Wykeham Journal 2016 | Page 33

On arriving at the school , he made his strongest mark through sport , where he discovered a characteristic shared by those who often find themselves entering new horizons – he realised that he loved to lead .

That bridge-work is embodied in the brand ’ s mantra – “ chop , chat , chill ”. Chop , a word meaning ‘ eat ’ in Nigerian pidgin English , or generic for ‘ food ’, is never encountered alone in such kitchens , for it is the community with which one breaks bread that defines the taste of the meal as much as anything . It is who you ‘ chat ’ with , and who you ‘ chill ’ with , that often defines and attracts the good taste of strong chop . In investigating the concept of leadership , Emeka is quick to place the majority of his learning on the value of responsibility . “ You never realise how much the younger boys look up to you ,” he says . The growth he experienced personally through realising the role he played for jun men , the community which he led at school , and on the pitch , directly translates into the work he embodies through Chuku ’ s . “ It ’ s amazing to see people eating my food , and reading my content online , as I reach out to them . It ’ s a two-way mark of respect . This is how the business grows .” The journey from Ilford to Winchester is more than a trip round the M25 and M3 . For Emeka it was one that often called for set parameters of identity to be called into question . As a result , and as he grew further through his studies at Nottingham University and a stint in the City , he realised that he had the confidence to be able to enter into any environment whatsoever , whether in the kitchen or front-ofhouse , and lead , as himself . “ Perhaps indirectly ,” he notes , “ Winchester had a very large role to play in creating a fluid comfort zone for me . I can feel at home anywhere now .” Chuku ’ s is now in its second year of operation , and grows from strength to strength . In the constant lookout for a site from which to operate a kitchen , Emeka and his sister continue to enjoy the pop-up model that is becoming an increasingly popular mode of restaurateurs in the city . It is well known how tough it is to survive the competition – only one in every ten restaurant businesses make it through their first year in London . Chuku ’ s , led by Emeka and his sister , has survived that first year . “ It ’ s all about knowing your edge ,” he says , as he returns back to tomorrow ’ s menu .
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