Lilmissbelle 12 Days of Christmas

Day 4: Nyama Mama

December 14, 2017

I doubt if there are many five-year olds in town who are as busy as my daughter Xena during this school holiday. She got home on Monday at 11:45pm from Mombasa, a trip she went along with her dad for three days. It was just the two of them and we (the nanny, her sister and myself) have been subjected to endless tales of how epic their mini holiday was. “You know my daddy bought me a new bag and new shoes?” and “In Mombasa we would wake up at 6:00am then take a walk on the beach and collect shells.” and “You know Mombasa is closed that’s why we had to come back.” If this kid had her way, she would have stayed in Mombasa with her daddy for a month and not cared about the rest of us.

As she was narrating her escapades, I tried very hard to maintain an imperturbable composure but deep down my throat was on fire. I was jealous of how much fun the two of them had and I wondered if she would have had as much fun with me.

Back to her busy schedule, much as she only slept at midnight, I had to wake her up at 8am. I had a job for her. I had mentioned to her on phone the previous night while she was at the airport that we needed to be somewhere at 10:00am the following day.

“Sleep in the plane if you have to baby because duty calls tomorrow.” I had aptly informed her.

“Okeeeyyy.” She had said, not exactly excited about the prospect of working after a grand holiday.

At 9:30am, we were all set in the car. Xia in her car seat, Xena in the back right and yours truly behind the wheel but not before tuning the radio to HBR. Side note- HBR should pay me already for the mad endorsements on this platform. Daddy had woken up early to ride his bike, a passion he’s taken into recently.

We were headed to Nyama Mama at Delta Towers in Westlands. I had called P.K. of Nyama Mama the previous week telling him how I would love to sample their Christmas menu with my kids and crew. I also mentioned that because I value my readers who come here religiously to read about my musings, I needed to reward one of them with a meal voucher from Nyama Mama. Because it would be totally unfair for me to profit from my readers’ loyal following while giving them nothing in return. Right? On that note, I hope you guys are loving the Lil’missbelle 12 days giveaway so far and if yes, please drop a comment encouraging us to soldier on. Anyway, P.K. was sold to the idea.

As I was driving, Xena went on and on about her holiday, so I had to turn the radio off. We were so engrossed in the conversation that I forgot that the Westlands roundabout was closed. I had driven towards Ring Road thinking it was a shorter route and when I came off Waiyaki Way, I had to drive all the way up almost to Safaricom HQ then turn back and drive down all the way past the non-functional Westlands roundabout then make a right turn further down. I cursed when I realised my stupid mistake which got Xena asking me “Are we lost?”

“No Xena, how would I get lost in Westlands?” I said.
“Then why are you saying “drat” many times?”  She asked.
“Because your stories got me missing the route.” I said.
“So we are lost.” She said.
I couldn’t argue with her, so I drove in silence. As we approached Delta Towers finally, I asked her if she was excited.
“What’s special about where you are taking us?” She asked.
“The food and the ambience.” I said.
“Can you smell the food from here?” She asked. We were still on Waiyaki Way by the way, just about to turn left.
“No Xena, but I’ve been there before and I know their food is amazing.”
“What’s the second thing you said?” She asked.
“Ambience?” I said.
“Yea what’s that?” She asked.
“You’ll find out for yourself.” I said.

As soon as we walked out of the car, I spotted Charles our photographer and his assistant. They had arrived earlier, set up, and were now talking a video of us. Xia was excited and running towards RMA motors. I think she was hinting that we needed to aspire to own one of those Range Rovers at RMA.

Nyama Mama’s outdoorsy feel is one of the many things I love about it. With the wide windows rolled up, it feels as if you are dining outside in this colourful set up of African inspired decor but with a roof over your head. For about thirty minutes, Xena and Xia were confused over what to embrace. One minute they were lifting the colourful Ankara cushions off the seats, the next they were riding in Santa’s sleigh perched in the middle of the restaurant with a reindeer pulling it.

I think that was the easiest shoot for Charles as the kids were in their element. We all were, especially when the food came. Waffles with rosemary chicken and fried egg for the kids, a breakfast staple in their menu which you all need to try. We had some spicy calamari coated with batter and deep fried which were devoured by Xena alone! How else were we to know that she had recently landed from the land of seafood? The crispy Ugali chips were not exactly anyone’s favourite, much as they were quite tasty. For me, I didn’t want to get full before the turkey arrived. And when it finally did, brown and crispy with sweet potato pulp, I dug in. We also had the red snapper with some gravy which I declared award-winning. It was served with Nyama Mama’s rendition of Ugali which was really soft and creamy. Xena would run around (because she was done with her chicken and waffles) and come back to the table uttering only two words “Mama, Ugali!” I have never seen her eat that much! Xia sat at the table all through even after finishing her meal and carried on with our fish and the sweet potato. To think that we all (including Xena who is a troublesome eater) had space for desert is unbelievable. We shared two plates of ice cream (vanilla and chocolate), some cheese cake and some pie with custard on the side.

I don’t recall ever having such a gratifying Jamhuri day. The best part, Xena felt them same way.

“I am glad we came back from Mombasa last night.” She said. “ I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.”

Our winner today gets a Ksh 5,000 voucher from Nyama Mama. Simply tell us your best memory of any holiday, whether Christmas, New Year, Easter, Diwali, Labour Day, Jamhuri Day or any other holiday. Make sure you are subscribed to this blog and following my Instagram account and Nyama Mama’s Instagram as well to qualify.

Awaiting your stories 🙂

Lilmissbelle - Nyama Mama Lilmissbelle - Nyama Mama Lilmissbelle - Nyama Mama Lilmissbelle - Nyama Mama Lilmissbelle - Nyama Mama Lilmissbelle - Nyama Mama Lilmissbelle - Nyama Mama Lilmissbelle - Nyama Mama Lilmissbelle - Nyama Mama

0 0 votes
Article Rating


37 Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

37 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Barbara
Barbara
6 years ago
Reply to  Lil'missbelle

Congratulations Patrick

Patrick Mbugua
Patrick Mbugua
6 years ago
Reply to  Lil'missbelle

True this must be a very difficult decision, mine did’nt seem as interesting us some here I would agree. And didn’t even think mine would be awarded. Thanks very much for this I greatly appreciate. And to all those that shared their stories, thank you it was fun reading through them, you might not have won, but they made us laugh.

Alexia
Alexia
6 years ago

Hi….I tried posting my comment yester night and it didn’t go…have you restricted posting at night?Am actually typing this to see if it comes to you

Patrick Mbugua
Patrick Mbugua
6 years ago

The stories here are funny for real, didn’t think I was to read but I had to. And don’t you judge me being the only gent commenting here, I loved the profile of this blog and I appreciate and honor mothers greatly having been raised by a single mum. The struggle is real for mothers but they do it so gracefully. The other reason of commenting being that I love food. My best memory might not be funny as some or with pomp. But I remember when I was little we went for Jamuhuri day celebration at the Nyayo stadium,… Read more »

Joanne Nduta
Joanne Nduta
6 years ago

My best Christmas holiday was last year 2016. I just had my daughter, she was still a new born. I know I know…. babies are hard work especially being a single mum but the joy I had beats any other Christmas memory ever! And now she is one. And no plans whatsoever, so that lunch plan ata Nyama Mama will come in handy!!☺️

Gitchgal (@kharoull_royal)

My reply is not posting *sobs* ??

Gitchgal (@kharoull_royal)

I woke up at an insane hour of the morning at my grandparent’s house, and six year old me was crying. This was my first and very last Christmas spent with my Guka. So, it was on the Christmas Eve, and Guka (read BigGuy) gathered my little cousins and I, for storytelling. This time, though, he asked us all the exciting questions about the birth of Jesus, and what not. Fast forward, this session culminated when Dude told us that if we stayed up all night, we would get to see the very big and very bright star that led… Read more »

Mercy Mwaura
Mercy Mwaura
6 years ago

Hi Joy, I love how Xena went on and on about her mini holiday with the dad, it’s cute. My favorite holiday is Christmas no doubt. Apart fro having family around and lots of nyama choma it’s also my birthday. Yes, I’m a xmas baby. My best memory is where one Christmas ( I was 10 I think) my shosh had invited children from a certain children’s home to her compound. Everything was in plenty that year,food , fun, cake, gifts, games, name it. We all called her shosh and she was so loving to us all. I remember being… Read more »

Leah Kimangi
Leah Kimangi
6 years ago

My best memory of Christmas or holiday was before my mum went to be with the Lord which is 5 years ago.How i enjoyed being at home every Kenyan holiday be it madaraka or jamhuri .She loved cooking and on each holiday she would wake up very early to make sumptuous meals from breakfast to what we would have for lunch and dinner.But our favourite was Christmas they ensured (parents)that we had new clothes me and my sibling, even as old as i was which was in college. We put up our our tree,which was a growing tree from the… Read more »

Leah kimangi
Leah kimangi
6 years ago
Reply to  Lil'missbelle

Hehe…I will think of that, with all those food bloggers I follow but never put their recipes to action lol

Lolo
Lolo
6 years ago

Hey…my best holiday memory was when i was younger, we would decorate the house for christmas with those paper mache thingies where you criss cross the paper to make a pattern, and we had a Merry Christmas sign as well. Don’t forget the balloons.The house looked so festive and the air was so merry. Mama would make chapos and chicken for Christmas supper and we had a blast. I believed in Santa too? Ah the nostalgia!

Alice Waceke Kinuthia
Alice Waceke Kinuthia
6 years ago

Hey, my best holiday memory was this Jamhuri day. My birthday is on the same day. I was sick but my boyfriend went ahead and decided to make my day. He held me a surprise birthday on the same day and invited almost all my close friends. I was so awed because he not only did that but he went ahead and took me for a photoshoot at sun Africa studios. He literally made my day. I will never ever forget all the joy and excitement this day brought to my life. I would really appreciate if I won this… Read more »

Ciku
Ciku
6 years ago

My best memory during the holiday is definitely theChristmas Holidays when I was younger, and we would visit my grand folks for the whole month of December. A couple of days before Christmas we would pick a live Christmas and and decorate it together and finally add a touch of snow with cotton wool Lol! 🙂
Then on Christmas day, we’d wake up and go straight to the christmas tree for gifts from Father Christmas.
I’d give anything to be six again to enjoy Christmas like this…my fondest memories

Maureen N Njoroge
Maureen N Njoroge
6 years ago

My best holiday memory is of Christmas when we were young. Going to shagz with all my cousins and our parents buying us new clothes to wear on the material day. I wonder how my grandma, may her soul rest in peace, managed all the chaos w would cause in her household.

Lydiah Kwanzu
Lydiah Kwanzu
6 years ago

The best christmas memory i have is the one for last year. Nothing much to fuss about but it was the best simply because my brother who was always on the road and working during tge holidays was home with us and we had the best timw playing indoor games and eating home cooked food thats was cooked with love. The other reason it was the best is because it will be a memory me and my family will always cherish as sadly afterwards my brother got sick and travelled to India for treatment where he unfortunately passed away. So… Read more »

Winnie
Winnie
6 years ago

My best memory has to be during Easter when we visited a children’s home in Kibera with some of my church mates. We had planned this for quite some time and had already got some commodities and essentials ready to gift the amazing children. On that day we visited the place and had so much fun with the kids. We want songs, shared stories, cooked for them and enjoyed the meals together. We then had some outdoor activities such as games and stuff. The childreñ were all smiles as we gifted them the stuff we had brought with us. That’s… Read more »

Barbara
Barbara
6 years ago

My Christmas memory that stands out must be when I was like 10 or so. It’s a funny story, we had family plans but then I was new in a certain estate and they had all gotten together to plan go boat ride at the lake and I just couldn’t miss it. Parents were against it of course apart but I lied saying we won’t be long we were just qetting to a certain centre and we will be back. We went all the way to the lake and by the time I was coming back it was pitch black… Read more »

Darshani
Darshani
6 years ago

So when I was little my parents would encourage me to go the whole nine yards at Christmas. Write a letter to santa, be a good girl so I’m not put on the naughty list, leave out milk and cookies for santa on Christmas eve with a small window open (not realising the was no way a fat guy like old Saint nick would be able to squeeze through) and lo and behold, all my presents would be under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning! The best memory was, however, when I wised up to the antics of my parents… Read more »

Gitchgal (@kharoull_royal)
Reply to  Darshani

Lol

Sometime Writer
6 years ago

Best Memory is the last Christmas we had as a family before my dad got sick. My brother was studying abroad at the time and we travelled to go see him. It was such a fun trip because we were all in our element even got my dad to try a roller coaster ride and we took all these fun family videos including one of dad in the middle of a zoo giving a ‘press conference’ about his stay in Australia. Unfortunately the laptop where I had all those fun pics and videos got stolen but those are memories that… Read more »

37
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x