meet the founder

To put it simply, Toyo has loved eating for as long as she can remember. Her enthusiasm for enjoying good food led her to become curious about the workings of the kitchen from a young age. Eager to make herself useful as the eldest child after her Dad's untimely passing, she joined her Mum in the sizzling, simmering and singing that emanated from the stovetop - the engine of most Nigerian households. By the age of 11, she had established herself as the household Chef de Cuisine. When her Grandmothers would visit from Nigeria, she took the opportunity to pick up their tricks and techniques, a privilege earned only through observation, given the practical nature of traditional West African culinary education. 

When preparing dishes using the fridge and pantry staples at home, Toyo always enjoyed adding creative twists or incorporating ideas and ingredients from the different cuisines she has encountered. Her various life experiences have all left a mark on her palate. For example, some childhood years spent in Hong Kong meant an early introduction to the 'holy trinity' of ginger, garlic and spring onion, London school dinners (both pre and post Jamie Oliver revolution!) showed her the versatility of potato, and a year studying in Paris led to the discovery that crème anglaise is not just French for custard, but a different dessert sauce altogether. For Toyo, the marvel of food is its limitlessness - the endless possibilities for flavour combinations. For Toyo, food is culture, history, family and community, but most importantly, it is joy.

Toyo studied Law at Oxford and worked as a corporate lawyer before making the (not easy!) decision to take time out to pursue her passions. She went on to win Condé Nast Traveller's inaugural Future of Travel Award, and spent some time working at CNT in London. She currently spends her time between running supper clubs and offering private dining services, food content creation, recipe development, food, travel and culture writing, creative fiction writing, laughing at her own jokes and trying to learn as much as she can about her craft. Stay tuned for the next stop on Toyo's journey!