Father’s Day was yesterday, and while some dads got “#1 Dad” mugs, Tshirts and other thoughtful gifts, let’s just celebrate dads with the food experiences dads gave us, whether intentionally or accidentally (usually the latter). Because while many dads weren’t the everyday chefs in our homes, when they did enter the kitchen it was a moment, and one we’d never forget.
The Day My Dad Made History: Chef Dad: 1, Spatula: 0
True story. My mum went out and didn’t return on time, thanks to Lagos traffic. It was one of those days when you could almost hear everyone’s belly protesting in harmony. So my dad in a bold and noble act of fatherhood decided to make us lunch: eba, to be paired with the egusi soup mum had prepped before leaving.
Now, for the uninitiated, eba is a smooth, stretchy staple made by stirring garri (cassava flakes) into hot water until thick. It’s quick, filling, and delicious – if you know what you’re doing. Dad… did not.
Dad added too much garri to the hot water and stirred with such force and confusion that the eba hardened and became so dense, it snapped the kitchen spatula mid-stir like a twig in a Bruce Lee movie. (Yes, broke. As in, the spatula gave up on life.)
But did we complain? Not one word. We sat, heads bowed in deep respect, and chewed our way through that industrial-grade eba and coloured water soup (dad had also added too much water to the egusi soup in the process of warming it). Every bite was a test of character; our jaws did the heavy lifting while our shoulders shook as we tried to suppress the giggles bubbling beneath.
Now, if this was mum, there would’ve been a committee meeting of complaints. But for Dad? We took it as a sacred act of service, garnished with giggles. And honestly? It slapped emotionally, at least.
Dads & Their Culinary Confidence
Across the globe, dads cook with unearned confidence and a strong sense of improvisation. In Mexico, he may be tossing mystery meat into a taco and swearing it’s “family recipe.” In Italy, maybe it’s pasta with way too much garlic: but also, way too much love.
They may not win many cooking competitions, but they win hearts and stomachs, eventually.
Food, Family & Flashbacks
Dad food stories, like the one with my dad, live on forever. It’s not just about what we ate, it’s about how it solved the hunger problem, how it made us feel: the laughter, the post-meal storytelling.
Even now, whenever I see a spatula, I smile and silently thank my dad for teaching us not just about food, but about effort, love, and humility, all rolled into one.
Final Chew
So here’s to the dads: the grill warriors, the brunch battlers. Whether you made Michelin-starred magic or broke a spatula, you gave us something unforgettable.
And to every child of a “one-day chef” dad, you know this truth: sometimes the worst meal makes the best memory. And we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Got your own funny or heartwarming food moment with Dad? Like, comment, and share this post with someone who’s ever had a taste of “Dad Cuisine.” Subscribe to my blog for more fun, breezy, globally spiced food-life stories.
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