HOW COMPETITION IN THE CULINARY WORLD IS GIVING BIRTH TO HIDDEN GEMS IN KENYA

Over the years, for any ordinary Kenyan to enjoy a gourmet meal or a premium signature dish they had to dine in a star-rated hotel. But with the growth in the food industry, a lot of hidden gems have cropped up that are giving customers with discerning palates culinary delights.?

As you scroll through TikTok or Instagram you are bound to bump into a video reel or story with the caption ‘hidden gem’. As you watch the videos you realize the dishes being cooked in the hidden gems are up to the standard you can find in some of the renowned fine dining restaurants in the world.?

Chef James is the owner of a hidden gem in Tigoni. Having worked at a fine dining restaurant he decided it was time to branch out and pursue a solo business.?

"Starting was a challenge getting customers was a challenge and it felt like I had gone back to culinary school', James says with a bit of a?frown.?

James struggled to get clients due to Tigoni not being close to Nairobi and he could not just cook or operate like any restaurant in the?hope of walk-in customers. He decides to market his signature Ongole BBQ Ribs and fresh premium ribeye with dressing on the side by posting online. ?His breakthrough came when he got a?catering gig at one of?his former high school mate's birthday party.?

“I didn’t know that, that catering gig would be my turning point. But something in my gut told me that, if I was going to go out let me go out in style”, he exclaims. From the beaming smile on James’ face, you can tell that he saw this as a point of grace moment in his culinary journey.?

"I chose Ongole Beef ribeye because it's fresh, tender and well-marbled. I knew because of its superior quality it was going bring out the juiciness and succulent delights. And for sure it did not disappoint”, says Chef James.?

After the birthday party, most of the guests at the party became his committed clients, some coming all the way from Thika to savour his fine dining signature dishes.?Chef James is still soaring on?the culinary journey as former clients have started to reach out. Chef James offers an?exclusive fine dining experience at his Tigoni hidden gem.