Everyone is a foodie in 2019, Instagram is alive with a million posts of oddly-coloured pasta and desserts with pronunciations that may require a language class. 

But there’s you, the one who orders the same thing on the menu every single time. Your go-to condiment is ketchup, and you’ll never understand the concept of eating anything outside your 5 basic meals, two of which are probably bread and basic cereal. 

EatDrinkFestival is definitely a mecca for all the food lovers in Lagos, because what’s not to love? The different cuisines, gourmet desserts, juicy barbecues. Of course, you’re not salivating yet because you can’t relate.

Here’s a guide for the non-foodies for this year’s festival:

Come Prepared

Vendor menus are available on the Festival app, go ahead and do some research about the different vendors and what you’d be interested in trying. Feel free check Google (you can take our word for it, they’re all 5 stars), but you can look up reviews and stalk them on the ‘gram to get a feel of what you can expect. 

Plan Ahead

Have a look at the vendor menus to see what you’d be interested in trying. Perhaps it’s time to find out what Mexican food tastes like? What are tacos made of? Ease the overwhelming anxiety by building your list early and preparing your untrained taste buds. 

Try It in Bite Sizes

The great thing about EatDrinkFestival is the vendors bringing their best foods in bite sizes. You don’t have to commit to an entire platter of new food. You can try a single serving and move on if it’s not your thing. Low risk, high reward, yes? 

Ask Questions

If you do get a chance to speak with any of the vendors, don’t be shy. Ask about their ingredients, ask for recommendations, just don’t hold up the line.

Stay Safe

While the thought of trying new things might be exciting, let’s not go overboard. If you’ve got any allergies- nuts, shellfish etcetera, be sure to steer clear of foods containing these. Also, go ahead and ask vendors if they mix these ingredients in the same pots

Go Easy on Your Stomach

Okay, it’s great that you’re now a pro at food tasting. But take it easy. You cannot eat everything at the stalls. You don’t want your first food adventure to be marred with the horrible memory of awful bloating

Trust Your Taste Buds

When all is said and done, the whole point is to have a good time. If you’re really not feeling all the culinary exploration, eat what tastes good to you. There are 100 ways to eat fries and chicken anyway. Don’t let anyone food shame you. 

Bring Your Foodie Friends

Just in case that friend that’s always sending you pictures of their lunch isn’t the one who’s dragging you to the festival in the first place; bring them with! They probably know where all the good stuff is, plus it’s always better with friends. While you’re at it, bring your other non-foodie friends and convert them too.