A Taste Of Swahili Cuisine

OVERVIEW

Indulge your senses with the scenic beauty and unique flavors of Mombasa during this cooking demonstration at the Serena Beach Hotel. Depart the pier for the brief sightseeing drive through picturesque Mombasa, across the New Nyali Bridge and on to the Serena Beach Hotel. Upon arrival, your guide will lead you to a reserved area on the hotel lawns. Here, you will meet your cook, or mpishi in Swahili, who will serve you a refreshing drink of fresh coconut milk, or madafu, before commencing the cooking demonstration. You will then experience the different flavors and textures of the traditional spices and herbs that comprise Swahili seafood masala, or kuku paka. Your mpishi will then explain the order and amount of ingredients to be added to the dish, which includes cloves, cardamom, turmeric, garlic, ginger, green chilies, coconut milk, coriander, and fenugreek. Once the main dish has been prepared, the mpishi's assistant will show you how to prepare the traditional chapatis that will accompany the meal. Next, you will be served a lunch consisting of the dishes prepared during the cooking demonstration. After lunch, you will be presented with an autographed recipe and a small spice bag to enable you to prepare these dishes when you get home.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.