Chef Vanessa Cole Champions West African Cuisine Globally

Vanessa Cole, an internationally trained chef and founder of Cole Cooks, is dedicated to promoting Nigerian and West African cuisine on a global scale. Drawing influences from both Lagos and London, she emphasizes the importance of preserving indigenous culinary techniques while advancing hospitality.

Cole reflects on her journey, noting that food has always been central to her life, but pursuing it as a career was a recent decision. She credits her father for encouraging her to master every role in her culinary business, which led her to refine her skills through culinary school and restaurant experience.

Cole's culinary expression is shaped by her diverse cultural heritage and her childhood experiences in a small UK town where Nigerian ingredients were scarce. She believes that culinary school alone does not make a chef; real skills are developed in the kitchen.

Cole now unapologetically serves dishes that reflect her creativity and the essence of her cultural background.