Charlotte’s first Tanzanian restaurants showcase a taste of African flavors, tradition
Tastebuds getting bored? Take them on safari to Serengeti Kitchen, Charlotte’s first sit-down Tanzanian restaurant.
Chef Ammalu Saleh opened up shop Monday at The Market at 7th Street. It happened on short notice, but the new eatery is receiving no shortage of attention.
A steady stream of curious patrons stopped in front of the colorful counter, drawn by signs with familiar sayings like “Hakuna Matata.” Before you call Disney, it’s important to note that it is an actual Swahili proverb in use well before being popularized by “The Lion King.”
The moderately priced menu features coconut beans, grilled lamb, fragrant sekela chicken, Swahili biryani rice and flaky, tender chapati bread, as well as greens and other vegetables. The food is 100% halal with vegan options.
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By the end of Serengeti Kitchen’s first day, most of the food had sold out.
“It all came about so quickly,” Ammalu says.
She’s been catering for years and did a few pop-ups at the market, which grew her following. This fall, she debuted her first retail location at City Kitch, a shared commercial kitchen on the west side. But when another vendor dropped out last minute, 7th Street Market called and offered her the open space. Ammalu swiftly hired more staff to keep both the City Kitch and uptown locations running smoothly.
Tanzanian food draws on indigenous African traditions, as well as Indian and Arabic influences, and these shine in the use of spices. It helps that Zanzibar, called the spice island, is part of the nation. Cardamom, cloves, coriander and cilantro figure prominently in the cooking.
“When you hear biryani, you think of Indian food, but our biryani is completely different,” Ammalu says. “While Indian biryani is very nice, ours is not as overly spiced. It’s like that with many of our dishes. You can still feel a little bit of heat, but it’s not overwhelming.”
Ammalu caught the cooking bug as a child at her mother’s hip in Tanzania. Visitors were an everyday occurrence, and when guests came over, they had to eat. She would help cook and serve, and sometimes entertained herself by pulling out an old pot and recreating simple dishes on her own.
Her family relocated to the UK, where she completed her education and began working in the healthcare industry. Eventually she married and began her own family, moving to Charlotte in 2011. But she never stopped cooking.
Struggles with physical recovery and postpartum depression after the birth of her fourth child reopened her eyes to the connection between the food we eat and the overall state of our health. She began preparing food for herself and others that held onto its cultural significance but also incorporated modifications to make it more healthy.
Before then, “It never occurred to me that food could help my healing.”
“I want to share my culture, share the traditions and flavors and things, but I want to do it in a way that helps people live healthier,” she says. “I want to be a good wife, a good mother, and a good community member.”
Serengeti Kitchen
Location: 7th Street Market, 224 E. 7th St., Charlotte NC 28202
Location: City Kitch, 2200 Thrift Rd, Charlotte NC 28208
Cuisine: Tanzanian, East African
Instagram: @srengeti.kitchen
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