- Ibadan is preparing to host the fourth edition of Chops’N’Chill, an event that will bring together food, music, entertainment and networking while promoting the creativity of young Nigerian chefs.
The festival, organised under the theme “Empowering Young Chefs, Celebrating Nigerian Flavours,” is projected to draw between 1,500 and 2,000 guests. Expected attendees include chefs, food enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, young professionals, influencers, creatives, media personalities and other members of the public.
The event convener, Chinwendu Fetus, popularly known as Chef Wendy, said the festival was created to give emerging culinary professionals greater visibility and connect them with established players in the food and hospitality industry.
She explained that the programme would feature a live cooking competition, allowing young chefs to present their skills and creativity before an audience while competing for recognition in the culinary space.
The competing chefs will be assessed by industry professionals, including Chef Amaka, Chef Dee and Chef T. Beyond judging the competition, the chefs will share practical knowledge and professional insights with participants and guests.
Chef Wendy said the initiative was designed to help young chefs build confidence, develop innovative approaches to cooking and discover new opportunities in the food and hospitality sector.
The festival will also feature a performance by Fuji musician Alhaji Taye Currency. According to the organisers, the musical performance will add an entertainment dimension to the event and give guests the opportunity to enjoy food, culture and live music in one setting.
Chef Wendy, who founded Wendy’s Kitchen and Wendy’s Culinary Hub, said Chops’N’Chill would not be limited to a conventional food festival. Instead, it would place young culinary talents at the heart of the programme and create opportunities for them to engage with professionals, prospective customers, fellow entrepreneurs and other industry stakeholders.
She added that food entrepreneurs would be able to build useful relationships, explore possible partnerships and promote their businesses to a wider audience.
According to her, Nigeria’s culinary sector has significant potential to create opportunities for young people, particularly when aspiring chefs are given access to mentorship, public exposure and professional networks.
The event is also expected to celebrate Nigerian food traditions by showcasing local flavours and culinary creativity. Guests will experience a combination of food, music, cultural expression and social interaction.
Chef Wendy said the festival would encourage collaboration among chefs, food entrepreneurs, creatives, influencers, media practitioners and other participants in the hospitality ecosystem.
She urged members of the public, food lovers, chefs, industry stakeholders, creatives and media organisations to attend the event and support young Nigerians pursuing careers in the culinary industry.
She said the organisers were committed to creating an engaging experience that would celebrate Ibadan’s vibrant food culture while giving emerging chefs a platform to grow and gain recognition.