Experiencing global and local culinary all in one festival was the major drive for the people who made their way to the just concluded 2023 GTCO Food & Drink Festival at the GTCentre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event, which was themed ‘A Celebration Of All Things Food’, pulled interesting experiential narratives for men, women and children who participated in the three-day festival.

For Teminioluwa Samuel, the experience started from Eko Hotel Roundabout where mini-busses were designated for the GTCO Food & Drink festival.

“This edition is my first, as I needed to have the experience my friends and colleagues who have attended the previous editions talked about. When I got to the Eko Hotel roundabout, I was surprised to hear bus drivers shout ‘GTCO Event’. The Island is my route and there was never a one-stop to GTCentre. So, that for me was an indication that I was headed for something big.

“On getting there, the fleet of cars stuck in traffic heading to the festival and the crowd of beautiful looking people from all walks of life, including visitors from across the world, telling from their skin colour, got me wondering if we were all actually attending a food festival or some other event.

Now, a step into the premises with the magnitude of people, food vendors, and children playground – everything felt out of this world. I felt like I was attending an international festival where you have people from all over the world.”

She continued: “Aside from the top notch food and drink by the food vendors, the master classes were sections I would give anything to participate in all over again. The chefs, both local and foreign gave a lifetime experience that made food and drink look beyond the ordinary. I learnt quite a lot from the three master classes I attended as the chefs gave me and everyone in these classes an experience that would stay with us forever.”

Narrating her experience to journalists, World Class Indian chef from the United Kingdom, Romy Gill, said: “I was quite fascinated about Nigerian food and how they taste so good. Also, Africans and Nigerians care about the people. They are very welcoming. I am loving Nigeria.”

During her master class session where she made Chicken and Samosa and other cuisines, Gill said: “Chicken and Samosa is an Indian street food but it’s not a quick one to prepare as it comes with about different layers of flavours. The secret of Indian food is in its simple ingredients with great nutritional value.”

Gill also noted that the food industry is growing and social media has made things easy with people travelling around the world to learn cuisines from other continents. “People are now aware and they can stay together and learn. Social media is great and you can see what is happening around the world.”

The Indian chef further said that in the UK, Indian food “is on the top list as the people love Indian food. The UK is the most multicultural place in the world. We have people from different countries making good food. It is not just Indian food, even Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, and Nigerian foods are available in the UK. There are so many lovely chefs doing lovely things out there.”