ABOUT THE CUISINE
Gambian cuisine is shaped by the country’s rich cultural heritage and its location along the banks of the River Gambia, where food has long brought families and communities together. Drawing on West African traditions, it celebrates simple, nourishing ingredients transformed into deeply flavourful dishes. Meals are often shared from a single platter, reflecting the strong sense of community that is at the heart of Gambian culture.
ABOUT THE CHEF
“My name is Lamin and I proudly come from The Gambia, widely known as the smiling coast of Africa. The Gambia is celebrated for its rich food, culture and warm hospitality. The Gambia has a population of about 2.5 million people; it is the smallest country on Mainland Africa. It is a long, narrow country, surrounded almost completely by Senegal, except for its Atlantic Ocean coastline.
I belong to the Mandinke tribe, the largest tribe in The Gambia; even the president of The Gambia comes from my tribe! I started cooking at a young age, taught by my mother at home. That is where my love for food began. I love cooking traditional Gambian and West African dishes and sharing my culture through food. I enjoy cooking, working out, music, learning new foods and cultures and football in my free time.
I moved to the UK in 2023 and now live in East London. Since moving here, I have enjoyed meeting new people and sharing African food experiences with the community. My goal is to bring people together through delicious food, culture and good hospitality.”
ON THE MENU (subject to change):
- Benachin (Gambian Jollof Rice) | Vegan; Celery, Gluten (Wheat), Soya
- Chicken Yassa | Meat (Chicken); Celery, Mustard, Soya
- Domoda (Aubergine and Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Stew) | Vegan; Celery, Peanuts, Soya
- Gambian Salad | Vegan; Sulphites
- Panketti (Gambian Doughnuts with a Hot Chilli Sauce) | Vegetarian; Eggs, Gluten (Wheat)
- Ngalakh (Baobab and Peanut Butter Dessert) | Vegetarian; Milk, Peanuts, Sulphites
- Wonjo (Gambian Hibiscus Drink) | Vegan; None
This menu contains meat (chicken) but is vegetarian-friendly (6/7 dishes are meat-free). Allergens include: celery, eggs, gluten, milk, mustard, peanuts, soya, sulphites.
Please let us know if you have any specific dietary requirements so our team is aware ahead of the class. Kindly note that we will not be substituting any ingredients to accommodate dietary needs, so please only book into classes that suit your dietary requirements.
Join Lamin’s hands-on, social cookery class in London to learn to make authentic Gambian dishes — and celebrate the flavours, skills, and culinary traditions that refugees bring to the UK.
THE CLASS FORMAT
Our cookery classes are family-style – meaning everyone works together to prepare the dishes as a team.
While you’ll be asked to choose one dish to focus on, you’ll have the opportunity to move around the kitchen, help with other dishes, and learn from each recipe. It’s a fun, social, and collaborative way to cook! At the end of the class, you’ll sit down with the chef, class facilitator and volunteers to enjoy the delicious meal you’ve created together.
