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MAINS

AKARA WITH WHITE AND BROWN CRAB

This fusion has been inspired by my love for akara, which means spiced bean cake fritter in Yoruba. The inspiration comes from that joy of waking up to my mum frying akara, usually on a Saturday morning . Traditionally you can have fish or anything you like in the akara ball, similar to acaraje in Salvador, Brazil, where this dish has migrated. This dish is also inspired by the French-style crab bisque, which is thick and deep in flavour, the perfect companion to the akara.

JOLLOF RICE AND SUYA

Jolloff rice is known to be the ultimate party food in Nigeria. It involves a lot of loud music, friends and a pot taller than me, carefully guarded by a woman who would usually be known as ‘big mummy’. I wanted to recreate this celebratory dish in the way it is served. I have been very indulgent with its accompaniments yet retaining its authenticity with a moin-moin leaf.

SMOKED MACKEREL EFO RIRO ON A BED OF POUNDED YAM

“Na pounded yam give me power” Translated from pidgin English, pounded yam is the dish to make you strong, as the saying goes. Actually I find it does give you energy but could also make you sleepy if you have too much! 🤣 Efo-riro means “spinach mixed with something” in Yoruba, which can be meat or vegetables. I give my brother, Yomi, credit for this smoked mackerel efo riro. I serve it in a calabash, which is made from a type of squash and comes in handy as a lovely utensil for drinking palm-wine - a tasty alcoholic beverage made from the sap of a palm tree.

DESSERTS

VEGAN GURU AND EPA by our in house vegan chef

When translated from Yoruba, this means popcorn and groundnut. It’s a snack in Lagos that combines the two ingredients, mixed in a small bag by young kids in Lagos and sold at traffic jams. The memory me of sitting in the Lagos traffic with my brother on our way back from school has inspired this delightful vegan cashew nut cheesecake, which I really love

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