunflower oil
• 200 ml (6.76 floz) Yogurt
• 100 ml (3.38 floz) Water
• 5 grams (0.18 oz) Salt
• 500 grams (1.1 lb) Feta cheese

• In a bowl, add eggs and salt and mix well.
• Then add oil (leave a little so you can oil the casserole dish in which you will be making the dish), then add yogurt and water.
• Break the cheese into smaller pieces using your hands and add it to the bowl.
• Mix everything together.
• Oil the dish and put 4 phyllo dough sheets on the bottom.
• Layer your cheese mixture and repeat the process until there is no more dough.
• After you put the last dough sheet, take a fork and poke holes before adding the last layer of your cheese mixture.
• Pre-heat the oven on 200°C/390°F.
• Bake it for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
• Take the pie out and let it cool down.

Midnight friends or so called supper

 To have very very late supper is normal in Asian countries and sometime they even wake up at midnight to go for some food, a lot of places serve around the clock breakfast, lunch and dinner due to that many people work different shifts with diverse lifestyles, I love this and in my opinion, supper is always the tastiest meal. (I am not a breakfast eater) 

Asia's food scene is worth discovering and the best place to go for some authentic family style cooking, no matter if its Thailand, China, Korea, Vietnam or Malaysia you will love whatever is offered to you with a smile and prepare to be hungry, Asians eat all the time but very small portions.

As a chef and nomad, I don't thing that there is no better way to discover history, people and culture than thru food, stay put and follow for more adventures in the heaven god created called gastronomy.

How many countries have you lived in?

 this a question that I get quite a number of times and I never really think of it until now, I have lived in total of 6 different countries as permanent resident, not counting in short stints of a few months here and there, so I have moved all and settled down 6 times, that's more than most people do in their lifetime not even close, so the question is why? the short answer is that I have some gipsy blood running in my veins, or curiosity of what's out there is bigger than stability and security at one place, being a chef might have something to do with it as well, but I know for sure that this have made me stronger and more resilient and shaped me into a different mold.

how about my family you ask? yes, it has not been easy for sure but at the same time it has given them an opportunity to visit parts of the world that they might never done otherwise, so yes educational and eye-opening experiences for sure, happy to be apart? not always!!

when people say that my English is weird and bad, strange I always tell them, yes for sure but to simplify my language is the only way how people in Egypt, Kenya, Thailand., China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Russia and other places would understand me, so leave your bloody Oxford English at home get in to the real-world guys!

BTW English is my 3 language, how many do you speak? 

So to you all young people out there, be brave try other locations and countries and challenge yourself as person and human being, you will learn a lot from it I promise.

here are some photos from my bike rides in Singapore, salute life amigos. 

 

Proper Chinese restaurant

 Restaurant LU in Malmo brings me back to Hong Kong and the Chinese parts of Asia with the most delicious food ever, Cantonese cuisine is so different from rest of China in a good way.

Having the possibility to visit a genuine restaurant like this is a blessing when I crave for Char siu pork or Peking duck with condiments, you should all try LU at Davidhalls torg and let me know what you think about it.

My Japanese chef friend in Narita

 I have the coolest friend in Tokyo Shingo - San who is running a Japanese-Italian restaurant in Narita with his wife and also knows some Serbian sentences, Mr. Aoki you are such an inspirational person and funny as shit, I love you man and I enjoyed our days together in Belgrade.

Shingo-San brought with some of the best Japanese beef to cook for people and who am I to resist some of it, amazing beef that melt in your mouth and just look at the photo's guys!!! 

Beef for me and knedle for him, good trading in my opinion, what do you think? 

I can't wait to visit him in Japan and this is so on my bucket list, thank you my friend for everything and ziveli brate!!