Field Note

Through the Lenses of Food

Michael Elégbèdé

What if one of the first questions we ask in our design process is, “How does this affect food?” Would we design a better society?

Michael Elégbèdé is an award-winning chef revolutionizing traditional Nigerian gastronomy through his philosophy of celebrating his indigenous food traditions and ingredients. At the beginning of 2020, Elégbèdé opened his test kitchen ÌTÀN T.K. to the public for the first time. ITÀN T.K. is a unique space in the heart of Ikoyi, Lagos, which offers Lagos’ most exciting tasting menu and wine pairing, in a decadent environment. ÌTÀN serves as an educational space for reimagining the ways Nigerian ingredients can be used and cooking traditions reinterpreted to curate remarkable eating experiences. ÌTÀN T.K. further strengthens Chef Elégbèdé’s mission to revolutionize the conservative perception of some of Nigeria's most popular dishes in a truly remarkable environment.


Through the Lenses of Food