GTCO Food and Drink Festival 2026 serves as a Masterclass in Growth, Empowerment for SMEs
The 2026 GTCO Food and Drink Festival (9th Edition), themed “Everything Food and Drink,” is a three-day culinary event held from May 1st – May 3rd, 2026, at the GTCenter, Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos. it was a masterclass in economic empowerment. The event serves as a platform for boosting local food businesses and providing a comprehensive culinary experience in Lagos.
There was a vibrant marketplace with over 204 free retail stalls showcasing a diverse range of local and international food products provided completely free of charge to small and medium-scale food businesses.
Vendors across the venue testified to this life-changing festival and gave thumb up for GTCO for encouraging small and medium-scale food businesses.
Aimua Enadeghe, the Managing Director of Palm Wine Tapper said that she is a palm wine tapper and also do drinks and cocktails, adding that they have a traditional thing about palm wine.
Aimua stated further that this is the first time that the palm tapper is attending the GTCO Food & Drink Festival, adding that GTCO has done well into making things work for small businesses which is a great opportunity and will love to come back next year for the event.
She revealed that it is so good that they did not pay anything to attend the event, stressing that they only applied some months back when the portal opened.
She acknowledged that it is an amazing initiative that the GTCO is doing and a great opportunity for small businesses to thrive and I appreciate what they do that allowed small businesses like mine to come out and showcase itself as well as what it provides for the public.
There were food & wine tastings as well as opportunities to sample new flavors and culinary creations.
There was children’s play area, which is dedicated area featuring engaging activities for kids, making it family-friendly an after-party/entertainment: live DJ and music to keep the atmosphere lively.
There were live cooking demonstrations: interactive sessions with local and international chefs. The festival’s masterclasses offered to bridge the gap between global expertise and Nigerian ingredients.
The masterclasses are a central feature, offering free, hands-on learning sessions with acclaimed chefs and food experts.
- Day 1: Kids Baking & Global Flavors (May 1)
Kids Baking Masterclass: Led by @jayascraving and @derazodo.
Thai Cuisine: Chef Dylan Eitharong (@haawmbkk).
Spanish Cuisine: Chef Begoña Rodrigo (@ucancallmebego).
Italian Cuisine: Chef Paolo Griffa (@paologriffa).
- Day 2: Specialized Techniques & World Pairings (May 2)
Sommelier Session: André Hueston Mack (@andrehmack) conducting “Wine: A Condiment to Life”.
Japanese Cuisine (Dashi & Umami): Chef Taiji Maruyama (@taiji_maru).
Indian Cuisine (Dum Pukht Biryani): Chef Arbinder Dugal (@its_asd_official).
Mexican Cuisine: Chef Saúl Montiel (@chefsaulmontiel).
- Day 3: Pastry & Advanced Techniques (May 3)
Pastry Arts: Chef Camari Mick (@camari_mick) – “Sorrel (Zobo) and Curd in a Tart”.
Southern Cuisine: Chef Jennifer Hill Booker (@chefjenniferhillbooker) – “Revival: A Celebration of Southern Brunch”.
French Cuisine: Chef Jean-Baptiste Ascione (@jean_baptiste_ascione).
American BBQ/Pitmaster: Chef Dominique Leach (@chefdominiqueleach).
Throughout the weekend, the GTCentre was full of activity where families, food lovers, and entrepreneurs associated and Lagosian certainly endowed themselves to the festival eating with full stomachs, equip with new recipes, inspiration, and a deeper empathetic feeling of the global culinary landscape that they savored through 2026 GTCO Food and Drink Festival (9th Edition).
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