A Café of Connections: Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places

On a recent trip to visit my daughter, she and I ardent coffee lovers, ventured to check out the Mediterranean coffee truck she had recently read about, a few blocks away from her place. A food truck parked at the corner of a street with a long winding line of customers is what we had envisioned but were pleasantly surprised by the ambience of the set up. Parked in the midst of a shady courtyard surrounded by tall trees and even taller buildings was the red food truck. The owner Isa, had arranged rustic and vibrant floor seatings, traditional Mediterranean style, around the courtyard giving one a peek into a neighborhood in Istanbul. The place was bustling with locals, seated in groups sipping freshly brewed chai or coffee, biting into delicious simit or nibbling away at pistachios, as he delightfully served them. I’ve never been to Istanbul but the vibe reminded me of what one might call an “Adda” back home in India. A warm and welcoming place to gather, to converse, to bond.

As we chatted up with Isa, he told us of his dream for the place. He wanted it to become a hub for artist collaborations and literary discussions on philosophy and wisdom, a space where pathbreaking ideas birthed and sprouted, a centre where lifelong friendships and trailblazing ventures were fostered. And the best part :). Isa is passionate about poetry and the written word and a voracious reader. As he spoke eloquently of Tagore and the Russian greats, I was intrigued.

He shared his own book and snippets of his journey with me.
Titled “Waiter”, the book entwines Isa’s journey from the slums of Istanbul to America, his experiences working in some of the trendiest restaurants and waiting on some of the biggest dignitaries, including Michelle Obama, with his love for philosophy, poetry and timeless wisdom.

I devoured the pages of his book on my train ride back home from DC. Isa’s story is exciting and spectacular. His reverence for the softness of life, the cultures, the peoples, the arts is humbling. A man of multiple talents, his words definitely left me desiring to dream big and achieve. His vision of creating a space where minds and hearts connect is much needed in our disconnected world.

Isa, if you read this, my sincere wish is for you to grow and thrive so children and people feel the warmth of a welcoming art loving community and I hope to do a book reading in the cafe someday!