Food Blogging Has Contributed to a Cultural Evolution - Israel Essien (Blogger from Nigeria)

 

It is more than just a passion. Food blogging has contributed to a cultural evolution. With the rapid growth in popularity of food blogging, food in general has moved into the limelight.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

Sure! Born and raised in Nigeria. I'm a Chef and an energetic sales professional with a knack for matching customers with optimal products and services to meet their specific needs. With years of experience in Marketing Communications, with a strong visual sense, excellent writing skills, and the ability to translate marketing ideas and design concepts across all organizational levels.

I've always enjoyed cooking and creating contents, even going back to high school. This led me to pursue food-related passions, for example during my National Youth Service, where I was the HEAD CHEF of our platoon’s cookery team that won a cooking competition. In addition to my passion for food, I got to start my own food blog, FoodBlog9ja. FoodBlog9ja is a premier media channel which exquisite concerns are thrilling its audience with food contents – pictorial, written copies or video – including but not restricted to promoting the African continental dishes, healthy eating habits, quick tips to creating delectable recipes with its various credible and widely viewed channels.

After university, I took up a few professional courses on Food as Medicine, Restaurant Management, and not forgetting my Digital Marketing training from Google. I’m currently learning at the International Centre For Culinary Arts, ICCA, Dubai.

2. Which is your favourite cuisine and dish?

My favorites would be the African, Greek, Italian, Mexican and Japanese cuisines (I am such a big time FOODIE, I love to try out new dishes). They all have different amazing benefits and that’s why I like them.
However, I won’t tell you my favorite dish. I suspect I don’t know what it is.
Instead, I’ll tell you my favorite things to eat/consume, in no particular order:
Fried plantains ,Fruit Salad ,Shawarma, Roasted chicken and Turkey ,Pepper Soup ,Pork chops , Jollof Rice , Edikaikong , Egusi ,Pain aux raisins, Parfait ,Small Chops ,I think I’ll stop here.

3. Should food blogging be just a passion or can it become a regular career?

It is more than just a passion. Food blogging has contributed to a cultural evolution. With the rapid growth in popularity of food blogging, food in general has moved into the limelight. Cookery books are quite popular now more than ever, so are food shows. Chefs are equally being recognized globally for their crafts, they are now as popular as music and movie stars. Our society have undoubtedly opened themselves up to enjoying food contents and paying for them. Food bloggers now run paid adverts. Brands can now pay for airtime on food blogs or TV shows, or partner with food bloggers to create amazing contents. So, yes it can be a regular career.

4. Which restaurants/food joints would you recommend to food lovers?

I love food adventures. I love travelling to find the best restaurants and/or food joints, cos travelling help me feed my soul, and body, and so are the meals. My best pick would be Lagos/Abuja in Nigeria, Tokyo in Japan, Rome in Italy, Stone Town in Zanzibar, just to mention a few. These cities have some of the finest restaurant and food joints one would really love.

5. What makes you appreciate a particular dish or a restaurant and talk about it on your blog?

For one to properly recognize the nuances in food and to form opinions about them, one has to take their time. For me, I love beautiful and serene environments. One of the things I look out for when visiting a new restaurant is the ambience, if it is welcoming. Also, when trying out a dish, I pay attention to the basic taste groups such as “is this sweet? Sour? Bitter? Salty? Pleasant savory taste?’. And then I consider other qualities like pungency, spiciness, and heartiness. I equally focus on the texture of a meal. For instance, I check to see if the salad leaves are crisp, or if the bread has the appropriate crunch. Then I proceed to share my opinion on my blog.

6. Is there a dish you particularly associate yourself with?

Yes, I lead a healthy lifestyle, so I associate myself with healthy diets. Outside that, I enjoy eating Jollof Rice, Salads, Fried Plantain, Turkey, Fish, Egusi and Edikaikong Soup from Nigeria.

 

Israel Essien - Food blogger

Interview by - N.MURALI KRISHNA