Connectnigeria Articles

Orighoye Isibhakhome Dore-Job is the Chief Executive Officer of Nylah’s Catering, a catering business specialising in fusion cuisine. She spoke with Joy Ehonwa of Connect Nigeria in this interview about her experiences on the job and the journey since the establishment of her outfit. Excerpts: CN: Tell us a bit about your academic background Dore-Job: I have a Criminal Justice degree and a background in Nuclear Weapons Security. I also have a degree in Culinary Arts from the International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Washington, in Rosslyn Virginia. CN: When did you start Nylah’s Catering? Dore-Job: In 2005, right after I got out of the military where I served with the US Air force for eight years. CN: Why did you decide to do this? Dore-Job: I had to make the decision when I realized that I couldn’t stop dreaming about food and entertaining guests. CN: What were your biggest challenges starting out? Dore-Job: In Nigeria, the greatest challenge initially was trying to convince Nigerians to try foods they weren’t used to. CN: What has been the response from customers so far? Dore-Job: It’s been great, I must say!! I’ve finally been able to get many conservative clients to challenge their taste buds. CN: What is Nylah’s Catering’s unique selling point? Dore-Job: Our unique selling point is Fusion Cuisine, combining elements of different culinary traditions. CN: Which of your dishes have been most popular among clients? Dore-Job: Wow, that’s a tough one! I would say our Braised Beef with Apricots, and our Roast Chicken with White Wine & Grape Sauce. Our Roasted Potatoes are also a favourite for many clients. CN: Do you have any special offerings clients can look forward to? Dore-Job: Yes. We regularly receive orders to prepare and deliver Nigerian soups and stew for household consumption in bowls of varying sizes, so earlier this year we had a package offering clients free wraps of rice or “swallow” along with every bowl ordered. We also have our food club coming up very soon, where you can sample about 4 non-Nigerian dishes for a flat fee. CN: Tell us about your Future Awards 2012 experience Dore-Job: I was actually shocked to be nominated. Although I didn’t make it to the final 5, I was still happy because it meant someone was watching and I was finally doing something right. CN: What’s your advice to would-be entrepreneurs? Dore-Job: NEVER GIVE UP!! Keep pushing.

You might also like:

This article was first published on 30th August 2013 and updated on January 30th, 2017 at 2:03 pm

jehonwa

Joy Ehonwa is an editor and a writer who is passionate about relationships and personal development. She runs Pinpoint Creatives, a proofreading, editing, transcription and ghostwriting service. Email: pinpointcreatives [at] yahoo.com