As the first and only boy, I was not allowed into the kitchen to cook whenever I was with my mum. The best I did in the kitchen was to change the stove threading that linked to the kerosene compartment. Another thing I did best was to stand behind my mum while she was cooking. I remember watching every move she made from peeling the seasoning, to adding, lowering the heat and stirring. Sometimes, I was very curious, I ask questions and she answers. One day as she was off to work, the opportunity came. I had my sisters with me and we found nothing to eat at home after school. I took my chance to cook brown beans for my sisters and my mum. The end result was fantastic with a marshy finish. My mum came back and was very impressed and sang my praises. That really made me proud and made my confidence grow in the kitchen. I was only 9 years old at the time

 

I later went to my cousin’s house whilst in secondary school in Nigeria. There, we were all taught to be independent and allowed in the kitchen to make breakfast – Ogi. We also learnt to cook yam and pound it. We had to use pistol and mortar and occasionally sprinkle it with water to achieve the desired result .That experience of independence later helped me when I moved to the boarding house and later university.  Whilst at the boarding house, I and some friends will sneak into the bush to cook as the boarding house food was either not enough or taken away from us as juniors. We were helpless but had to survive with strategies and wisdom through those secondary school days.

 

Whilst in university in 2001, my uncle (Diran and Kemi Oguntoye) opened an eatery in Osun State. He hired a Chef who transferred the skills of cooking and baking to me for 2 years. That was where I learnt how to make Nigerian Meatpie. So you can see its runs in the family.