Starters

Pancakes with Bacon

Pancakes with Bacon

Perfectly portioned, this starter is a great way to present a decadent omelette to your guests. The recipe can easily incorporate other vegetables such as zucchini, aubergine, mushroom or artichoke. For vegetarians, instead of lining the muffin baking tray with bacon, you can use thin slices of grilled zucchini. However, remember to line the moulds with parchment paper so that the vegetables don’t stick to the bottom!

Ham and Cheese Potato Sandwich

Ham and Cheese Potato Sandwich

This starter is the perfect snack to keep active vacationers or people on the go, satiated. This is not your classic sandwich, but who can resist a melt of any kind? If you prefer you potatoes deep-fried, after boiling the potatoes in salted water, pat dry with paper towers and drop them into hot oil. Deep-fry until the potatoes become golden brown, and stuff them with the same filling.

Parma Ham Pie

Parma Ham Pie

A pie without the pastry, this is very different type of pie; but this is no less delicious or comforting than rest. When you’re next to the beach, a rich pie is usually the last thing on your mind. This Parma Ham Pie will set your taste buds alight, but keep the bloated tummy at bay.

Caprese Tartlets

Caprese Tartlets

In this recipe, we used semolina flour because the tartlet’s texture will be softer and still retain a gentle crisp. If you are using all-purpose baking flour, when you place tartlets into the oven, cover with aluminium foil and place some beans into each shell, and bake for the same amount of time. After the 15 minutes, remove the beans and aluminium foil and bake for another 10 minutes.

Tuna Tartare

Tuna Tartare

Lonno Lodge is nestled right on the coast of the Indian Ocean which means fresh Yellow Fin Tuna is almost always fished in abundance. When I visit Watamu, Tuna Tartare is a must. There are few pleasures in life greater than eating fish that has just been caught on the shores of where you’re staying.

Aubergine Parmigiana

This dish is ideal as a starter or even as a main course. Whether if it is an individual stack or a family-style casserole, this classic Aubergine Parmigiana will convert any aubergine skeptics. The most important step is the first one. Allowing the aubergines to sweat will ensure you draw out the best of this vegetable.

Exotic Russian Salad

Exotic Russian Salad

This salad could easily be adapted to include a different combination of vegetables or even fruit such as apples and pineapples. What’s important to remember is to refrain from overdoing it with the mayonnaise. No one wants a sloppy and wet Russian Salad. There’s nothing exotic about that.

Bacon Wrapped Prawns

Bacon Wrapped Prawns

Bacon. Cured, smoked and thinly sliced strips of intense savouriness. What’s better than perfectly pan-fried bacon? Crisp bacon wrapped around a delicate prawn. This is the perfect starter if you crave a reminder of the ocean with a subtle saltiness to kick-start your appetite.