She’s hip, she’s cool and she loves to eat! Soni Adriance aka the Queen of Instastory food reviews, loves a good brunch and isn’t afraid to whip out her phone for some on-the-spot reviews.
Soni Adriance Photo: J. Mwai Photography
Every so often, you find yourself scouring around for a new restaurant to dine at. After checking out a few spots online, the tricky bit catches up with you faster than you thought. None of your friends have been to the places and let’s face it, online reviews are not the most reliable. After all, who’s going to believe an anonymous contribution with a full five-star rating and zero menu recommendations? Enter @soni.side.up.
For many Nairobi foodies, 26 year old Soni Adriance needs no introduction. Her witty captions and deliciously captured food shots will have you reaching for you phone eager to book a table. What sets her apart? Her restaurant Instastory reviews are some of the most engaging on the scene and her personal touch really conveys her side of the story. Recently she has been focussing on using Instastories as a review platform and she credits audience feedback and consistency for her profile growth. “I find it’s a fun and dynamic way to engage with your audience. One of the newest installments on my Instastories is ‘Would You Rather Wednesdays’ where I pick a topic and ask ten questions. It’s fun to see the results roll in and where the majority lies on issues like: Where do you prefer to eat breakfast: Java House or Artcaffe?”
When it comes to food, Soni is always up for an adventure. Whether she’s downing snails in Vietnam or finding out that Durian fruit isn’t quite as lovely as she had been led to believe, she credits her adventurous spirit and appetite for inspiring her favourite pastime. To settle on a spot to eat, proximity, occasion and price point all play a role in her hunger games. After a long week, she’s always down for a lazy weekend outdoor brunch – the perfect time to catch up with her friends over a few cocktails and eggs benedict. Her top brunch picks? She thought you’d never ask:
Wasp & Sprout — the food is really good: fresh, fun/different and consistently delicious. Order the sweet potato waffles if you have a sweet tooth or breakfast bruschetta made on a thick slice of sourdough with homemade pesto, sliced almonds, prosciutto and cottage cheese. Book in advance and ask for a table outside. If you’re lucky, a cute dog may join the table next to you.
Le Grenier a Pain — Where she goes when she wants to feel fancy. Even with the worst hangover you’ll feel fresher sitting on their balcony with a glass of grapefruit juice and a double cappuccino. Recap your Saturday shenanigans nibbling on a buttery, perfectly flaky croissant or go all-in with any of their breakfast items. Whatever you do, please don’t leave without picking up a French pastry on your way out (try the salted caramel tart). It’s worth the pretty penny. Sometimes, when she’s really in the mood, she treats herself to a bottomless brunch. Preferably somewhere with outdoor seating. Bottomless is a great choice for a large group – no headache when it comes to splitting the bill and figuring out who got what. Only drawback is that you have to go to a hotel to get this experience (and a lot of them are basically the same).
Her final option would have to be About Thyme where she suggests the best option is to grab the corner couch and order the salmon avocado omelette.
This year, Soni plans to travel more for food, experience different cultures and lifestyles and capture it all in a deliciously stunning frame with her trusty iPhone. Whenever she isn’t checking out what’s new in the restaurant and bar industry or revisiting old favourites, she’s in her kitchen blending up her latest breakfast craze – smoothie bowls, a simple but nutritious morning kickstarter. The next time you can’t settle on where to go for dinner, swing by her profile for some handy restaurant advice and a chuckle or two.
Soni’s Smoothie Bowl
What you’ll need:
- 1 banana
- 1/2 mango
- Handful of berries (strawberries, raspberries, etc)
- 1 tbsp moringa
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp nut butter (optional)
- 3 tbsp plain yogurt
Throw all the above ingredients in a blender. Blend until you’ve reached your ideal consistency. Top your smoothie bowl with more berries, mango, chia seeds, some of your favourite granola, desiccated coconut… Whatever you want really just make sure you enjoy!
