Location
Loft Studio 406 - 55 S Atlantic St, Seattle, WA 98134
This event takes place in a historic 100-year-old building and is currently a 4th-floor walk-up. Elevator access is not available at the time of the class. If stairs are a concern, please consider this before purchasing tickets.
Paid parking available (street parking, paid lot, garages in walking distance of the building)
$109 + taxes & fees per ticket
Overview
Learn the techniques, explore the history, and experience the flavors behind one of West Africa's most beloved rice dishes.
Come hungry, bring your curiosity, and let’s get into some good rice!
Join Chef Adunni Ogunlanoh of Taste Tutor for Jollof Sundays, a hands-on cooking experience celebrating Nigerian jollof rice, its bold flavors, and the Sunday traditions that bring people together around the table. In many Nigerian households, Sunday means family, hospitality, and a pot of rice worth gathering for. We'll get into that tradition while exploring what makes Nigerian jollof so special.
You'll make your own pot of jollof and learn how to build flavor, cook down a rich pepper sauce, layer seasonings, and get the rice just right. We'll also talk about jollof's West African roots and how history, migration, and regional cooking traditions have shaped the versions we know and love today. As a chef and food scientist, I'll share the science behind the techniques, too, so you understand not just what to do, but why it works.
We'll cook, eat, listen to good music, and share stories in a beautiful historic loft in downtown Seattle. No professional cooking experience or prior knowledge of Nigerian food needed. Whether you're a longtime jollof lover or trying it for the first time, there's something to learn and enjoy.
Come solo or bring your people. Just be ready to get your hands in the pot, enjoy some good food, and leave with new skills and recipes to try at home.
What you'll learn
Build deep, layered flavor. Understand how tomatoes, peppers, aromatics, and seasonings work together to create the characteristic flavor and color of Nigerian jollof.
Master the pepper sauce. Learn why properly cooking down the sauce is essential to developing flavor and how to recognize when it is ready for the rice.
Explore seasoning and spice layering. Understand how to build a balanced flavor profile rather than relying on seasoning at the end.
Get the rice texture right. Learn how liquid ratios, evaporation, heat management, steam, and cooking time affect the finished dish, including how to avoid mushy or unevenly cooked rice.
Understand the smoky flavor. Explore the techniques and cooking conditions that contribute to the deep, savory flavor associated with Nigerian jollof and the prized smoky character of party-style rice.
Discover the story behind the dish. Learn about jollof's connections to Wolof and Senegambian food traditions, its development across West Africa, and its significance in Nigerian celebrations and everyday hospitality.
Nigerian Jollof Rice: Each guest will prepare their own full pot of jollof rice. We'll also prepare a communal batch of stew base and broth for participants to take home and use when practicing the recipe. Recipes for everything served in class will be provided.
Accompaniments: Suya chicken wings, fried plantains, and zobo (hibiscus beverage) will be served alongside the jollof. The accompaniments are prepared in advance; participants will receive recipes for all the accompaniments.
A Little History Behind the Rice
Jollof has roots in the Senegambia region of West Africa and is associated with the Wolof people and the historical Jolof Empire. Over generations, communities across West Africa developed their own versions, with Nigerian jollof becoming especially known for its bold tomato-and-pepper flavor and its place at celebrations, family gatherings, and Sunday meals.
We'll explore how food connects us to culture, family, and hospitality, including why Sunday jollof holds a special place in many Nigerian homes.
What to Expect
This is an interactive culinary experience combining cooking instruction, food science, cultural storytelling, and shared food.
Each guest will cook their own pot of jollof rice, giving everyone the opportunity to practice the techniques, observe the cooking process, and build confidence preparing the dish independently. You'll have opportunities to ask questions, explore the ingredients, and understand the reasons behind the techniques. We'll finish by enjoying the food prepared during class and discussing how to apply what you've learned at home.
All of this comes with good music, great company, and skyline views to top it off!
Class Highlights
Hands-on Nigerian jollof rice preparation.
Practical instruction in flavor development and rice-cooking techniques.
Food science and cultural storytelling.
Shared tasting of the dishes prepared during class.
Recipes and techniques to recreate the meal at home.
Who This Class is For
Home cooks and jollof lovers looking to improve their rice-cooking skills.
Foodies interested in Nigerian and West African cuisine.
Beginners who want to build confidence in the kitchen.
Solo guests, couples, and friends looking for a fun Sunday afternoon.
Dietary and Allergy Information
The jollof rice contains optional shellfish (crayfish).
The suya chicken wings contain peanuts. Guests with peanut allergies should be aware of this before booking.
Please note: Public dates for this class require at least 5 guests to run. In the unlikely event that we don't reach this number, we may cancel the session; if that happens, we'll inform you and let you choose between a refund or reschedule, so please watch your email/SMS one day prior to the class.
What you'll get
Hands-on instruction from a chef and food scientist.
Your own pot of Nigerian jollof rice.
A take-home portion of communal stew base and broth.
Recipes for the food served during class.
Practical cooking techniques and cultural knowledge to use at home.
Knowledge required
Beginner-friendly.
Guests under 18 must attend with a parent or legal guardian.
What to bring
Comfortable clothing suitable for cooking and a willingness to participate.
Refund Policy
Refunds up to 48 hours before event
Class Agenda
Time Activity
2:00–2:15 PM Welcome & Introductions
Arrive on time, get settled, wash your hands, grab an apron, meet your fellow cooks, and hear a little about jollof and its cultural roots.
2:15–4:00 PM Flavor Foundations & Cooking
Explore the ingredients, build the broth and pepper sauce, learn the science behind the cooking process, and prepare your own pot of jollof.
4:00–4:15 PM Tasting & Conversation
Enjoy the jollof and accompaniments, ask questions, and talk through tips for cooking at home.
4:15–4:30 PM Wrap-Up & Cleanup
Pack your leftovers, gather your take-home broth and pepper sauce, and help return your dishes and aprons to their designated areas.
Got questions?
Feel free to DM me on instagram @taste_tutor or email me at letscook@thetastetutor.com.
Suitable for
This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a date idea, team building activity, Christmas party, birthday or bachelorette party.
This experience would also be a cool gift for her, gift for mom, Xmas gift or gift for couples.