About Me

 

Pilau, biriani, mahamris, mshkaki, viazi karai, katlesi, samosa, bhajias, chapatis, and so many more Swahili food delicacies have you salivating at the thought of them. Despite being favorites for many, a lot of people think the recipes are too complicated or time consuming and dread the thought of cooking them. It’s always, “One day I will learn to cook [insert Swahili dish]”

Why Swahili food?

I have been cooking Swahili food for the last 18 years. Over the years I have mastered shortcuts to prep for meals and have them ready in no time. For many years my friends and family begged me to share my quick, mouthwatering recipes with the world. Being a stay at home Mum, I finally have the time to share my recipes. My aim is to introduce people to Swahili cooking and show Swahili food lovers how to make their favorite dishes quickly and easily. On my blog and Youtube channel i share recipes and videos that will guide you in the kitchen and make you a guru at cooking Swahili food.

Who am I and how did i become an expert on Swahili food?

I was born in Switzerland and I’m half Swiss and half Austrian by parentage. I was brought up in Mombasa, Kenya, in a very blended family. I studied in the 8-4-4 system and even recited shairis(poetry). To ensure that I became undoubtedly Kenyan, my Kenyan step father had me ride a black mamba bike to and from school. I can’t make this up. I’ll post a video about this soon. I actually learnt how to speak Kiswahili before I learnt to speak English. I was one of those white kids that spoke Swahili fluently and ran around barefoot which confused the hell out of people when they’d meet me. My love for Swahili food began when I started school. That is where I really got exposed to Kenyan cuisine. My walks going back home were always fun, more so because of the street food that we would buy on the way home such as mabuyu (colored, sweetened baobab seeds), achari (colored, dried mango strips),  viazi vya karai (packed potatoes) and much more. With time it became common to find me at our family friends’ houses being taught how to cook chapatis, kaimatis, pilau, biriyani, you name it. Add to that, my Mum who is also a great cook taught me how to make tantalizing Swiss dishes. There’s more. My husband is part Baluchi and Seychellois so I also learnt how to prepare Indian, Arab and Seychellois food.  I’m going to share all this knowledge with you guys. How lucky can you get? A year ago, I moved with my family from Nairobi, Kenya to Oman where I am bringing up my 2 lovely jellybeans. I was delighted to find out some people also speak Swahili here and the food is the same. In 2016 I wrote and published a book titled Swahili Food Made Easy. It’s my love for cooking expressed as recipes. It has lots of pictures that make it easy to follow the instructions.  You can buy the hard copy if you’re in Kenya or get the soft copy on Amazon. I’ve also been featured on Amina Abdi’s Alfajiri show on K24. I believe that you now feel like you’re in good hands so that’s enough about me. Welcome to my blog and the Swahili food community. Come, eat, and share.

Lots of Love,