Food & Travel Diary

I returned very recently from a trip to Kenya. Before I rave about an excellent guest house where I stayed for two nights, I want to address the question of is it safe to travel to Kenya now. My short answer is yes, I certainly found it so, as did the companions with whom I was traveling. More than safe, we found Kenya to be genuinely warm and inviting, with unmatched hospitality.

Nowhere in Kenya did I experience warmer hospitality than at the House of Waine. Located in the Nairobi suburb of Karen (named for Karen Blixen of “Out of Africa” fame), it is a small but luxurious boutique hotel. The property has 11 bedrooms, all of which are unique. I stayed in the “Tembo” room, with decor inspired by elephants. A lovely painting literally done by an elephant was hanging in the elegant room.

Meals were perfect. I enjoyed two breakfasts, a lunch and a dinner there. Although there were limited choices on the small menus, it is no exaggeration to say that everything looked intriguing. One morning I had excellent Scottish pancakes with passion fruit curd. There were three of us at the lunch table. I chose the beef, another selected the chicken, and a third opted for vegetarian crepes. We were all very happy.

The House of Waine (named from the initials of the owners) is located close to many popular attractions, including the Karen Blixen museum, Giraffe centre, Kazuri Beads, Nairobi National Park, and also a fine, modern shopping center. For anyone wishing to stay at this wonderful hotel, reservations, I am told, are essential.

For more information visit www.houseofwaine.co.ke