A Taste of Home: The Story Behind the Plate (From O’eleven’s Kitchen, Mararaba Akunza, Lafia)

There’s something deeply comforting about a plate of traditional food. It’s more than just nourishment it’s a story, a memory, a warm embrace from home. In this image is a simple but powerful dish that speaks volumes about culture, heritage, and the joy of good food: a hearty bowl of vegetable soup served with smooth, golden swallow. This isn’t just a meal it’s an experience. One that’s tied to roots, to gatherings, to laughter, and sometimes, to moments of solitude and reflection.This particular plate came from no other than O’eleven’s Kitchen, a modest but growing food spot in Mararaba Akunza, a community in Lafia, Nasarawa State. This is a town where students, workers, and locals hustle through each day, O’eleven’s has become a name associated with comfortable food that speaks directly to the soul.

They don’t just serve meals they serve memories, with love folded into every wrap of swallow and every simmering pot of soup.What makes this plate more special is what led to it.Affording this meal was made possible by Hive, spending my earned HBD (Hive Backed Dollars) to enjoy something truly rewarding. It’s a story of turning digital value into real-life satisfaction. In a time when many are juggling tight budgets,this small indulgence was made possible by consistency and content creation became a moment of joy and selfcare.That meal didn’t just feed hunger. It represented effort, reward, and a treat that warmed the heart as much as the stomach.Lafia is a growing city, home to students, workers, and dreamers. In communities like Mararaba Akunza, where people are striving daily, food is both survival and celebration. A place like O’eleven’s Kitchen offers not just a meal, but a taste of home. Whether you’re a student tired of hostel cooking or a worker needing a decent lunch, one plate can change your whole day.People gather around plates like this to talk, to laugh, to pause life for a while. It’s food that reminds you of your mother’s kitchen, your village upbringing, or your last holiday visit home. The smells are familiar. The taste is reassuring. It’s the kind of meal that tells you, Everything will be okay.Vegetable soups are not only delicious but also rich in nutrients. Leafy greens provide essential vitamins and minerals. Proteins add strength, while palm oil delivers healthy fats and deep flavor.

When paired with swallow, it becomes a complete, balanced meal perfect for replenishing energy after a long day.This type of meal also showcases the Nigerian way of doing more with less. A few affordable ingredients vegetables, crayfish, oil, seasoningcan feed many. It’s a beautiful example of resourcefulness and culinary wisdom passed down through generations.This meal isn’t fancy. It doesn’t come with international flair or trendy garnishes. But it tells a richer story than most gourmet dishes. It tells of tradition. Of effort. Of community.When a young person in Lafia spends their HBD earnings to buy a plate from O’eleven’s Kitchen in Mararaba Akunza, it’s more than a transactionit’s a celebration. Of work, of roots, and of the present moment. That plate is joy. It’s pride. It’s culture served hot and fresh.So next time you see a bowl of soup and swallow, know that it might just be the most important thing someone has tasted all day not just for flavor, but for everything it stands for. Vegetable soupoften known by names like afang, ugu, efo riro, or editan depending on the tribe is a staple in many Nigerian homes. What you see here is richly green, fragrant, and full of texture. It boasts chopped leafy vegetables, palm oil, a mix of proteins (like fish or meat), and traditional seasoning that creates depth and warmth in every bite.Made with care, every detail in the soup reflects a kitchen that values quality. At O’eleven’s, nothing is rushed. The vegetables still have a tender crunch, the proteins are well-seasoned, and the color tells you it was cooked just right. The flavor is bold, yet balanced.The smooth golden swallow served beside the soup possibly yam or semovita is soft, pliable, and made to complement the richness of the soup. In Nigerian food culture, swallow is never a standalone. It’s meant to dip, to scoop, and to deliver flavor to your mouth in the most satisfying way.