Lost and Found in Lagos

Lost in Lagos

I had hoped to explore food and restaurants during my stay in Lagos. But just as in the US, restaurants in Nigeria, at least in Lagos, are closed. We are on lock-down. However Sam gave me plenty of research material, with 12 back issues of a life-style magazine called Lost in Lagos.

We ordered dinner three nights ago from Casper & Gambini’s, “an international all-day restaurant-cafe providing a fine dining experience,” the Lost in Lagos description says. I was not disappointed. The steak was tender and rare enough, and the mashed potatoes creamy. The vegetables were not exciting but satisfactory. All in all, a delicious meal that was enough for two nights. The carrot-ginger soup which accompanied the meal was fabulous!

“Lost in Lagos magazine by Lost in a City is a high quality monthly magazine launched in February 2017. The magazine is designed to showcase what the city has to offer with lifestyle features on food, fashion, art, entertainment and events,” according to their website. I love their tagline – “Discover, Experience and Love Lagos.”

Under editor-in-chief Olamide Udoma-Ejorh, Lost in Lagos debuted in November 2017. It is distributed free in selected supermarkets, hotels and shops.

It reminds me of the glossy magazines that started arriving unbidden in my mailbox in the US in the last two or three years. But this is much more interesting and well-written.

The first one I read focuses on music. Mona Zutshi Opubor, a writer I’ve referenced before, wrote a lovely feature about her experience with the universal language of music.

When she was a child her mother convinced her she had a beautiful singing voice. It wasn’t until university that she discovered both she and her mother were tone deaf! Today her children are musical, and they “let” her join in as long as she only mouths the words!

Each issue has a “Spot of the Month” which features a restaurant, and a restaurant review. In November each year the focus is all on restaurants. New ones are opening every month, and the variety outstrips anything in Fairfield County Connecticut!

Ada Osakwe and Nuli

Ada Osakwe is a Nigerian economist, entrepreneur and corporate executive. She’s been a development economist, investment banker, and adviser to Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. She is the founder and CEO of Agrolay Ventures which invests in African agricultural food-related companies.

She has also founded a group of restaurants called Nuli’s featuring farm-to-table, fresh ingredients. Their menu lists smoothies, sandwiches, salad, and “quinoa oatmeal.”

Sam gave me her name as a source for my book. When I looked her up, I found she was interviewed a few days ago on CNBC Africa. I hope I’ll get a chance to talk to her. And I definitely want to order from Nuli’s!

Nigerian Words in the Oxford English Dictionary

There were 29 Nigerian words added to the Oxford Dictionary in January. On March 14 I mentioned the word “agric” which refers to products grown with “modern” methods rather than traditional.

One from the list that refers to food is “buka” which means a roadside restaurant, often with the food laid out buffet style. Another is “Mama Put” which refers both to roadside food establishments run by a woman and the woman herself. The customer tells the woman what he or she wants and gets served. They say, “Mama Put” when they want more food added to the plate!

My favorite? “Next tomorrow,” which as you can probably guess, means the day after tomorrow. I’ve heard it ever since I’ve been here.

On the Lighter Side

My cousin Victor sent me this, purportedly from someone who had waited today for a grocery store opening. He said,

“I was in a long line at 7:45 am today at the grocery store that opened at 8 for seniors only. A young man came from the parking lot and tried to cut in at the front of the line, but an old lady beat him back into the parking lot with her cane.

He returned and tried to cut in again but an old man punched him in the gut, then kicked him to the ground and rolled him away. As he approached the line for the 3rd time he said, “If you don’t let me unlock the door, you’ll never get in there.”