Lagosians are in for a swell time as the best of Foods, wine and the finer things of life premiers at the international food and lifestyle festival in Lagos. Tagged; ‘Taste of Lagos” the premier food, beverage and lifestyle promotional festival billed to hold on the 9th of December, 2011 over 3days is expected to bring together exciting restaurant, fashion and lifestyle exhibitors under one roof.

Speaking at a private view of the event recently in Lagos, Duni Igbinedion; MD of Taste Conceptsthe promoters of this event, said the Taste of Lagos is an offshoot of the International Taste Festivals which takes place annually, in over 30 cities across the world. It is an opportunity to see the best of what the city has to offer in terms of gastronomy and lifestyle. Speaking on the choice of Lagos she said: “As a cosmopolitan city, Lagos has a lot to offer in terms of its culture and lifestyle and this festival will showcase the most celebrated in gastronomy and culture to the Lagos lifestyle cognoscenti.”

The festival creates a platform through which many industries can effectively promote their brands in a relaxed and receptive atmosphere. “Taste festivals are not just about food and drinks, they are about total lifestyle, therefore creating the platform for the effective promotion of a wide range of products.” she informs.

Taste of Lagos is the first of its kind in Nigeria and the first in a series across Nigeria and Festival visitors will be able to sample dishes from the finest international restaurants in Lagos, try some of Lagos’ unique and flavorful local delicacies, interact with prolific Celebrity Michelin Chefs enjoy the best in wine and champagne, and experience world-renowned luxury brands right here in the commercial center of Lagos. With over 80 exhibitors to try from, it is believed that there won’t be a dull moment at the Taste of Lagos

In addition to exciting restaurant and lifestyle exhibitors, the festival is bursting with activities to keep the crowd entertained with Taste Theaters, where live cooking demonstrations by world renown Michelin rated culinary masters like Ainsely Harriot and some of our greatest local chefs will display their skills in an interactive and highly entertaining showcase of culinary art.

Duni Igbinedion

Visitors will learn how to prepare their favourite Nigerian and International Dishes. The session will also feature televised competitions amongst head chefs of participating restaurants, popular Nigerians e.g Nollywood celebrities, artistes and/or corporates. These cooking competitions would be packaged into several 45 mins shows per day. Some of these shows will be aired on Television as a miniseries. “We also have the Taste Kitchens where the cooking classes would hold. These sessions will last for about 45mins each with groups of 20 people in fully interactive cooking classes.” Duni informs.

Independent Exhibitors in fashion, contemporary art, visual art, music, cigar, wine distributors, lifestyle/health/beauty brands, and various other purveyors of luxury goods and merchandise will also add colour to the event.

Taste of Lagos she says is an extraordinary showcase of all that is good, attractive and entertaining in the host city.

Duni reveals that an estimate of 20,000 visitors are expected over a 4day period (Unique visitors estimated 12,000) within the ABC socio- economic sector. “They would be mainly well-traveled young professionals and families who are food, drink, art and lifestyle enthusiasts. We also expect a high turnout of the expatriate community of Lagos.”