Mudrakat Alabi-Macfoy of Poshnoms
” I’m a certified foodie and a cook who wants to
share unique eating experiences with people who appreciate complex and easy flavors” – Mudrakat Alabi-Macfoy, Founder of Poshnoms
We would like to know more about Mudrakat of Poshnoms – Tell us about the creative person behind the project.
I don’t know why I always draw a blank with this question. It is like I forget who I am. Loool! Okay, I’ve always found food very comforting. Like most art forms, the satisfaction lies in seeing your ideas manifest before your eyes. But with food, you often get to eat those ideas or share them with people around you. I am an ambivert. However, the introvert in me finds cooking cathartic. I am generally good at creating, I enjoy painting, gardening, crafts, writing, etc. I also enjoy eating out, traveling, and sleeping. Anything enjoyment sha, count me in!
What was the inspiration behind Poshnoms?
Simply my love for food. That’s it, no long story. I’m a certified foodie and a cook who wants to share unique eating experiences with people who appreciate complex and easy flavors.
We would like to know more about your rosemary and chili pesto -How did it start, and how’s it going?
Ah! My bestselling Rosemary & Chili Pesto? That’s my baby o. Loool! I put my all into it, and it speaks for itself. A banger! Yes, I’m not forming humble. It is a great product which I am very proud of. It is a delicious and versatile homemade blend of healthy oils, herbs, spices, and seasoning.
It started from a Zero-Waste moment I had in my kitchen. I had some leftovers, and I didn’t want to waste them, so I decided to reuse them, and something beautiful came out of it! I spent over 30 weeks in my test kitchen perfecting this savory all-purpose pesto so people can cut down on cooking time and enjoy it with anything savory!
A little goes a long way, so additional seasoning is hardly ever necessary! It can be used as
● Marinade for all meats, meatballs, seafood, and vegetables
● Base for stir-frying, pasta, and noodles
● An add-on to omelets, soups, stews, etc.
I take pride in ensuring that there are no preservatives in our pesto. The olive oil serves as the preservative. Top up with any oil of your choice as you use it, and the pesto can be kept in or out of the fridge. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it becomes! It is NAFDAC approved and vegetarian. Proudly made in Nigeria.
Why did you settle for seafood boil? If you weren’t doing that, what else would you be doing?
Fun fact: I brought the commercial seafood boil concept to Lagos, as far back as 2017. Then, people could only get it at food festivals where I sold portions. Soon, people started ordering directly from me. They still do whenever I announce I am taking orders. The next thing, some people took the idea and ran with it. I don’t mind; it is a good thing that I helped a lot of people get their first seafood boil experience. I like that. Sometimes, depending on availability and requests, my brand, PoshNoms creates unique eating experiences through flavorful and innovative fusion food using fresh ingredients and amazing plating for.
• Private Home Catering
• Large and Intimate Events
• Multi-Course Dining
• Canapés
• Restaurant Menu Design.
Tell us one of your most significant moments since you decided to explore this path.
It will always be first and foremost the favor of God that I see every single day with each sale. Then the support of my family blows my mind. My mum always sits with me to help label and pack large orders. As in up till now o. So sweet. I can’t ever forget it. The way my friends also support my business really makes me happy. They buy for themselves and others. They post and send amazing reviews because they truly enjoy the Rosemary & Chili Pesto. Tai is one of those friends. They hook me up! I am so thankful. Also, the positive response to my Rosemary & Chili Pesto. It has been used by a wide range of people including stars and celebrities. This thing has traveled farther than I ever have – the UK, US, Canada, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kenya, and many more places. I can never get over it. The goal was to share delicious stuff I make with people, and it is actually happening. Alhamdulilah.
What’s the most difficult thing about developing or designing recipes or menus?
Oh, it is having to create a product that appeals to the taste of a broad spectrum of people with different palettes. That’s why I spend so much time testing a recipe before making it commercially available. It is hard work. Sometimes a hit, sometimes a miss. But you have to keep going.
Take the Rosemary & Chili Pesto, for instance: it is SO versatile, and even my customers blow me away with new ways to use it. The most surprising use of the pesto has been in okra soup and fried plantains (dodo). But I can understand the dodo, a similar take on kelewele, I guess.
What’s your vision for your brand in the next 3-5 years?
To scale. Not just production but to expand and create more flavors and products. The dream is to go international. Be at Tesco, Walmart, etc. I want PoshNoms to be recognized as a brand that always produces eating experiences that guarantee quality and exceptional flavor. I want my brand to have a presence in every pantry worldwide! From my mouth to God’s ears! Ameen!
What’s the one about Poshnoms that you can’t keep to yourself? If any, tell us.
WE ARE ECO-FRIENDLY! In my professional life, I’m into sustainability and always try to avoid plastic to as large an extent as I can possibly accommodate. So please reuse your glass jars and recycle the paper tags. Also, in my experience, I have found that the Rosemary & Chili Pesto is the perfect gift. In hampers or individually. The requests I get for this is always so heartwarming. Trust me, it is one unique gift that people appreciate. So step away from the conventional gifts and try something new!
What advice do you have for someone looking to develop their own recipe or special product?
See, just start. Don’t overthink. I promise you there is room in the world for your product too. As long as you are fulfilling a need (however niche), you’ll always have an audience. Don’t give up. Keep at it. As cliche as that sounds, you have to be consistent until you get to a version of your product that blows your mind. If you are reading this, you can do it. I believe in you!
Tell us one fun fact about you.
I’m a whiz at trivia. I have a bank of potentially useless information. Like how sharks have no bones and giraffes have the same number of neck bones as human neck bones – 7, but longer! Don’t ask me how I know that.
