Rose Mathieu.

Please meet Rose Mathieu the first woman on my Working Girl series. I met Rose on the facebook group Cook Eat. So I reached out and she is amazing! We have been talking on and off the phone for so long, I don't know when friendship kicked in and interview stopped.

Her food is exquisite. This up here is Ugali Mayai by the way, I know does not look like your usual mathogothanio but yeah our own dishes can be just that. Exquisite!

Rose has worked very hard to get where she is right now, which is working at one of the best restaurants in Paris. She has worked for and with Chef Hélène Darroze in Paris - Hélène  was selected World's Best Female chef 2015. That is like the biggest deal of all big deals.

But getting there was not easy. She is a graduate of Ferrandi , L'Ecole Française de Gastronomie Paris. This is an institute that admits just about 32 students a year, she was one of those 32, from 6000 applicants, the only black person and woman to graduate in her year. For somebody who grew up in Mumias (Western Kenya) to get here is truly a test to the spirit, to giving everything you have got and getting what you want.

And the woman is stylish too!! So you also get why we got on together like fireworks! Rose is going places with her cooking, she is smart, very smart, a true artist in her trade, she has plans, big plans for the future, she is getting noticed and we will be hearing and seeing more of her here at home and around the globe.

Favourite Recipe - Oven Roasted Chicken

You can tell the Mumias influence is strong on this one. Rose can get up and still get down to soul food. In her own Words.

"My favourite recipe is whole chicken roasted in the oven 180 degrees for 45 mins , 15 mins on each side and the last 10 mins on the breast . With no stuffing and just sprinkled with salt and pepper , then I add some hot oil ,thyme and whole garlic on the baking tray to oil birth the chicken every 15 mins during the baking which helps to keep the chicken crispy on the outside and moist in the inside. 

When the chicken is halfway cooked I add in cleaned skin on baby potatoes pre boiled to cook in the chicken juices . This is my favourite meal , simple but very delicious Do not cut the chicken after directly removing from the oven , Give it some resting time at least 20 mins in a warm place ( this will allow the chicken juices to redistribute evenly in the whole chicken making it taste even better Another tip for extra crunchy chicken skin , sprinkle it with salt immediately when you remove it from the oven Goes well with leafy salad."

Did I mention she is my tribe mate? Yeah I always have to pull that card, if I can do it with Lupita, I can do it with Rose.

Be INSPIRED!

Food Rose Mathieu

02:20

So as I said I went shopping, so here is a quick run of the clothes, I will not talk much, Louis Otieno is back on air! who wants to talk under such circumstances? I love sheaths, and I did not get to shoot them all, so whoever wants official wear, buzz a woman!

Looove love this sheath, sexy at the back, serious at the front, you can pair it with a colored jacket and when you hit the after hours party, take off the jacket and bring sexy back!!

Tutu asked me to get her a dress for a garden wedding, then she did a disappearing act on me last minute, imagine that:-) But it got right off my hands. I added the details at the neck and as you might have noticed I had not finished by the time of the shoot, I suggest a black belt to go with it, but tie it higher. The fabric is great!

You know this skirt from TOI, the sweater is from my sister, its a very deep blue, couldn't get it well on camera, but you get the idea right? (aki I need a new camera). Love my dancer shoes here, I got them from Bus Station for 300bob!!!!!!!

I realise I shouldnt have done the glasses, but you are here to see the outfit. We have discussed this outfit extensively on Facebook. Now let me categorically (there is a word I always wanted to use) anyway that is not a bra strap, and it is not those tu thingys of hanging a dress, it is the strap! it is a strap, it does look like a bra strap, but it is there for a reason, if you see the dress you will get it. I paired it with my jeans shorts, because you just cant walk around in this town bila.

The top Mary is wearing is from Gikosh, the ankle boots are her own and the rider leggings are mine, I like the look, the top is sheer, and can be done with shorts as well, feel free to wear this with flats, or just heels and in cold weather you could do it with boots.

I dont think I need to add anything to this look.

COFFEE AND CRUMBS

So, the other day Angelina, went food shopping, and you know the way I had been complaining that there is no variety of food in this country. As it is I did not know where to shop. She got seafood!!! Cray fish, and prawns. - you can get fresh, live seafood at China Center on Ngong Road. At Joyus on first floor.
So there I have told you and look what she created!! Delicious like a nonsense! In fact now we are going to make this thing a weekend affair. All through January. Next weekend is Crab and Calamaris (If we wake up early that is) It works like any other regular fish market you might have heard of, you go early you get good fish, you snooze you loose)

Ebu angalia hiyo maneno!!!!!!!!! bon appetite!

And if you think we are not real, come and TRY US!!!!!! We have food and we are not afraid to use it, oh and we love fashion most! and if you are thinking this is not us, I will post a step by step from buying to cleaning to cooking. God bless those crayfish, they died an honorable death!! Cheers my people, be good to your stomach as we are, and remember FASHION IS ALIVE in KENYA!!!  

JUST DO IT!!

Food Gikomba Sheaths

15:49

First of all, you know I have not blogged forever, because I was busy doing what everybody or lets say what all normal people do on holidays, eating, drinking and sleeping, not necessarily in that order but yes that is what I have been doing.

I did not have a christmas wish, you know me and christmas dont really get along, so above is my new years list, and it is not a list for the first it is the whole year running, I will get me a man, (preferably Idris) some hot block heels, a birkins bag, my favourite scent Armani Code, and Diesel watch, I love big watches. And while I work on it, feel free to send me a gift of one of the above, and no I do not want bootleg anything, thank you very much.

This year has been ok, but it is ending very well, this blogwise. I was on NTV with Pinky Ghelani talking about TOI!! I know you all know but let me just repeat it for the sake of blogging. I did not record the clip but I am sure I will get it once everybody gets back to the office.

Pinky's Show airs every Sunday on NTV at 6pm- 

We have grown so much since I started this blog and am still overwhelmed by it. At the moment we are at 3009 likes on facebook! and the blog so far is about to hit 20K views, am sure it could have been more, but the laziness I have been displaying is epic. I am sure I will not do any better next year. Usually I dont follow my new years resolutions so I do not want to make promises.

There is the dress I was working on, I know you are waiting, just remember I had advised you earlier to cultivate patience, it is a virtue every woman must have in plenty.

I have learnt a lot, this year, a lot a lot a lot, I have met new people who have turned out to be great friends, and I have met new people who have turned out to be mega assholes, but that is the way life is, just shake your head and move on.

I have made some new friends and I have lost some old ones, it is the way of the world. It has been a year full of laughter, happiness, depression, booze, friends, family, work, and.... well you can add in the other thing you have been doing, I have been doing more or less the same, we have all been living!

I have grown a little bit fashion wise, I havent really learnt much, but my shopping skills have improved, now that I have been shopping for you, there are lots of things you learn at Toi and Gikomba, lets just call them life lesson:-) I was there this week and it was so muddy and I had those plastic condom shoes on; and on my way out I am thinking, how am I getting to town like this, but at the exit there are these boy (bless them) they clean your feet and shoes, such lovely kids, its like a mini pedi, they did such a great job!!!  and they even have glycerin for your feet, all for 10 bob,  the way my feet ng'arad, had to give him extra because they were just so sweet and laughing and just being happy despite the fact that they are kids and should be playing.

These have been some of the buys from Toi and Gikomba

I shall continue blogging and shopping and I hope bigger better things are in store for all of us. I know there are several things that I have promised you. And NO I have not forgotten, in good time. There is a whole new year ahead of us. I will try my best to blog something before the year ends, but if I dont (probably won't) Champagne for everyone!

Here is to good life, to friends, to family, to hopes, and dreams and MONEY!!! yeah money is always good, it is not everything, but it is always good to have lots of it. Really it does not hurt at all to have more money.

and to good food, I had to finish it off with food. Be healthy, be safe

Dama.

Food Pinky Ghelani

12:30

As you all know, this project that was inspired by the lovely Sai Sankoh, one of my all time favourite stylist, fashion blogger and head of all things fashion forward. It was to be a one month project which has now turned into an almost full time job, I am forever grateful. 

Here is my very first post if you have forgotten where all this started

Having said that, this does not mean I will abandon ship. I am on her page BECAUSEAMFABULOUS practically everyday, we can never get enough inspiration, so I want to advice you to keep visiting her blog and page and be inspired just as I have been.

I will still be picking some of her looks and of course posting them, but keep in mind it will not be a regular thing.

There is a wedding of my good friend and high school deskmate coming up in december. Which I surely as hell will attend, I have been invited, mi si wedding crusher like some people I know.

I have decided for this occasion I am going to go overboard!!!! I have been watching several DIY videos on youtube and I feel like I have just finished my diploma in DIY. So as homage to Sai am going to make my own outfit! Don't laugh because my outfit will wipe that "bitch please" grin off your face:-)

My Toyota sewing machine is in the house!!! I have been to Nairobi Textile (a place you should visit).

My next stop is Biashara street, and then Gikomba again, I have been told that I can get faux leather there, seriously Gikomba has everything!

So keep it close.

My other favourite Rosemary (refresh your memory, click to go to story) is also still in the mix I have done only two outfits from her so far but I am still on her trail. I am going to do this till you are ready to stand steady on your heeled feet:-)

Do you know the other day, I was at this salon at Kenya Cinema, there are all sorts of hawkers that want to sell you stuff, while you get your hair done. This mama came with a kienyeji chicken the size of a full grown turkey!!!!!!!  She says she gets them from Machakos. I have never seen chicken that size, I worry that they are feeding those chickens manure!

Thats not even what I wanted to say, so as I wait on Winnie, she is the one whose hair was being done, and I want to recomend that salon, I have to find out which one it is as there a re a zillion salons now at Kenya cinema. They are very very good. Every time a woman was done I was going like, "oh that one, utanitengeneza hiyo nikicome", I said that to at least 7 hairstyles, mpaka I chokad;

Anyway I was perusing through DRUM the magazine, depression slapped me across the face when I saw their editorial spread, aki just wait I scan those pages, you will feel me; what they have done is unforgivable.

I will come back with that story when I have done complete research (read as gone through the magazine at least 9 times.

COFEE AND CRUMBS

Since my other job (of which too am not getting paid!) is to spread some good news I am it again. Cici the brains behind Foodie in the Desert, I had told you about her somewhere here, has this project that I find really brilliant its called Foodie Penpals. Now since I dont want to go into much detail about it go to her website and find out for yourself  -am assuming you already clicked on the link I provided.

I hope we are cooking like chefs and making our homes and stomachs feel good:-)

Oh and another thing, Esther the lady who did Angelina's Ngurario outfit, you remember it? click, well she wants me to do a shoot in her outfits, so I am going for fitting kesho, aaaand I am going to get an outfit for free when we are done!! aki nice things are happening to me since I started this blog, so anyway thats the other thing I am over excited about. I will update accordingly.

I know there is something am forgetting, but that is pr... ITS KARAOKE TUESDAY!!!!!! And you know how we do every Tuesdays.

My head is not working well, a kenyan film is being shot at our RESIDENCE, and I have overdone it with the cools that Angelina made, not for the film crew, but there is an excellent mood here for these cools; Yaani those baraafu they are not a joke and not for beginners! 
We see us at Sailors.

Anyway we talk kesho!

PS

My niece has just cleared fourth, so I will ask her to assist in matters of proof reading and spell checking, I need an intern, you see the way I am serious about this blog. So I shall not do any proof reading today, like I have not been doing in the past. God bless your dear heart.

coffee and crumbs Food

04:34