msafiri habariinspiration FOOD & DRINK 40 C all it serendipity or just delicious proof that great cooking brings diverse people together, but the Jahazi Coffee House in the centuries- old Kenyan port city of Mombasa has become an East African melting pot. The Jahazi, whose intricately- carved entrance doors reveal its status as an official building over a century old, is the unlikely culinary and cultural creation of three young teachers who head up the Science, Humanities and Expressive Arts departments of the local Aga Khan Academy ( AKA) independent school. In true multicultural Mombasa tradition, they are Indian- born Aziz Batada; Toronto- born Naheed Bardai; and Irish- Italian George Kileen, born in Boston and fluent in Arabic after working in Egypt. Spicing up this exotic mix there is the addition of local master carpenter Abdallah Ali Mohamed and Mombasa- born coffee barista Mohamed Riziki, who honed his skills at a Starbucks in Saudi Arabia, brewed up his best for Nairobi businessmen at the popular Dormans coffee shop, then threw it in to return to his favourite port town. " Although there are so many rich cultures here in Mombasa there is not a lot of intercultural mixing and we wanted a space for residents, students, expats and tourists to talk to one another," explains Batada. " We are trying to celebrate the coastal communities and bring them together." The Jahazi offers up delicately spiced fish, chicken, meat, vegetables, biriyani and fine rice, with coconut ( nazi) adding texture, flavour and aroma. Swahili cooking has been called " a communal act of piety and love", and the meals are painstakingly prepared by local women. Courses can be taken with refreshments such as yoghurt or fruit juice. Rich coffee is served from a handmade brass pot, or spicy chai is poured into tiny cups without handles. The cost is around Ksh 800 a person. These special lunches and dinners are pre- booked by guests who enter a private majlis ( informal gathering) ante- room where they take off their shoes and lounge on soft cushions covered in the boldly designed, brightly- coloured local kanga fabrics worn by local African women. Platter after platter of food is laid out on a richly patterned red and blue carpet. There's no need to book if you just want to walk in and enjoy a variety of freshly brewed coffees, teas, fruit juices and milkshakes ( from around Ksh25). Snacks such as samosas and badgia ( fried legume-based bites) cost from Ksh20. The Jahazi is expanding its cultural footprint, with exhibitions of local art as well as poetry readings and music recitals. Thanks to donations from friends in Toronto, a library has been set up in a back room for the local children. This doubles up as a classroom from 4pm to 5pm as Swahili- speaking AKA students drop by in the afternoons to teach English and Maths to the youngsters as part of their outreach programme. " Mombasa old town is a fantastic place that is being considered for World Heritage Status, but people have not shown it the respect it deserves," says Batada. " We would like to play our part in setting an example and helping to look after this rich heritage so that it gets the status it deserves." In the heart of Mombasa's historic Old Town the Jahazi Coffee House is the cosmopolitan venue for delicious Swahili cuisine. By Judy Bryant MOMBASA MELTING POT Jahazi Coffee House Ndia Kuu, Old Town, Mombasa Q info@ jahazicoffeehouse. com Q Tel: + 254 720 777 313 Master carpenter Abdallah Ali Mohamed serves up a delicately spiced meal at the popular Jahazi coffee shop in Mombasa ian garlick/ getty images JUDY BRYANT