…Food Blogger & Podcast Host Captures the Visual Heritage & Legacy of Nigerian Food
Prominent marketing expert and food blogger, Iquo Ukoh, officially launched her new cookbook, Memories On A Platter: My Journey with Nigerian Food with the then Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Hon. Folasade Adefisayo at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos last December.
Recipes from the book capture the essence, ingredients, and dishes that make up Nigeria’s culinary diversity; highlighting the importance of preserving Nigeria’s identity through food.
From nostalgic food memories to conversations on climate change, small-scale farming, and its impact on food production, the event featured a panel discussion with industry leaders including Chef Michael Elegbede (Itan Kitchen), Uzo Orimolade (@UzozsFoodLabs), Toyin Onibanjo, CEO of August Secrets Limited, Akin Akinkugbe of (@TheHealthyBillionaire), and Idy Toye-Arulogun, author of Calabar Love Potion. The panel was moderated by Atim Ukoh, the Creative Director of Afrolems.
Memories On A Platter was formally launched in Toronto last month and the book was well received by audiences in North America. Guests enjoyed a curated menu of authentic Nigerian dishes that capture the tastes, textures, colours, and flavour complexities of Nigerian food and were immersed in a historical journey of Nigerian cuisine.
The event gave guests a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Memories On A Platter, and attendees sampled Nigerian staples like Ridi Chin Chin, Garri and Groundnut, Jollof rice, Dodo, Eba, Edesi Isip (Coconut Rice), Egusi soup, and Chapman drink. Ukoh transported guests into a place of nostalgia, reminding them of the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage.
In Africa, there’s been a gap in documenting our culinary techniques, regional delicacies, and diversity of flavors so I wanted to share the Nigerian food story with a global audience,” said Ukoh. “Our food conversations were centred around childhood frustrations in the kitchen and the perils of diaspora living. Guests shared the difficulties encountered in sourcing Nigerian ingredients abroad and the recipe changes they’ve had to make when recreating staple Nigerian dishes. “
Memories On A Platter is infused with rich cultural experiences, mind-blowing flavors, and stunning food photography. While the book is laced with nostalgic memories from the author’s childhood, it takes you on a historical journey of Nigerian cuisine from the 60s to the present day. The book has 130+ recipes and is available now on Amazon, Book Nook, and Roving Heights.
Early praise for the cookbook includes:
Chef Tunde Wey, Food Writer & Chef: “For a country spanning 250 different ethnic groups, there’s a certain ironic provincialism that Mrs. Ukoh’s work refutes. She reminds us about ingredients, dishes, and techniques from the kitchens of our outer provinces, towns, and markets; inspiring us to push our cuisine forward, blending the old with the new, to show us what Nigeria is and can be.”