Pika Chakula was crowned Best Food Blog for the second time at the Kenyan Blog Awards 214. The blog was founded on 9th May 2011 by Mr. Rajan Solanki who was a victim of the Westgate Mall Attack on 21st September 2013. The main aim of the blog was to improve cooking skills in the homes of the Kenyans. Pika Chakula is all about food.
The blog provide recipes for different cuisines from around the world but using local, readily available ingredients. To date, the blog has over 5000 recipes (Baking, Vegetarian, Non-vegetarian, Drinks, Baby foods etc) and over 1000 tips and articles.
Chandni Solanki, now runs the blog and carry on the legacy that her brother left behind. Here is what she has to say after winning the award and on the future of the blog:
1. How does it feel to have won the Best Food blog in the Kenyan Blog Awards 2014?
It’s a great achievement to have won the Best Food Blog in Kenya for the second time in a row and I feel very honoured. We thank all our fans from Kenya and abroad because this would not have been possible without them. Thank you to BAKE too for organizing such a wonderful event and the award.
2. What are your thoughts on the Kenyan Blog Awards?
I think the Kenyan Blog awards is an excellent concept. It motivates the bloggers to keep improving their blogs and put better content out there. I think this initiative will raise the standards of blogging throughout Kenya.
3. Who/what is your motivation to blog?
My brother loved trying different kinds of foods. Our love for food grew from eating the delicious food that our mother cooks all the time. She is our biggest inspiration. We also have a family business that manufactures all kinds of snacks and frozen food- I guess it runs in the family.
4. What should people expect from your blog in future?
There are a few projects that we are working on at the moment, but for now look forward to those delicious new recipes daily. Soon, you will also see us on TV and even sooner, you and your kids will be able to come and learn from the best.
- What are your top 3 Kenyan blogs and why?
To be honest, I don’t spend a lot of time looking at other blogs but I’m sure if my brother was here, he would have listed a number of them in seconds.
6. What advice would you give to upcoming bloggers?
Keep your blogs interesting by posting new content daily. Get your readers involved with you and make sure to reply to their queries.