The Ebi-Ayo Supper Club is more than a dinner. It’s a gathering where culture, community, and connection come together. The name itself blends the Yoruba words Ebi (family) and Ayo (joy), reflecting our mission to create experiences that celebrate belonging and togetherness.

Ebi-Ayo is rooted in my own journey. I was born in Nigeria, and when my family relocated to Columbia, Missouri in December 1998, the very first meal I had in America was Italian food. That moment sparked a lifelong connection to Italian cuisine. It shaped my childhood, followed me into adulthood, and fueled my love for cooking.

In 2021, I traveled to Italy and had an experience that brought everything full circle. The pride in tradition, the joy infused into each meal, and the way people came together around food instantly reminded me of my Nigerian upbringing. That trip became the spark for the Ebi-Ayo Supper Club, a space where the philosophies of Nigerian and Italian culture meet through food and community.

Each dinner offers five family-style courses that blend the bold flavors of Nigerian cuisine with Italian techniques. It’s heritage and experience, plated with intention, and a celebration of values both cultures hold dear: family, community, and the universal language of food. At its heart, Ebi-Ayo is about connection, bringing people together as we do back home in Nigeria, where sharing a meal is how we check in on one another, build trust, and strengthen bonds. From the Yoruba saying “se o jeun?” (“Have you eaten?”) to the Italian tradition of gathering at the table, my culinary philosophy is rooted in family, storytelling, and shared humanity.

For me, cooking is about creating memories and strengthening bonds. The Ebi-Ayo Supper Club was created as an answer to the isolation of modern life, offering guests a place to gather, share stories, and connect in meaningful ways. Here, you leave with more than a full plate, you leave with a full heart, embraced as family.

Join us for dinner, and I look forward to welcoming you at the chef’s table.