Olaoluwa Akintayo emerged as the overall winner of the first-ever Sabi Chef competition on the night of Friday 8, December 2023. He received a 1.5 million cheque after two cooking rounds with 9 other contestants at the Muri Okunola Park where the event took place.
Before this competition, Olaoluwa had pursued his childhood passion for cooking by actively participating in culinary competitions as an undergraduate at the prestigious University of Ibadan (UI) where he studied Archaeology. He entered for the Sabi chef competition to advance his culinary interests.
The Sabi Chef competition, curated by Newspread.ng, was organised to celebrate the street food culture and empower street food vendors who contribute immensely to Nigerian cuisine and gastronomy traditions. In this exclusive interview, Olaoluwa talks about his journey leading up to the event, during its unfolding, and the aftermath.
The interview has been edited for clarity. Excerpts:
Can you tell us about yourself and what inspired you to become a chef?
I am a graduate of Archaeology from the University of Ibadan. I’m a personal chef and a food enthusiast.
My passion for cooking started when I was little. As the first child, I had to cook for my siblings when my parents were not around. Later, when I left home for the University of Ibadan, I started developing a keen interest in cooking. I enjoyed finding pictures of foods that are appealing to the eye and I started recreating them for myself.
What are the concrete steps you took to develop your passion and skills?
I dedicated time to searching for food online and cooking it for myself. I participated in cooking competitions on campus, also. In my final year, I co-founded a food brand with a friend. The brand suffered set-back when I had to go for my service National Youth Service (NYSC) and then I was no longer based in Ibadan.
You’re a personal Chef, did you train for that?
I participated in a contest while in Ibadan. It is known as the Ibadan Business Festival. I won the competition and part of the reward was an internship opportunity with an event catering company. That was where I got the professional training to become a personal Chef.
What does winning the Sabi Chef competition mean to you, compared to other competitions you have participated in previously?
I think the prize, the audience, and the location made it special. This will give me more visibility and credibility for building my brand. I’m in Lagos now and I think more people will get to know me and the work I do because of this feat.
What makes the dish you prepared special?
According to the judges, the taste of the Yamarita and stir-fried noodles and its presentation were great. For the presentation, I packaged the food in a takeaway pack instead of a plate unlike others. This passed more message related to the theme of the event to street vendors.
What are your next steps as the Sabi Chef champion?
I hope to further my culinary journey by going to a culinary school. And after that, I also hope to own a restaurant.
If you had your restaurant, what would be make up, including the atmosphere, menu, and overall dining experience?
I would prefer serving Nigerian food in a more relaxed and comfortable environment.
Do you have any mentor or role model that has inspired you in your journey?
Mary Zeelicious Kitchen and Geena Foodies and Spice.
If you could cook with any celebrity chef, who would it be?
Mary Zeelicious Kitchen.
What are your top 3 favourite foods?
I don’t have a single go-to dish because the world of food is just too delicious to limit myself! But if you twist my arm (laugh), I’d say Jollof rice, Egusi, and Spaghetti.
What challenges do you see facing Nigerian cuisine and how can we promote its unique flavors and traditions?
Nigerian cuisine is not well appreciated and celebrated. Many times, I see people trying to be classy by eating foreign foods. We need to change that. We need to promote our cuisine. And I think that’s what Sabi Chef is trying to do with this competition for street vendors.
Do you have any advice for future Sabi Chef contestants?
One valuable lesson I learned from the judges is to be simple. Be yourself, never doubt yourself, and outdo yourself.