Toko Talks
With Spring Onion Atelier & Sexy Flavors
Chef and food activist Lelani Lewis explores the cultural meaning of the toko together with chefs, cookbook authors and fellow food lovers. Join us every second Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm at Plein. The language of this event is English.
The toko is more than a back-up when the supermarket falls short. For many, it’s a place that feels like home – where flavours evoke memories, cultures meet, generations connect, and communities claim space. In conversations with food lovers and experts, Lelani Lewis explores how food is deeply tied to identity, and how migrant cuisines continue to shape the flavours of a city.
Expanding the Dutch Palate: How Migration Enriched the Country's Culinary Landscape
How often do you hear about Dutch cuisine – or the lack of it? Many overlook how immigration, colonialism, and globalization have shaped the rich, diverse food scene in the Netherlands. From Chin.Indo.Spec.Restaurants and rijsttafels to Surinamese roti spots and kebab corners, the country’s culinary culture has roots in the spice trade, street vendors, and early 'exotic' eateries.
For this first edition of Toko Talks, Lelani Lewis invites Spring Onion Atelier and Sexy Flavors.
Spring Onion Atelier explores public space through architecture, urbanism and media, with a strong focus on food as a lens for migration and cultural exchange. By tracing the global journeys of ingredients like tomato, coffee and chili, they show how culinary traditions move with people. Their research-driven practice connects academic insight with lived experience, sparking new perspectives on identity and belonging.
SexyFlavors cook like their mothers did – full of love, attention, and a zest for life. Their dishes blend the rich flavors of the Caribbean, Africa and Latin America, with a pinch of Europe. With a team of chefs and creatives, they bring food lovers together through culinary experiences on location. A team that can take on any challenge.
About Lelani Lewis
Lelani Lewis is a chef, food stylist and culinary activist. She is dedicated to giving Caribbean cuisine a rightful place in today’s kitchen. Raised in South London with Grenadian and Irish roots, Lelani blends tradition with innovation. Through her pop-up restaurant and catering company Nyam (Jamaican slang for ‘food’), she makes Caribbean food visible and accessible. Her work explores the stories behind food – and how those stories shape who we are.