ÌTÀN Test Kitchen Closes Its Doors in Lagos
Lagos' food scene just took a big hit. ÌTÀN Test Kitchen, the brainchild of Chef Michael Elégbèdé, is shutting down for good. The reason? The building's getting sold and torn down. It's a tough break for a place that put Nigerian cuisine on the map in a whole new way.
ÌTÀN, which means "story" in Yoruba, opened its doors four years ago in the swanky Ikoyi neighborhood. It quickly became the talk of the town, serving up Nigerian dishes with a modern twist that got people excited about local flavors all over again.
The news came as a shock to many. ÌTÀN had been closed since last year, but most folks thought it was just taking a breather. Turns out, it was the beginning of the end.
Chef Elégbèdé, who cut his teeth in top New York restaurants before coming back home, sent out an emotional email to ÌTÀN's loyal customers. He wrote, "This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and you, our wonderful customers, have made it so." It's clear this wasn't an easy decision.
ÌTÀN wasn't your average Lagos restaurant. It was known for its fancy tasting menus and private dinners that showcased the best of Nigerian ingredients. But it wasn't just about the food. The place was big on training staff and raising the bar for the whole Nigerian restaurant scene.
The closure hit food lovers hard. Social media lit up with reactions. One user, Princess (@adahadadream), tweeted: "I'm genuinely devastated by this Itan Kitchen farewell / closure. Why can't we have nice things?" Another, Hadi Beth (@_yetioh), shared the regret many felt: "The only thing on my mind now is how I didn't get to eat at Itan Kitchen. Sigh."
Let's be real, though. ÌTÀN wasn't cheap. A meal there could set you back about $200 (that's over 320,000 naira). In today's tough economy, keeping a high-end spot like that going is no small feat.
But it wasn't all doom and gloom. Chef Elégbèdé hinted at future plans, saying, "Our journey in impacting Nigeria/African gastronomy is far from over; in fact, it is only just beginning." He's keeping tight-lipped about the details, but it sounds like he's not done shaking up the food scene just yet.
As one Twitter user, Ozzy (@ozzyetomi), put it: "Not the Itan Kitchen farewell email :( it's always the end of one era or the other in Lagos." It's a bittersweet reminder that in a city like Lagos, change is the only constant.
ÌTÀN might be closing its doors, but it's left its mark on Lagos and put Nigerian food in the spotlight. Whatever Chef Elégbèdé cooks up next, you can bet food lovers will be watching – and probably lining up to taste it.