Oven and Stove

18/07/2026

A while back I made a cooler of jollof rice for a customer, and she loved it so much that she asked me for the recipe and the spice blend that gave it such an incredible flavour.

She's Nigerian and has probably been making jollof rice for over 30 years, so she's certainly no stranger to the game!

Without thinking twice, I happily shared my signature aromatic spice blend with her.

My daughter wasn't impressed. She said, "Mum, you've just given away the secret of your business!"

I smiled and told her, "The spice blend isn't the real secret. The real secret is the ratio… and me."

You see, there are countless Nigerian caterers out there, yet this customer chose me. That means there was something more than just the ingredients.

The truth is, recipes can be copied. Spice blends can be shared. But experience, judgement, consistency, passion, and the care you put into every meal cannot be duplicated.

Two people can use exactly the same ingredients and still produce completely different results.

People don't just buy food, they buy trust, they buy consistency, they buy the confidence that every bite will taste just as good as the last. And they remember how you made them feel.

What do you think is a caterer's real Unique Selling Proposition?

Is it the ingredients? The recipe? Or is the caterer themselves the secret ingredient?

17/07/2026

At the Falkirk Food & Drink Festival last weekend, I was asked a very important question.

You see, this question has stirred up a war, one that has seen men and women lose their voices, friendships tested, and countless hours of creative energy spent defending their side.

Now, I am a peace-loving individual. I am not equipped for war. My arsenal is empty, and I have no army standing behind me.

So when a young man looked at me and asked the question…

“Who makes the better jollof rice - Nigeria or Ghana?”

I was stopped in my tracks. Nigeria 🇳🇬 - the country that made me. Ghana 🇬🇭 - a country whose many delicious dishes I have fallen in love with.

What do I say? Do I stand proudly with my Nigerian brothers and sisters and declare, without fear or hesitation, that Nigerian jollof reigns supreme? Or do I choose diplomacy and risk being accused of abandoning my people?

I looked at him, I looked at the jollof in the dish, and it occurred to me that not all battles are worth fighting .

So I’ll leave this one to you, Nigerian Jollof 🇳🇬 vs Ghanaian Jollof 🇬🇭 - who does it better?

And just to prove that my love and allegiance to good food knows no borders, I’ve attached a picture of one of the Ghanaian dishes I’ve fallen in love with 🇬🇭❤️

Surely, that should earn me a little protection from my Ghanaian brothers and sisters if this jollof war gets out of hand! 😂

Please, argue respectfully in the comments. I am still a peace-loving individual, and as I said before I have no army 😂.

12/07/2026

07/07/2026

The truth about running running a business

This weekend will be our first Food & Drink Festival at The Helix, Falkirk, and I have mixed emotions.

If you've ever run a market stall or a small business, you'll understand when I say you never really know how an event will go.

You can spend days planning, shopping, cooking, packing, and getting everything ready and still have no idea whether you'll sell out or bring most of it back home.

That's the reality of markets and festivals. They're unpredictable.

We've had events where the support has been incredible, and we've also had days where we've wondered why we even came. Those disappointing days stay with you, and they make every new event a little nerve-racking.

But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that you can't let one bad day stop you from showing up again.

So this weekend, we're choosing hope. We're bringing our best Jollof rice, grilled chicken, and the flavours we love, and we're hoping people will stop by and give us a try.

If you're visiting the Falkirk Food & Drink Festival this weekend, we'd really appreciate you coming to say hello. Whether you buy a meal, recommend us to a friend, or simply stop for a chat, every bit of support means more than you know.

Here's to taking chances, believing in your dream, and showing up even when the outcome is uncertain.

Wish us luck. We can't wait to meet you. 💜💛

Falkirk Council
SHS Events

06/07/2026

Our hearts are so full! ❤️💛

As we reflect on the amazing Afro-Caribbean Summer Festival in Dunfermline on 4th July, we just want to say thank you.

To everyone who queued patiently, bought our food, came back for seconds, recommended us to friends and family, shared a smile, or simply stopped by our stall—thank you for believing in Oven and Stove. Your support means more than you know, especially as a small local business.

Seeing the Afro-Caribbean community come together in Dunfermline to celebrate the cultures, heritage, music, and, of course, our incredible food was truly heartwarming. It was more than just a festival; it was a reminder that the community is growing, thriving, and creating spaces where everyone feels welcome.

Thank you to the organisers for creating such a fantastic event, to the volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and to our fellow vendors, it was a pleasure sharing the day with you all.

We're grateful, we're encouraged, and we're already looking forward to the next one!

If you took any photos of your food or visited our stall, we'd love to see them, please share them in the comments and tag Oven and Stove.

From our family to yours, thank you for making our first Dunfermline Afro-Caribbean Festival such a memorable one. ❤️

06/07/2026

Some days stay with you forever, and 27th June will certainly be one of them.

As we reflect on our very first paid tasting event, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude.

To every single person who bought a ticket, thank you for believing in us before you even tasted a single bite. Your faith, encouragement, and support meant the world to us.

To everyone who walked through our doors on the day, whether you came specifically for the event or simply dropped by out of curiosity, thank you. Every conversation, every smile, every word of encouragement, every recommendation, and every piece of positive feedback reminded us why we started Oven and Stove in the first place.

To our amazing friend Sade, there are simply no words. You gave your time, your energy, your strength, and your heart to make sure everything ran smoothly. You stood with us when we were tired, cheered us on when we were nervous, and celebrated every little success with us. We are incredibly blessed to have someone like you in our lives, and we will never take your love and support for granted.

One of the greatest joys of the day was seeing our community come together, not just to enjoy authentic Nigerian food, but to support something bigger than ourselves. Thank you to everyone who supported Jaxon's Gift. Your generosity and compassion will make a real difference, and together we showed what can happen when a community unites behind a worthy cause.

The love we received was overwhelming. Hearing comments like "This tastes like home," "When is the next one?" and "You have to do this again!" filled us with hope and reminded us that every early morning, every late night, and every sacrifice is worth it.

This wasn't just a tasting event. It was the beginning of something beautiful. It was a reminder that dreams grow when people believe in them, and because of you, we are more inspired than ever.

From our family at Oven and Stove, thank you for showing up, for cheering us on, for sharing our vision, and for making us feel so loved.

If you thought this was special, just wait until you see what we have planned next. We are already working on something even bigger, even better, and we cannot wait to share it with you.

Stay close... because this journey is only just beginning, and we would love for you to be part of every step.

With love and endless gratitude,

The Oven and Stove Family ❤️

01/07/2026

🎂 WIN a Bento Cake Decorating Workshop! 🎂

We're excited to be giving one lucky winner the chance to win a place at a Bento Cake Decorating Workshop on 1st August in Bathgate Partnership Centre.

This amazing prize is kindly donated by Kakes By Younice 💗

Here's how to enter:

🎟️ Every family attending Soft Steps between 1st–25th July receives one entry.

➕ Every visit = an extra entry, so the more you visit, the more chances you have to win!

💗 Want to help spread the word? Share this post with your friends and family so more people can enter!

🏆 Winner drawn on 26th July.

A huge thank you to Kakes By Younice for generously donating this fantastic £35 prize and supporting our charity and local families. We really appreciate your kindness! 💛🍰

Follow both pages to see the winning announcement!

Good luck everyone! 🤞✨