The hearth is where the feast is

Sarah Tikiwa Lifestyle Correspondent
RAINBOW Hotel’s internationally experienced executive chef, Aaron Mukwenha, on Tuesday pulled all the stops and produced sumptuous dishes during a sampling session at the hotel’s Kombahari Restaurant.
Describing his cooking as “complex, carefully crafted and very technical but not intimidating”, Chef Aaron’s style has familiar classified themes with all flavours staying true to themselves.

Invited guests who gathered around one of the kitchen stations, were treated to flavourful dishes, some of which were prepared while diners watched.

Kombahari, the heart of Rainbow Towers Hotel, is where diners gather around the hearth while enjoying the live aspect of cooking.
Deriving from the Shona language, “Kukomba” is to gather or circle around, and ‘hari’ — the traditional clay pot.
The restaurant prides itself in presenting a unique, interactive dining experience with the chef as the host.

“Following in the proud, centuries-old Zimbabwean tradition of sharing not only a feast, but also mirth and camaraderie, Kombahari is our own modern take on celebrating a feast — whatever the occasion. With a cosy, intimate ambience of this venue, gathering around the “hari” — represented by individual chefs’ stations,” said Evan Kasozi, the general manager of Rainbow Towers Hotel.

Chef Aaron started his menu with the popular mushroom soup, followed by the tasty blu-mushrooms. Other guests were treated to the peri-peri chicken liver before the prawn cocktail was served.

Chef Aaron and his team showed their skills when they produced the lamb dish — live in front of the guests served with egg-fried rice, French fries, sweet and savoury chicken and mixed vegetables.

This could easily pass for the signature dish of the day. The chicken stir-fry was also full of flavours. The menu was accompanied with each guest’s favourite beverage.

The new menu, carefully put together by Chef Aaron, is designed to delight every grill connoisseur’s palate.
What makes Kombahari grill room more exciting is that the dishes are prepared using the choicest, freshest ingredients to one’s exact specifications right before their eyes, with a touch of showmanship and flair.