Reimagining Nigerian Cuisine, through innovative use of ingredients, in season produce, presentation and documentation

1. On Nigerian Cuisine
33rd Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE)
Annual International Conference
11th November, 2015
Ozoz Sokoh

3. Explorer
Geologist . Food lover . Writer . Photographer
Curiosity
Data gathering & observation of the facts
Synthesis
Concept Selection
Experimentation

4. {Personal Goal}
Create Awareness of Nigerian Cuisine

5. {A Brief History}
First Food
Edinburgh
1985
University
Liverpool
1997
Home
Port Harcourt
2011
Farafina
TEDx
2014
Work
The Netherlands
Akara & Acaraje
2009
{Enjoyment} {Nostalgia}
{Discovery}
{Reflection} {Promise}
New Nigerian
Kitchen
Future
{Potential}

6. {A History Lesson - Akara & Acaraje}
Akara
Acaraje
Akara & Acaraje
One dish, two approaches
Alimenta & Comida

7. {Cuisine}
…a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes,
and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region.
A cuisine is primarily influenced by the ingredients that are available locally or
through trade.
Religious food laws, such as Hindu, Islamic and Jewish dietary laws, can also
exercise a strong influence on cuisine.
Wikipedia

8. { Nigerian Cuisine}
Multi-layered, pungent, aromatic
Traditional techniques
Geography
Staple foods
Fresh Produce
Minimal preservation

9. { Traditional Nigerian Kitchen}
Sustenance
Carbohydrates & Soup/ Stews
Portuguese & Brazilian influences
‘Slow-cooked’
Pungent
Rich flavours

10. { New Nigerian Kitchen}
Celebration
In Season
Fresh & Vibrant
Light
Exploration of flavours & textures
Preservation
Documentation

11. { My Philosophy}
No fear
Ingredients as ingredients
Look far & wide
Read & write
Practice, practice, practice
Dream

12. {In Season}
Ube’camole
Agbalu’lade Walnut-Scent leaf soup Spiced groundnuts
Mango puff-puff
Soursop icecream

13. Preservation
Incorporating new preparations
{New Ideas}
Frozen Agbalumo
Dried Agbalumo
Agbalumo liqueur
Agbalumo – Banana ice cream with groundnut brittle

14. Great crunch factor
Gluten-free
Cornmeal replacement
{Ingredients as Ingredients - Garri}
Crusted Fish
Yam balls
Farofa – toasted garri with greens
Avocado balls
With avocado
Garden egg slices

15. Jibaritos
Plantain & Suya sandwich
Plantain noodles
Plantain
meatpies
Pounded
Plantain many ways…
{The Spectrum – Plantain}
Because there’s more to Plantain than Dodo
Plantain dumplings
with
chocolate
Bole with cheese &
groundnuts
Plantain salad

16. Pawpaw in scent leaf syrup’
Scent leaf Mojito
Classic scent leaf pepper soup
Cream of scent leaf pepper soup
{The Spectrum – Scent Leaves}
New Approaches
Scent leaf curry
Scent leaf dip
Scent leaf – feta cheese corn
Sweet & Savoury

17. {Abacha - Deconstruction & Reconstruction}
Street Food
Abacha Bobozi Mbrakasi
From two to more ingredients
Finish with lime
On the streets Coconut & Cassava
Chilies & Herbs

18. {The Spectrum – Snails}
Classic Snails
Baked snails
Smoky Snail Jollof
Snail Salad
Snail hash

19. {The Spectrum – Suya Spice}
Cauliflower Suya
Suya burger
Smoky Snail Jollof
Suya Swordfish
Puff-puff Suya skewerRoasted butternut suya Roasted chicken suya

20. Hot, as ‘tea’
Cordial
Sauce
Ice lollies
{Zobo - Deconstruction & Reconstruction}
Global recipes & techniques
Zobo ChapmanCold, like Punch
Wine cooler Chili Sauce

21. Garden egg sauce
Garden egg – Okwu oji
Pickled garden eggs
reinvented
Chutney
{The Spectrum – Garden Eggs}
Garden egg curry
Technique, technique, technique

22. {The Spectrum – Sugar Cane Juice}
Juicing sugarcane With lemons
With ginger & lime
With watermelon and green tea
With kumquats

23. DocumentationLanguage Celebration
Efficient & Sustainable
Food systems
Awareness. Techniques
{Framework For The Future}
Culinary Institute

24. {Nigerian Cookbooks / Bookstores}
Some Books
The Nigerian Cookbook Miriam Isoun and H.O. Antonio
South of the Sahara Elizabeth Jackson
Contemporary Nigerian Cuisine Cookbook Funke Koleosho
Kudeti Cookbook
Bookstores
Amazon.com
CSS Bookstore, Bookshop House, Marina, Lagos
Quintessence, Lagos
The Hubmedia Bookstore, The Palms

25. {Some Nigerian Food Blogs}
Funke Koleosho
9jafoodie
My Belle Don Full
Uzo Food Labs
Observation in progress
Afrolems
Eating Nigerian
Oya Come Chop
1qplatter
Dooney’s Kitchen
Lohi’s Creations
Nigerian Lazy Chef
Dobby’s Signature
African Chop

26. {Food Websites I Love}
Food52
The Kitchn
Saveur
Bon Appetit
Smitten Kitchen
The Pioneer Woman
Serious Eats
Ideas in Food

27. Thank you
www.kitchenbutterfly.com
kitchenbutterfly
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