@thevirgokitchenon TikTok
Lope AriyoCookery School
Fiery, smoky and bold. Discover four iconic dishes from Nigeria's three major ethnic groups.
Discover the aromatic spices that give Nigerian street food its distinctive flavour, then create your own spice mix to take home.
Learn to skewer thin-cut beef like a Mai Suya, coat it generously with your handmade yaji, then grill it to smoky, charred perfection.
Work with tangy fermented rice batter to create sinasir, traditional Northern Nigerian pancakes with a unique sour flavour and spongy texture.
Blend soaked beans into a smooth paste, whip air into the batter until it is light and fluffy, then fry golden fritters that are crisp on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside.
Bring cassava strands to life with a palm oil dressing, watch them transform to sunshine yellow with alkaline water, then pile high with fresh herbs and sliced vegetables.
All ingredients, equipment and aprons will be provided.
Your instructor will lead you through easy-to-follow demonstrations before you have a go at your own cooking station.
You will work in pairs to recreate the dishes together.
Once everything is cooked, you will gather around the table to enjoy your feast, or pack up a box to take home if you prefer.
You will receive a digital recipe pack after class with everything you need to recreate these dishes at home.
Dietary options: vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten free, dairy free
Allergen notes: Contains peanuts and shellfish. Not suitable for those with these allergies. All ingredients are prepared in a shared kitchen where common allergens may be present.
Upcoming dates
Unfortunately not. This is a hands-on cooking class and we do not have a waiting area for non-participating guests. Everyone attending needs a ticket and must be actively participating in the class. For group celebrations, a private event booking is the best option as it gives your whole group a dedicated experience.
Age: 18+ (students 17 and under welcome with an adult over 21 who is also taking part)
Learn to make the real thing. Deeply seasoned, perfectly grained Nigerian jollof rice with all the sides.
Reviewed via ClassBento
“Had such a good time at the class, Lope was very knowledgeable about the cooking process, the culture behind the food and talked us through each step. We each had our station in pairs which meant you could follow along easily, I loved the eating and community spirit, really lovely bunch of people and Lope our host was incredible, highly recommend”
Lola Lawal · Attended May 2026
Reviewed via ClassBento
“Really enjoyed this class! It was a relaxed environment, tasty food, and most importantly very thoughtful and knowledgeable teacher. The setting was also really welcoming. Would love to do another class.”
Nana Lemm · Attended May 2026
Reviewed via ClassBento
“This was an exemplary session that provided a through insight of Nigerian street food. The teacher was also top tier and very engaging/knowledgeable. I would highly recommend and book another session..”
Kingsley Ikemeh · Attended May 2026
Verified attendee
“I feel much more confident cooking with ingredients that I didn't know than before. I have seen them in some Nigerian cooking books but didn't feel confident enough to buy them and use them. I enjoyed talking about where to source the ingredients as well. I also feel more confident in techniques that I didn't know before and would also have felt too nervous to try, like fermentation.”
Mollie · Attended May 2026