About This Event

Chef Halima will teach delicious, authentic Nigerian dishes followed by a sit-down meal. Warm & easy, like being with family!

Nothing beats a home-cooked meal shared with family! And this is what inspires our Family Style Cookery Classes, a fun, laid-back homestyle cooking experience. Here, you will learn to prepare different dishes and then enjoy them with people who, like you, fuel our mission of supporting refugee and migrant chefs on their journey to integration. It’s a cookery class with a conscience, like they say!

Your class will be led by our wonderful Chef Halima from Nigeria at the Migrateful Cookery School in Clerkenwell, London.

At our Family Style Cookery Classes, you will be grouped with other participants and prepare dishes together as a team. Think of Chef Halima as the head of the family! She will take care of dividing the class into groups, and each group will be responsible for creating one of the dishes. Of course, you are welcome and encouraged to move around during the class to learn about the other dishes being prepared. Throughout the evening, Chef Halima will share stories about their food and culture, and explain how to prepare each of the dishes so you come away with some new cooking tricks and inspiration from Nigeria. You will also be emailed the recipes after the class.

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Menu, subject to change:

  • Ewa ati Ogede (Beans and Plantain Pottage) | Vegan; Celery
  • Obe Dindin (Fried Stew) | Meat (Chicken), Fish; Crustaceans, Celery. Curry powder may contain Mustard.
  • Obe Egusi (Melon Soup) | Meat (Beef), Fish; Crustaceans, Fish, Celery
  • Iyan (Pounded Yam) | Vegan; None
  • Puff Puff (Fried dough) | Vegetarian; Milk, Gluten(Wheat). Powdered milk may contain Soya.
  • Iresi Elepo(Village Rice) | Meat (Beef), Fish; Crustaceans, Fish, Celery

This menu contains meat (chicken, beef) and fish . Allergens include: celery, crustaceans, fish, milk, gluten. Curry powder may contain mustard. Powdered milk may contain soya.

Please let us know if you have any specific dietary requirements so our team is aware ahead of the class but kindly note that we will not be substituting any ingredients to accommodate dietary needs so please only book into classes that suit your dietary preferences and needs. Please see our Food and Allergens Policy for more information.

A message from our Chef Halima:

“My name is Halima and I am originally from the Southern part of Nigeria. Nigeria is famous for its vibrant and friendly energy usually expressed through Pidgin English, a grammatically simplified or “broken” version of English spoken on the streets.

In Nigeria, I was an HR manager and ran my own catering company before I sought refuge in the UK. It was a huge journey to restart my life here.I currently live with my son and we are at peace and happier than we have ever been. When I’m not at Migrateful, I volunteer at my local Oxfam shop.

My passion for cooking comes from my mum. She once wanted to have a catering business of her own.I was an early bird in my mum’s kitchen helping her from age 8; her little assistant if you may. Being a really curious person, I wanted to try and cook more. When I cook I always hear my mum’s voice. My favourite dishes to cook are Poundo Yam and native Jollof Rice, both really delicious Nigerian specialties. I love cooking because food brings people together and I love seeing how happy people are when they eat my food. I also hope to inspire other women to pursue their passions and to live freely and happily.”

We’re excited to have you in the class! Please take note of a few final reminders:

  • We will send you a reminder email 3 days before the class takes place that will include our In-Person Class COVID-19 Policy. You can also find more information on our website and social media pages.
  • This small-scale class for 12 participants is not socially distanced. For those seeking a Covid-secure cookery class, please see our online events.
  • We require a minimum of 6 participants to run this class and reserve the right to cancel it due to insufficient enrolment. If this occurs, we will, at your convenience, transfer you to another class of your choice of the same value. If this option does not suit you, you will have the choice to receive either a gift voucher for the class or a full refund. In the case of insufficient enrolment, we will inform you at least 6 days before the class.
  • Payments made through Paypal can take up to 48 hours to have the order confirmed. To guarantee your spot in a cookery class we recommend using a debit or credit card.
  • We only process refunds and ticket transfers if we are notified 7 days before the class takes place. No changes are allowed if the class is missed. When you register for this event, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions. If you are not able to attend the class, you can pass on your tickets so someone else can attend on your behalf.
  • Ingredients used in our classes contain, may contain, or may have been manufactured/prepared on shared equipment with the 14 allergens listed above. We cannot guarantee that any food or drink prepared or consumed in any of the Migrateful Cookery Classes are free from any of the 14 allergens, or any other ingredient. Migrateful’s Cookery Classes are hosted in our busy cookery school or in external venues that handle allergens. Even in classes where allergens are not used, the ingredients for the class may have been stored in close proximity to allergens and other ingredients, and/or equipment and surfaces may have previously come into contact with allergens and other ingredients. Participants attend classes at their own risk.
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date & time
December 8, 2023 @ 6:15 pm - December 8, 2023 @ 8:45 pm

What To Expect

Cook Together

Work in teams to create a delicious meal. Each group prepares a different dish, fostering teamwork and learning.

Cultural Insights

Discover the cultural significance of the cuisine with the Chef's engaging stories and cooking tips.

Take Home Recipes

Receive all the recipes via email after the class to recreate these delightful dishes at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Table Of Contents

Classes

  • How long are the classes?

    “Our online classes are 1.5 to 2 hours long.

    Our in-person classes, including the meal, are usually 2.5 hours long.

    Our Cookery Demos are usually 1 hour long.”

  • Where do the classes take place?

    “Our online classes take place via Zoom.

    Our in-person classes take place in partnering venues across London, Bristol and Brighton. You can look for a specific venue using the search bar on the Classes page or by looking through our upcoming events, where the location is indicated.

    Our team-building and private classes generally take place in our Cookery School based in Clerkenwell, London. Please fill in in the form to receive more information.”

  • I booked an online class but did not receive the list of ingredients and Zoom link.

    “The list of ingredients and equipment, as well as the Zoom link for your online cookery class, can be found on the Eventbrite confirmation email received after purchase.

    If you do not receive the confirmation email please check your spam folder. If you are still missing information about the class please email hello@migrateful.org.”

  • Do I need to book in advance to attend a class?

    ” Yes, you need to book your ticket in advance as tickets are not sold at the door. You will not be able to participate in a class unless you have purchased a ticket in advance. Book your tickets by following this link. “

  • Can I pay for my ticket using PayPal on Eventbrite?

    Yes. Payments made through PayPal on Eventbrite can take up to 48 hours to have the order confirmed. To guarantee your spot on a cookery class we recommend using a debit or credit card or using your cookery class voucher.

  • Cancellation/Transfer Policy

    Please note we only process refunds and ticket transfers if we are notified 7 days before the class takes place.

  • Do you have a waitlist system for sold out classes?

    We currently don’t have a waitlist system. If your preferred class is sold-out, we encourage you to book into a different class with availability and try out a new cuisine!

  • Can I bring children to a class?

    Our classes are not designed for children to attend, as there are sharp knives, hot oil and induction and gas hobs operating at all times. We do not recommend children attending that are younger than 14 years old. Those above 14 can attend under the supervision of a responsible adult.

Gift Vouchers

  • How can I redeem my gift voucher code on Eventbrite?


    1. Locate your event and select “Tickets”
    2. Click “Enter promo code”
    3. Enter your voucher code and click apply
    4. Select number of tickets and click “Checkout”
    5. Complete registration!

    You don’t need to introduce your bank card details after you enter the voucher code.”

  • Can I use my in-person voucher to book an online class (and vice versa)?

    Our vouchers are non-transferrable.

  • Can I extend my voucher's expiry date?

    All of our vouchers are valid for 12 months. Unfortunately, we are unable to extend the validity of any voucher past it’s expiry date. So hurry up an book into one of our many wonderful classes here before your voucher expires!

  • How can I check my voucher's balance and expiry date?

    “You can check your voucher’s balance on the Gift Voucher section of our website by scrolling down to our purchasing section and clicking “Check your gift card balance”. Enter your voucher code and click “Check balance”. You’ll be able to see the remaining balance of your voucher and it’s expiry date.

    Please note that this is only available for vouchers purchased from August 2020 onwards. “

  • Will my gift voucher cover the Eventbrite booking fee?

    “Generally, yes. When booking a class with a gift voucher, you will not be charged the Eventbrite booking fee.

    However, if your voucher’s balance is less than the price of the ticket, you will have to pay the Eventbrite fee on top of the remaining amount. “

Dietary Requirements & Allergens

Public Classes

  • What does vegan-friendly or vegetarian-friendly mean?

    “Many of our Chefs’ home cuisines include meat dishes, and might not have a lot of vegan or vegetarian dishes. We teach our Chefs about dietary preferences during training, and help them to develop vegan or vegetarian alternatives where possible. To ensure as many people get to enjoy Migrateful classes as possible, we try to create menus that have a number of vegan and vegetarian options. At the same time, we also want you to experience the traditional dishes from their home country which may often include meat. The menu therefore may also include some dishes that are not vegan or not vegetarian. If a menu contains a good selection of vegan or vegetarian dishes that will leave a vegan or vegetarian feeling happy and satisfied, the menu is marked vegan-friendly or vegetarian-friendly. You are welcome to join a class and skip out on any dishes that do not suit your dietary requirements.”

  • I have a milk or egg allergy, should I attend a class that is marked as vegan-friendly or vegetarian-friendly, or eat recipes marked vegan or vegetarian?

    We cannot guarantee that any of our cookery classes are completely free of any specific ingredient. Please read our Food and Allergens Policy. We therefore cannot guarantee, for example, that vegan or vegetarian recipes or menus are suitable for people with milk or egg allergies.

  • Some of your recipes say V, VGN, M or F, what does that mean?

    These letters provide a quick idea of the dietary preference of a recipe. (V) Vegetarian (no meat), (VGN) Vegan (no animal products including meat, eggs and dairy), (M) Meat or (F) Fish.

  • Some of your recipes offer substitutions, will this change the allergens in the recipe?


    Yes. We try our best to note the allergens on our recipes and class menus but different brands may be substituted so we recommend you check the product packaging in our cookery classes if you are concerned about particular allergens.”

  • Allergen information


    We try our best to note the allergens on our recipes and class menus but different brands may be substituted so we recommend you check the product packaging in our cookery classes if you are concerned about particular allergens.”

  • If I have a trace or airborne allergy should I attend a class?

    Ingredients used in our classes contain, may contain, or may have been manufactured/prepared on shared equipment with the 14 allergens (celery; cereals containing gluten; crustaceans; eggs; fish; lupin; milk; molluscs; mustard; peanuts; sesame; soybeans; sulphur dioxide and sulphites; and tree nuts). We cannot guarantee that any food or drink prepared or consumed in any of the Migrateful Cookery Classes are free from any of the 14 allergens, or any other ingredient. Migrateful’s Cookery Classes are hosted in our busy cookery school or in external venues that handle allergens. Even in classes where allergens are not used, the ingredients for the class may have been stored in close proximity to allergens and other ingredients, and/or equipment and surfaces may have previously come into contact with allergens and other ingredients. Participants attend classes at their own risk.

  • I have an allergy or food intolerance, can you remove or substitute ingredients?

    “For public cookery classes, we cannot remove or substitute any ingredients, nor can we guarantee that any of our cookery classes are free of any specific ingredient. Read our Food and Allergens Policy. We have briefly summarised our types of classes below:
    For our Family Style Cookery Classes, 12 participants work as a team to cook multiple dishes at the same time. During the class, participants are encouraged to move around different stations.
    For our Team Style Cookery Classes (Brighton and Bristol), 12 participants work in teams to cook multiple dishes, these are usually split into meat/fish and vegetarian/vegan teams so participants can choose a team depending on their dietary requirements.
    For our Cookery Demos, the chef prepares the food with assistance from staff and participants.”

  • I have a dietary requirement, can you remove or substitute an ingredient for me?


    We define ‘dietary requirements’ in our Food and Allergens Policy as ‘personal preferences in relation to food consumption that do not include a food allergy or food intolerance. People choose to eat particular diets for a variety of reasons: religious, environmental, moral, ethical, lifestyle, health.’
    We are unable to accommodate dietary requirements. We take care to clearly highlight the dietary suitability of the class menu or dishes (vegan, vegetarian, contains meat, contains fish). We recommend you only book into classes which suit your dietary requirements. We mark some menus as ‘vegetarian friendly’ or ‘vegan friendly’ as only 1 dish does not meet the dietary requirement. You are welcome to join a class and skip out on any dishes that do not suit your dietary requirements.”

Corporate/Private Cookery Classes

  • I have an allergy or food intolerance, can you remove or substitute ingredients?"

    “For corporate/private cookery classes, we may be able to substitute ingredients and will discuss this with you during the booking process. However, we cannot guarantee that any of our cookery classes are free of any specific ingredient. Read our Food and Allergens Policy. We have briefly summarised our types of classes below so you can better assess the risk that they might pose to you and/or participants you are booking a class for:

    For our Station Style Cookery Classes, 2 participants cook together at one station, and the chef may demo some dishes.
    For our Family Style Cookery Classes, participants cook multiple dishes at the same time and move around different stations.
    For our Cookery Demos, the chef prepares the food with assistance from staff and participants. “

  • I have a dietary requirement, can you remove or substitute an ingredient for me?

    We define ‘dietary requirements’ in our Policy as ‘personal preferences in relation to food consumption that do not include a food allergy or food intolerance. People choose to eat particular diets for a variety of reasons: religious, environmental, moral, ethical, lifestyle, health.’ We may be able to accommodate dietary requirements and will discuss this with you during the booking process.

Online Cookery Classes

  • I have an allergy or food intolerance, can you remove or substitute ingredients?"


    For our Online Cookery Classes, you will be cooking in your own kitchen with ingredients you have purchased yourself. Additional allergens may be in some store bought ingredients, depending on the brands, which may not have not been listed on the menu in the class description, or on our recipes. Migrateful cannot advise or take responsibility for the food you cook and consume within your own kitchen.”

refund policy