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My Experience At The Ongoing Gt Food and Drinks Festival, 2019.

by Chef WaleApril 30, 2019no comment

Gt food and drink

The on-going Gtb sponsored food and drink programme started few years ago, 2016 to be precise and it has featured the best of the best vendors across the country.

Not only that, it has brought in some world renowed chefs across the globe.

It started with Internationally Acclaimed Chefs like;

* Chef Siba (Siba’s Table)

* Chef Ed Kimba

* Chef Sunny Anderson (Food Network Star)

* Chef Raphael Duntoye etc

* Chef Jeff Mauro (The Kitchen) Etc

Also present are our own Chefs making waves around Africa and the World;

* Chef Stone of Red Dish Chronicles

* Chef Tolu Eros

* Chef Fregz

* Chef Benedict

* Chef Ette ( The Rotisserie Chef)

In summarily, the who of who of food and Creme de Lacreme of food are all present.

VENDORS

This is where I’m going. One impossible thing that Gt food and drink festival have been able to achieve is to bring together over 300 seasoned vendors across Nigeria.

This vendors are highly sought after and having them all assembled together in one place to a foodie is heaven.

Some of the vendors over the years and presently are:

* Ofada boy

* Bukka

* BBQ Cravings

* Ette’s BBQ

* Lavada cocktails and more

* Grandma’s Hut

* Dundu Nation

* Zizi’s Chocolate

* Wing it and many more…..

My Lovely Experience

Going to the festival was a time of unwinding from my stress. Food is my hubby and work and eating food made by other vendors is a real source of joy for me.

Although, I missed not going with family and friends, However, I made up for it by eating the beat of the best foods the festival have to offer.

I started with desserts. I wanted to wet my appetite with a sweet confection and zizi’s chocolate cake was a winner.

Good thing about the festival is many of the vendors offers free tasting of their products and zizi’s chocolate won me over.

The cake was rich in chocolate and divine. You still have the opportunity to get it as it is still currently on. I made a video for your viewing pleasure.

Then after my chocolate, I decide to attend a master class by Chef Shota from Nagasaki on The Art Of Making Sushi.

Chef Shota used Starchy or cake making rice. Boiled it with vinegar, sugar salt.

Filling was sliced cucumer and carrot while the wraps was seaweed.

It could be enjoyed with different sauce or soysauce.

It was awesome time of lecture. The lecture lasted about 1 hour after which I decided to go for BBQ and Sliders from Wing it.

I ordered for two packs of Spicy wings and Beef Sliders from Wing It; One for me, one for my gangs at home.

This decision I didn’t regret because it was the tastiest wings I have ever tasted. I loved it.

I had to restrain myself from eating the second pack.

Before I left, I took a cup of cocktail which I said should include 2 shots of gin. I literally didn’t feel anything until after 3 minutes and I was floating… Lollll

Summary is; I enjoyed my time and more good news is the fact that the festival is still on and we have a public holiday by Wednesday which is May 1 (Workers day).

Plan to be there…. What a wawu!!!!!

Food News,

Laughter and Joy as Nigerian Vlogger and Blogger Sisi Yemmie Welcomes Her 2nd Child

by Chef WaleFebruary 27, 2019no comment

Pregnancy period and birth is a moment every women dread However, when the baby comes, no greater joy can be experience by the mother and family as a whole.

It feels so personal because she’s a popular food and lifestyle blogger and vlogger.

Her name is Yemisi Odusanya otherwise known as Sisi Yemmie.

She has cooked with the celebrity Chef fregz and other prominent people and she makes awesome YouTube video.

She’s someone I have lots of respect for personally and I want to use this opportunity to congratulate her on the delivery of her bouncing baby girl.

More blessings to your family.

Food News, More,

Caterbakes Food News: New blog inclusive: Dominos Nigeria Unveils Mini (Smallie) Pizzas

by Chef WaleFebruary 23, 2019no comment

As a chef, I personally don’t fancy pizzas majorly because I feel they are over-rated, too expensive and also because many companies and restaurants I have eaten pizzas from didn’t impress me.

However when dominos came, they set a great standard by not only producing good pizzas but creatively tapping into our local cuisines and bringing out pizza recipes that identifies with the country.

A good example is the West African Suya Pizza of which we know where Suya comes from. This is one of my favorite because it’s more meaty and spicy unlike the tropical.

Another good example is the chicken Jollof Pizza which is a mix Jollof rice, grilled chicken and hot chilled

I believe whoever came up with the idea wasn’t brought up in West Africa because Nigerians, though love their Jollof , will prefer their rice on plate.

However, it’s very creative and a good way to show they care.

Smallie Pizza

I have got mixed feelings with the invention of the dominos smallie Pizza which is less than 2$ (#550).

While I believe this will be a good opportunity for many who have always been wishing to buy pizza but couldn’t afford it because of the price, I’m of the opinion that the smallie pizza might break the pizza hype and prestige it has been enjoying for some time now.

In Nigeria for example, you just don’t wake up to go eat a pizza. It’s a “treat” because it’s not cheap. When you take your girlfriend out for pizza, she’s super exicted… Now, that’s “gone”.

The euphoria won’t be there as people that preferred to eat shawarma because of the price range can comfortably walk into dominos and order their smallie pizza.

However, don’t forget I mentioned earlier that I have a mixed feelings concerning it, so as I’m bereaving the death of the pizza hype in advance, I’m also of the opinion that dominos will make a huge turnover in profit and this is because you can now ditch shawarma, chicken and chips and comfortably opt in for pizza in comfort and style.

Packaging is on point and very presentable. There are 6 new flavours created for the smallie pizza so you have options (Imagine!!!!)

Fiery Suya topped with Suya and red chilli
Hot Chic topped with cheese chicken and chilli
Smallie Pepp topped with pepperoni and green peppers
Sweet Marghie for cheese lovers
Smallie Beef and Sausage; you know what to expect with this.

I love when competition exist between companies. It makes the consumer experience the best of the particular products they are offering and whoever is leading the market knows they can’t afford to perform below par as their competitors are always on their tail.

Other pizza companies have been sent a message by this new product and they now understand that dominos are not here to play. They are here to stay and compete.

Let me know how you feel about this and know surely, the chef loves comments and it won’t go unanswered.

Also, don’t forget to our email so you could always receive a notification of our news, hot recipes, health topics and food bussiness tips. Love you.

Food News,

Coca-Cola vs Nigerian Biggie Cola (Rite foods) : The Great Strategy (A Consumer’s Research)

by Chef WaleOctober 17, 20182 comments

THE GREAT STRATEGY

Disclaimer: This is based solely on my observation as a consumer and my personal research. We will not take any responsibility for any words reconstructed here.

Okay!!! Let’s start.

Coca-Cola, which is one of America’s fortune 500 companies is unarguably one of the most successful beverage drink company in the world; if not the most successful.

They have almost perfected or probably perfected one of their goals which is coca cola product being on every lips in the world.

Narrowing it down to Nigeria and Africa generally, it’s safe to say Coca cola brand has conquered Africa as they are the most consumed in Africa especially in Nigeria where the 7up company were always in fierce competition.

However, there is this Mentality in Nigeria that Coca-cola brand are for the rich while the 7up products for the “small boys” (Only God knows how that was implanted in our minds as kids).

The dominance of Coca Cola company continued unabated until 2016 when rite foods introduced bigi beverages which came in Cola, orange flavours and bottled water.

RITE FOODS

I won’t go into the details of their company as focus is on beverage. “In their words, they realised sausages must be consumed with drinks; thus, their decision to start making drinks”.

STRATEGY (THE GENESIS)

The first distinctive move by the rite food was to increase their bottle size to 65cl. Probably because they are proudly a Nigerian Company, they understand that Nigerians loves quantity. These, in the beginning, definitely got Nigerians interested and curious. While some refuse to give them a trial taste, Many including me decided to buy all brands.

Conclusion was, from my perspective, that they were trying to hard to please. This is because the beverages was too sweet and too harsh. So many went back to Coca cola products as size alone seems not to be enough.

OPPORTUNITIES AND OPPORTUNIST

This went on for some time before the Nigerian economy went downside and the Coca cola company and 7up company decided to increase the price of their 50cl bottles from #100 to #150.

Immediately this happened, Coca cola quickly revealed another size of Coke and Fanta called the solo bottles which was sold at #100, so their bigger bottle was sold at #150 (Note that both Coca cola and 7up company have increased their 50cl bottle to 60cl because of the increase in their prices However, bigi beverages retained their size and their price)

(Image credit: deviant)

This uncomfortable adjustments by both Coca Cola company and 7up Company have already forced some Nigerians who earns less than 2$ a day and have big appetite to FOLLOW BIGI COMPANY.

By the way, these set of Nigerians are in millions because over 30 percent of Nigerians are in that condition .

These adjustments didn’t last up to a month last year when the 7up company producing beverages like Pepsi and Mirinda reverted back to their normal price of #100 and back to their bottle size of 50cl.

These made most Nigerians rush back to the 7up bottles and these is because of the financial instability of the country which can easily be seen on world record.

At this stage, it was safe to say Nigerians are not faithful to any brand… Just the brand that gives us the perceived best!!!!

While all these (competition between bigi and 7up company) was happening, Coca cola seems uninterested because they refuse to bring their price down nor did they stop the production of their solo bottles.

Personally, I tried the mini-bottle once and vow never to buy again because I only took one gulp and 90 percent was gone (I wasn’t refreshed at all)… Maybe the ladies would be anyway.

BIGI SUPERIOR REIGN

While all the ruckus was going on and each company were working out ways to be the leading consumer product, the rite companies suddenly brought out or made more popular their bigi TROPICAL.

If you don’t forget, they retained their PRICE, SIZE. After tasting the Tropical and fallen for it, I decided to give their bigi Cola and orange another chance and I was blown away; Alas, they have worked on the harshness and after taste, it was awesome!!!

Even the after taste that repulsed me had been eradicated. Now, the problem was: there was absolutely no more reason why I should buy an over priced #150 Coca Cola or their under sized Mini bottled products especially in the state of the economy.

During this process, I wrote on my social media platform that I hope Coca cola Nigeria won’t regret their Negligence and they under estimating the Rite Company.

To the present situation, Coca Cola has reduced the price of their Mini bottles to #80 and brought down the price of their Pina-apple flavour to #100.

More over, I see the bigi beverages being consumed everywhere and I of the opinion that the Coca cola company better come up with a very good product or innovation or else, they will lose more clients.

Although, They still majorly controls the Nigerian events and ceremony arena as Coca cola beverages are mostly served in events but I believe that might soon change if they don’t innovate.

Yes! The Coca cola beverage company has made little changes however, Will that be enough to get back the customers they have lost? I will leave that to be answered by YOU as we all are consumers!!!!

I love you guys and I would love to hear from you. Your comments and all. Let’s discuss this.

Caterbakes By Chef Wale