My Guide to Food – Exploring and Mapping intersections between Nigerian Cuisine and Foods of the World
A few weeks ago, I gave my first ever keynote speech at the Vancouver Island University’s Food and Sovereignty symposium on Reclaiming and Reimagining Food History. Here’s an excerpt from the announcement: “Keynote speaker Ozoz Sokoh will highlight how food is more than nourishment for the body but also an important aspect of people’s history and […]
Plantain is a starchy ‘fruit’ that’s used throughout its various stages of ripeness. Through its colour gradients, from green to black, the sweetness and texture change. It’s important to say that in Nigerian cooking, most traditional applications and preparation of plantain are savory from appetizer to mains and sides so even when sweet ripe plantains […]
Last year, skin powders and purees occupied my thoughts. Tomatoes, peaches, plum and lemons are firm favourites. Here are my notes for tomato skin powder What is it? Dried tomato skins, ground and used as seasoning. I combine mine with salt, pepper and other spices Why do you skin the tomatoes? I use tomatoes in […]
I wrote this post in 2020, fresh to Canada. I knew I’d forget what the early days felt like so I kept a journal – about thoughts, feelings and importantly, eats! January 2020 Our first shopping trip is dominated by pasta and tomatoes, bread and butter and pasta. Three kinds – linguine, farfalle, fusilli. And […]
I wrote this a year ago in January 2020 days after we moved. I wanted to be intentional about documenting the journey, and observing myself – the things that I did for comfort and what helped. Pepper soup helped. A lot! Even before we arrive, I know I’ll have pepper soup in the first few […]
It’s exactly one year since Canada became home. When we moved in January of 2020, we had no idea what the year would hold save for new schools, work, seasons and more. Twelve months later, I look back with amazement, wonder, and yes uncertainty. On the 23rd of January, 2012, I wrote about my 2nd […]
Or how I ate in Paris. This post is about a trip to Paris in 2009, travelling for the joy of it, not dictated by work, not a family trip, just my ‘friend’ and I. ***** I dream of food in Paris – soft, flaky croissants with shells that rain confetti on your clothes, flaking […]
Thinking & Eating – Recipes to Nourish & Inspire by the The School of Life is right up my alley. Why? It explores food as part of life, as more than eating. and why I admire their work a lot. Side note – I love Alain de Botton’s writing and this piece on crushes has […]
I grew up saying A for Apple and now I’m older, all I do is say A for Agbalumo but still, apples rock. For many years of my life, I ate apples and drank apple juice and cider and did no more. I threw away apple skins and still ate my apples till my eyes […]
Hi. My name is Ozoz. I’m a Nigerian food explorer who’s on a quest – to find and share the sweet, sweet nectar that’s food