I’m overjoyed to share the cover of my debut cookbook, Chop Chop, with you which is available to pre-order now! The book is officially on sale 18 March 2025.
To learn more, check out my BIO for all the details
Chop Chop weaves together gorgeous recipes from across Nigeria, with stunning photographs (if I do say so myself!), essays, ingredient deep dives, history, and more. What a journey, what a time, and what an absolute blessing that I get to share this with you.
This book means the world to me, and I hope it will to you.
If you know me, you know how much I love cookbooks, writing, Nigerian cuisine, and global foodways, and that’s what you’ll find here, in this book. Writing this book has been one of the scariest, most rewarding, and hardest journeys of my life :) and I’m grateful to God and so many people for bringing this to life.
Pre-order a few copies of the book for yourself, your friends and family, libraries, schools, offices, and all the places that could do with joy, history, knowledge, and beautiful food.
The list is long! Here are my first thanks - this book would not exist without @jamesransom_nyc , @anne.e.mcbride , and @jonahstraus . Thank you.
Thank you to my editors and publishers:
@julep30 at @artisan_books@zoemaslow and @katiest_gram at @appetite_randomhouse@eimasuen and @anwulipriscilla at @narrativelscape@bbenwick
#ChopChop #ChopChopCookbook #Debutcookbook #Nigeriancuisine #coverreveal #bookreveal
Hi. I feel like it's a good time to reintroduce myself and share a bit about my journey #fromgeologytogastronomy.
I'm happy to answer any QUESTIONS - ask in the comments, the DMs, whatever suits you and I'll do my best to answer them all even if I have to do so in batches.
My name is Ozoz, full name OZOZOMA. In Igarra, it means "Everyone should give birth to children" (literally - I have two adults and one teenager), and I think it suits me metaphorically too 🤣.
I’m a Nigerian food explorer, and educator who currently makes her home in Mississauga, part of the Treaty Lands and Territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
My debut cookbook, CHOP CHOP, is an invitation to the deliciousness, vibrance, and abundance of Nigerian cuisine. Bold, confident, joyous, and full of interesting knowledge. IT IS OUT on the 18 of MARCH 2025 - all the LINKS TO PRE-ORDER and learn more ARE IN MY BIO. ❤️💛💙
#ChopChopCookbook
#Nigeriancuisine
#Debutcookbook
#bookcover #booklover
Stills from @nybookfair@crowhoprarebooks - thank you
Some things that stood out for me
- lots of people collect for a variety of reasons
- specialties are fascinating. I loved the first edition store I came across where they focus on first signed editing
- there's a wide range of subject matter. Gastronomy was my fave and even that included things like stamps - I was thrilled to buy some @absolutvodka ones. Coming up
I love it! Much!!
#rarebooks
Jollof rice!! Whilst not officially the national dish of Nigeria (in fact West Africa), it certainly is the most celebrated nationally and internationally. In my conversation with Ozoz of @kitchenbutterfly , she shares her tips and secrets to what makes a perfect Jollof rice.
There is so much more to Nigerian cuisine and foodways. Full episode out next week. Stay tuned.
#nigerianfood #jollofrice #nigerianfoodways #foodhistory #foodpodcasts
Thrilled to be exploring a new world, that of rare and antiquarian books.
I've tried to embark on this career path before
💐 @musingsbyuyai who helped me think through a variety of possibilities
🙏🏾 And then recently, I chatted with Keith of @crowhoprarebooks in the process of me acquiring some rare Nigerian and West African books. We got talking, Keith mentioned the @abaararebooks@nybookfair held at the @parkavearmory . And on a wish, prayer, @amtrak train ticket, I went to New York.
📚 The fair was eye-opening. I went twice over the weekend and got to learn a lot and be inspired.
💐 I met @lizzyoungbookseller and @cynthiagraubart and had lovely chats and again was/am deeply inspired.
All this to say, I'm embracing this next phase of my life, and looking forward to learning and sharing more.
Check out my latest newsletter weekendwednesdays.substack.com
#antiquarian #bookfair #rarebooks
Masa is a type of small chops popular among communities scattered along historical trans-Saharan trade routes across West Africa.
Wild rice hand-collected by the Métis, Dene, and Cree harvesters of North West Saskatchewan and brought to us by the good folx at @grazeandgatherfood is mixed into jasmine rice sourced at @riseupfoodstoronto
Batter goes through a quick fermentation before forming masa spheres cooked in delicious af grassfed butter from St Brigid's Creamery.
Served with Zobo Coulis, hibiscus simmered with cinnamon, honeysuckle fruit, and strawberries. Getting served with some maple scentleaf whipped cream tableside
For our ADUN course at a private chef dinner for csi toronto
Traditionally, dessert is not an important part of the repertoire of a Nigerian kitchen; sweet cravings are usually sated with snacks hawked in the streets or fresh fruits. This captures our way of hankering for sweetness, a detour that ripens into adventure, something unpredictable, a little wild. Thanks to sisi @kitchenbutterfly for the borrowing of her kasko pan collection for us to rnd with, and a quick phone tutorial
Recent writing and words in a variety of places. Thank you. And you'll find them via the first couple of links in my bio
Writing ✍🏾
@recipesproject - sharing my personal experience with recipe cards as a gift for J, my first daughter when she went off to college. And reflections on her return, with them
@republicjournal - #eatthebooks, exploring food in Measuring Time @helonhabila . One of my favorite intersections to explore - food and the written word
Features 📖
@brittlepaper - on books that help you travel the world by @ainehiedoro@nytmag - on favorite condiments, sauces, and seasonings by @marthacheng
Grocery shopping, markets, food stalls are some of my happiest places. Here are a few places I visited when I was in DC
📍 Washington DC
🗓️ April 2026
🌵 1 - 6, at a Mexican store in @unionmarketdc . Also @edenthefoodie is a genius at estimating prices. She was a single cent off with my total which she also got for me 🫂❤️
🌿 7 - [email protected] Sunday market. Great to meet and see many farmers focused on growing great produce.
🧂 10 - 13 Enjoyed checking out the @thespicesuite . Lots of interesting blend
🍑 14 - 19 @wholefoods in Navy Yard. So stoked to find @kerrygoldusa , and to see a new fruit #fejoia, and my new loves - ashed goat cheese. I was ready to buy jars I don't need 😂 because they remind me of @bonnemaman_us jars. And I loved seeing key limes though I didn't get any
#foodfindswithkitchenbutterfly
#fruitfindswithkb
#fruitfinds
A great time was had @thedepanneur yesterday. I enjoyed sharing notes on cassava in Nigeria and across West Africa, as well as five tastes.
Shout out to the children for helping me get set, and to Danny for coming with me and being my helper.
Thank you Len for your support from stirring to plating, and to everyone who came, especially @ftaiwo and @themaryoliveira who helped until the very end.
#Nigeriancuisine #NewNigerianKitchen
