Have you heard the latest gist in town? Oh! You have not been told that Fuji Living Legend, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, has opened a luxury “Tea and Coffee Shop on Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, Lagos. Since it was declared open 3 weeks ago, the tea and coffee spot cafe has become a beehive of activity attracting many Nigerian top celebrities. Patrons come from far and near places to visit the cafe not just because it belongs to the fuji king, but because of its menu list. It serves 100 percent healthy food.
A few days ago, City People’s Assistant Society Editor, ABIOLA ORISILE, was at the restaurant and met the Fuji king in the kitchen making a healthy food combo, which didn’t only whet the appetite but also oozed salivating aroma. It was a special meal for the king by the king. How did his love for cooking start? Why a restaurant? What stands his restaurant out? These among other questions were thrown at him.
You have opened one of the most classy, healthy restaurants in Lagos, what prompted this idea?
I am one person, who is conscious of what he puts in his mouth. I don’t just eat, I eat healthily. This is even one of the reasons I decided to open this healthy restaurant and tea cafe called “Tea & Coffee.
What makes this restaurant different from every other restaurant in Nigeria or Lagos as a whole?
It is a Tea and Coffee shop with class. When you visit a Regular Restaurant in Nigeria, what you will see in their kitchens are the regular Jollof rice, white Rice and all that, which are also served at home, but at Tea & Coffee, what you have here is healthy food. Look at what I am eating, this is “Ostra”, it doesn’t have any other name. Crab doesn’t have any other name. This is a civil combo of “asparagus”, calamari”, prawn. Nigerians don’t like spending on good food. We need to eat healthy to stay healthy. We must make our environment worth living.
The acceptance rate has been so huge even on Instagram that people have been trooping in before the official opening, how does this make you feel?
We are open officially now because people have been craving a restaurant like this. Lots of those who have being here marvelled when they heard the price. Aside this, I love what I am doing. This is what I wanted doing for a very long time. No matter how old I am, you are never old to enter the kitchen.
How did your love for cooking start?
As a young boy, I used to watch my mum cook. She is a very good cook who gave me an opportunity to learn how to take care of myself, which I am enjoying today. If there is going to be any problem between me and my wife, it won’t be food. (God Forbid). Even when my wife is tired and I come home late from work, must she cook for me compulsorily? The answer is No. I will just open the freezer, bring out something to cook. This is where some men get it wrong. They believe that their women are important to them just because of food, sleep on bed, born them kids. That is not what makes a woman important. Women are far more impotant than just being a tool of procreation. That is why some men don’t see the value of their women. That is also why the family of the husband doesn’t see the value of a woman in the Life of their son other than asking what does she do, clean the house, born him kids and cook for him. So, I don’t see any big deal in cooking. I don’t even believe that my wife alone has to be in the kitchen.
Everything here is healthy, what are you teaching with all this menu list at Tea & Coffee spot?
Eat healthy that is one of our objectives. Another reason aside eating healthy is to tell us that whatever we eat abroad in a foreign restaurant could be provided and eaten at Tea and Coffee Sport. I now know that whenever I travel, I could look back and say, I have a restaurant where I could eat this. That is why most Nigerians who travel abroad always crave a particular healthy food we eat abroad.
When we see you on stage, are we going to see you wearing a badge of Tea and Coffee?
Why not, it is an advert for my business.
We see all kind of sea foods in all the meals. Less carbohydrate and all, is it because you are a typical Lagos Boy?
Well, I am just me. Couple with my experience outside the country. I am not the type who goes to residential area to spend holiday. Anytime I am abroad, I am always at sea centre, down town to explore opportunities. I go round to see what has happened and changed. So, I am used to this type of life.
What are you eating sir?
It is called “dubling soup”. It is an healthy food. I just finished cooking it and it is quite healthy. You will seldom visit hospital if you eat this food.
You are one of the most travelled fuji musicians in Nigeria, would you say this has also helped in the kind of food you make in this restaurant?
I have travelled far. I have been around. I have travelled far that I have lost count.
How do you feel after eating this?
This is the first time I will eat what I used to eat abroad and feel so fulfilled eating it.
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