Last week I went with some fellow friends to Carnivore, arguably the most famous restaurant in Nairobi. Why? the restaurant title lives up to it’s name- it is the most meat you will ever eat in your life in one sitting.
Carnivore is famous for the many varied types of meat that they serve (do NOT come if you’re a vegetarian!), and they have a set price for a buffet-style meal where you can gorge on at least 12 types of meat. In the past, Carnivore used to serve every type of game meat available- hippo, lion, wildebeest, giraffe- but because of regulations today, Carnivore has had to cut back severely on it’s varied meat selection. But this is not saying much- we gorged on at least 12 different kinds of meats, which was endlessly served on large skewers by wandering waiters. By the end of the night I was so full I could barely move, and suffice to say, I don’t think any of us ate meat for about a week afterwards.
Carnivore was an interesting experience because I had the opportunity to try a bunch of new meats that I hadn’t tried before.
Some of the meat they served that I’ve eaten before:
– Duck
– Turkey
– Sausage
– Chicken wings
– Chicken
– Pork
– Beef
– Lamb
Some of the meat they served that I’ve never eaten before:
– Ostrich (actually very delicious!)
– Camel (pretty good, but not really my style)
– Crocodile Meat (very bony)
– Chicken liver (yuck)
– Ox heart (surprisingly not too bad)
I found it interesting that I had no problems eating chicken, beef, pork, duck, and all of the meat that I’ve eaten regularly. However, when I first tasted camel, I had this immeasurable sense of guilt, and couldn’t stop imagining a camel being slaughtered as I chewed and swallowed- it was a sense of disgust I hadn’t quite experienced before while eating meat, and it made the camel-tasting much less enjoyable. I’m not sure whether it’s because I’ve been accustomed so much to eating all of the other types of meat, so I don’t think about the fact that I am eating an animal that was once alive and breathing. But when it came to eating camel especially, I had to force the food down. and didn’t touch any more camel for the rest of the night.
All in all, Carnivore was a pretty intense experience. While I’m glad to have had it, I’m not keen on EVER eating that much meat in one sitting again! If you are thinking of going vegetarian/vegan and want one last night of all-out meat eating- this is the place for you to do it.
The entrance to Carnivore
A huge fire pit with all kinds of roasting meat
My Wildebeest buddies
The most delicious drink in existence- called ‘Dawa,’ which means medicine in Swahili. A combination of honey, lime, sugar, and vodka. I could easily down ten of these.
The varying dipping sauces for all of the kinds of meat.
One of the waiters cutting off a piece of meat from a skewer onto our plates.
Ostrich! This actually tasted really good.
A full turkey on a skewer
Emma is excited about trying crocodile meat!
I think this is either Ox’s heart, or chicken liver.
Our dessert, included in the set price. Not that we could eat any of it after our meat-fest.
Nairobi is continuing to grow on me, and Carnivore has just been one of many really great experiences this past week.
Much love,
Brittany
2 Comments so far
Leave a comment
Change Yourself...Change The World. 
I actually really like chicken livers. They are pretty good. Here in the land of tajik’s they like to do Cow and Goat livers. Thats… a little worse taste, but you have to eat it if given to you, because they are a special treat, and supposedly healthy for you (they take out all the impurities in your blood)
Comment by Sam September 22, 2010 @ 2:26 amYou would like chicken livers.
Hearts. iShop4 hearts.
Comment by brittanygoesglobal September 22, 2010 @ 2:29 pm