Community Corner

La Jolla Business Owner Remembers Her Meeting with Nelson Mandela

La Jolla resident and business owner Bibi Kasrai recently spoke to San Diego 6 about her chance meeting with Nelson Mandela in 1994.

Kasrai, the owner of Harvard Cookin' Girl on Girard Avenue, said she met Mandela, who died Thursday at the age of 95, on a flight from Washington, D.C. to London.

She recalls her attempts to use to the First Class bathroom, a run-in with a flight attendant and what ultimately led to the meeting of Mandela. She even has a photo of the meeting, which was taken by a journalist also aboard the flight.

Kasrai stayed in touch with Mandela too.

"He's one of those people in whose presence you feel like there is something bigger than life. He'll be very missed," she told San Diego 6.

Watch the full interview above.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here