FOR CHEF MUSE, KIDS, IT’S FUN MAKING COOKIES, PANCAKES AT GTBANK FOOD & DRINK FAIR

VICTORIA ISLAND, Lagos, Nigeria – The Gtbank Food and Drink Fair holding at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos is gaining momentum as Nigerians from all walks of life visit to enjoy meals on offer, savour the beautiful environment, drink and learn rudiments of making local and intercontinental dishes.

Visitors are not just adults, kids are also having fun, learning while enjoying themselves. Muneera Tahir, aka Chef Muse probably had what could pass as her best day as she took the kids who are very enthusiastic and highly inquisitive on the rudiments of making cookies and pancakes, two favourite snacks for kids on Monday.

For her the importance of hand washing cannot be overemphasized in making these two snacks. For cookies, she told the kids they would need butter, sugar, flour, chocolate, nuts and orange zeest which are mixed together, oiling of the baking pan, dusted with flour before arranging the raw cookies and made to pass through heat of 170 degrees for 12 minutes. Using thesame technique, she instructed the pupils on how to make pancakes.

Joining her in the exercise were about 6 kids, two in the making of cookies, Ola and Sarah, while four others joined in the preparation of pancakes. While the process is ongoing, the master of ceremonies, a very lovely lady breaths life into the exercise trying to task the mental alacrity of the kids urging them to suggest and sing along baking rhymes and having to spell pancakes backward. The lucky winners were rewarded with gifts and a piece of cookies. It was indeed fun all the way.

Speaking after the show, some kids, the pair of Gloria and Michael Archibong thanked Gtbank for the masterclass. “We enjoyed ourselves. It was funfilled”, they said and urged the bank to repeat the experience in the coming year.

For Chef Muse, the stomach remains the most expensive part of the body, she said, stressing that she loves cooking for kids. Chef Muse who is a graduate of philosophy urged those who are interested in the trade to be passionate about it and be patient in order to be successful. She loves cooking any dish but her favourites meal is beans. For those who are thinking that there is no money in the business, she says, “I cannot go hungry because I work with my hands. This is where my money is”, she said, adding that it was fun transferring her knowledge to the young generation.

The event is not just about masterclasses. Outside you are dazed with relaxation spots right in front of the village designated for those preparing street food for visitors. On the menus are diverse, from suya to barbecue of different types, grilled meat, grilled fish, varieties of local juice including smoothies. Also on parade are farm products like vegetables, garri and even live rabbits and the sellers are having a field day. So far, there is a never a dull moment for the vendors. Gloria, one of the vendors told Starconnectmedia that she looks forward to better sales on Tuesday, being a public holiday.