Captain Bini cruises during a Wine Tasting Dinner event at Tamarind Dhow in Mombasa organised by South Africa's Largest Wine Producers WOW Beverages and DGB. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NMG
The Tamarind dhow dinner is a must-do in Mombasa and it was my turn to watch the spectacular sunset and sail the ocean at night while sipping Bellingham wine.
This way to paradise.
That is voice that rings in your mind when you walk down the jetty into the Tamarind dhow floating on Indian Ocean for a dinner cruise.
Our dinner, which had lots of seafood, Swahili dishes and wine, started at a jetty located at the Tamarind Mombasa where the refurbished traditional Arab sailing boats dock and take in diners looking for a sundowner or a memorable dining experience.
The Tamarind dhow dinner is a must-do in Mombasa and it was my turn to watch the spectacular sunset and sail the ocean at night while sipping Bellingham wine.
Before the dhow started sailing, we were taught a few safety tips at sea. I wondered if I would need the safety tips, but as the coxswain steered the dhow, the beauty of the sea at night soothed my fears.
We glided past towering buildings. At one point, one of the crew climbed to the top of the dhow sails and almost touched Nyali bridge as we passed under it.
WOW Beverages and DGB, a South Africa’s wine and spirit producer and distributor of wine brands such as Bellingham, Brampton and Franschhoek Cellars had hosted a wine tasting dinner that attracted sommeliers, managers of top entertainment joints in Mombasa and wine enthusiasts for an evening of romance, dance and charm.
The two hours’ trip took us along the Tudor Creek to a secluded spot where the dhow moored. It sat there as people listened to live music and other gazed at the twinkling lights of Mombasa.
Tamarind Dhow has a kitchen on the deck where food is prepared as guests watch. The dinner cruise also comes with a deejay on board. As Kenyans' palates become more sophisticated, wine makers are seeking ways to woo new drinkers and introduce wine lovers to new varieties.
Wine makers from Spain and South Africa have been setting up wine and food pairing dinners in mostly Nairobi to give especially the middle-class and millennials a taste of their vineyards.
Dimitri Lingris, the regional sales manager for DGB Middle East and East Africa said “Africa is very interesting because it is still growing a wine culture."
Diners drank Bellingham Sauvignon Blanc which was voted among the top 10 wines in South Africa, the Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 and the Chenin Blanc Viognier 2017 which is part of the tree series.
“Some are very good food wines, others are for easy drinking, some are great for wine blend. The wines are very well priced and retail from Sh1,100,” he said, adding that the secret to finding and knowing good wines is to attend tasting events.
Wine tastes better at sea and if it is paired perfectly with assorted sushi, grilled seafood kebab, deep-fried coconut prawns with a sweet chilli sauce, black pepper smeared tuna, oriental chicken lollipop, smoked salmon canapé, crab mayonnaise, grilled calamari, vegetable skewers, mini-fillet mignon with béarnaise sauce. It is like dining in a floating paradise.
