For working women, planning iftar meals (food taken in the evening to break Ramadhan fast) can be challenging.
Many can only cook at suhoor (the time before the fast begins) because of the pressures of working hours. Some rely on takeaways and extra maids to take care of the cooking of various dishes that include soup, samosas, dessert, pastries and various main dishes.
A number of hotels have come up with ways to ensure Muslim customers are catered for.
Sarova Stanley Hotel
The Sarova Stanley Hotel serves Arabic dishes at its pool deck during Ramadhan. The traditional ‘must-eat’ Iftar meals like chickpeas served in spicy lamb broth are available during this holy month.
Arabic ouzi, a full roast goat meat, takes centre stage during Iftar at the hotel. The lamb is marinated with Arabic spices 24 hours before cooking, and then it is roasted slowly until it is tender.
Guests at the hotel can also enjoy chicken shawarma, pita and tahina, kofta kebabs, samak harra, shish taouk and falafel.
Chicken cous cous, a salad made of chicken, spices, tomatoes, beans and lemon juice is also served at the Stanley. Other salads include jarjir, which is made of cucumber and yoghurt, mutabal which is a perfectly done eggplant, batata harra, a blend of beetroot in sesame paste and hummus that is made of mashed chickpeas or other beans mixed with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic.
Cracked wheat and parsley, guacamole and salsa and the usual green salads are on the menu too.
Villa Rosa Kempinski
Villa Rosa Kempinski also has a special menu dedicated to Muslims during this month of Ramadhan. The hotel has set aside the Tambourin restaurant located at the rooftop to offer service to the Muslim clients.
Meals are served at the restaurant starting 6pm and diners visiting the hotel for Iftar are served with juices or Arabic coffee and dried nuts, apricots and dates, moving away from the usual vegetable platter that is served on regular days.
Arabic coffee, also known as dahwa, is a special drink served during Ramadhan and in marking the Eid holiday. The coffee is served in small cups, which are only filled to the one-third mark. The drink is offered as a sign of tradition and hospitality.
Pride Inn Hotel
On arrival at Pride Inn hotel, Adhan—call for prayer— from about 6.36pm sets the stage for breaking the fast with dates, milk and other snacks. Then the Maghrib prayer follows.
Guests dining at the hotel have a variety of cuisines to sample, among them specially-prepared Iftar salads, sauces, creamy spaghetti, butter, jeera rice and minced mutton.
Diners are served an array of cuisines for Sh1,600 per person.
Serena Hotel
Serena Hotel Nairobi also has a special menu dedicated to Muslims at its Café Maghreb during Ramadhan. Guests wishing to dine at the hotel make reservations in advance.
InterContinental Hotel
The InterContinental Hotel has a special package targeting Muslim guests.
The hotel is serving Iftar special meals at the Bhandini restaurant for Sh3,100 per person. The service is also available on reservation.
Reef Beach Hotel
The Reef Beach Hotel, which is located in Nyali in Mombasa, is serving Iftar buffets during the month of Ramadhan, and it also welcomes group reservations.
English Point Marina
The English Point Marina, in Mombasa, is also hosting Iftar dinners at its restaurants. The Marina has a special and detailed ‘breaking the fast’ menu where traditional bitings like jallab, dates, viazi karai are served as starters.
The Marina’s salads and main menu follows the traditional Arabic and Swahili preferences, and among its prime servings are the sautéed mutton and chicken in a tandoori marinade.
Meals at the restaurant are available at Sh2,200 per person, but are only served on reservation.
