Otago Polytechnic’s Food Design Institute has confirmed Nigerian chef and food designer Michael Adé Elẹgbẹdé’ as one of the keynote speakers for the International Food Design Conference and Studio in June 2016. The announcement comes as earlybird tickets go on sale through www.eventfinder.co.nz for the Dunedin conference.
Nigerian‐born Elẹgbẹdé recently returned to Lagos from New York to establish a restaurant that tells the story of Nigeria’s food culture. After completing a degree at the Culinary Institute of America, Elẹgbẹdé moved to New York to work at three Michelin star, Eleven Madison Park.
He has worked with food designer Emilie Baltz (2014 International Food Design Conference keynote) and also spent time at French Laundry and Alinea. He says his love for food comes from growing up in the kitchen, at home and when his family moved to America where he spent his spare time cooking in his mother’s Nigerian restaurant.
Food Design Institute head and Conference Convener, Professor Richard Mitchell said Michael Elẹgbẹdé’s food journey illustrates the ‘Human Touch’, which is this year’s theme. Mitchell is in negotiations with a second international guest and expects the final conference programme to be confirmed within the next two months. Lauraine Jacobs will MC the conference, which is expected to attract 300 delegates. Guests will come from throughout the food industry as well as interested consumers and over three days will attend keynote addresses, lectures and hands‐on workshops. It is one of the cornerstone events to celebrate Otago Polytechnic’s 50th anniversary.
The International Food Design Conference and Studio will take place June 29 – July 1, 2016 at Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin.
www.eventfinda.co.nz
www.fooddesign.org.nz
