thebensonekpo

18/03/2023

How to adult on a Saturday morning:

Step 1 - Wine Tasting
Step 2 - Getting Drunk
Step 3 - Don't think about the consequences until Monday

😂🍷🍾

11/03/2023

Hello Abuja,

I arrived and brought the heat with me! Oops!

04/03/2023

On Saturday’s, we indulge in slightly over the top expensive skincare.

~ Selah

26/01/2023

15/01/2023

Do you decant your whisky’s?

Simply pouring your whiskey into a decanter will allow the spirit to interact with oxygen and make it easier for more nuanced aromas to bloom — so you can smell more than just red hot alcohol on that first sniff. Beyond that, whiskey is much more stable in a decanter than wine.

14/01/2023

Encounter a world of spirited delights and well intentioned unwinding at Playa Beach Club. The stunning venue situated on West Beach on Palm Jumeirah offers fiery sunset views guaranteed to melt away your toughest worries.

Playa has my heart from its expansive Nikkei culinary program to its progressive signature mixology that holds an endless abandon of promises.

08/01/2023

Wanderlust and desert dust with .

06/01/2023

Saturday’s are for cigar tastings. Change my mind…

Hint: Ya can’t 😮‍💨

05/01/2023

Here’s to building publicly. To creating reality dreamt long past. Here’s to championing obsession. Encounter the future.

31/12/2022

And just like that, the 2022 season has come to an end. Big shouts to all the amazing people who made this year über interesting.

I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity of building some very interesting cool stuff in the luxury space via .

Hello #2023, bring it on!
Yallah!!!!

15/12/2022

The Golden Ox, an ethereal Paloma libation by

09/12/2022

Swipe to catch me fall in love with Gran Reserva.

P.s thank you for the sweet messages from yesterday’s announcement of .

20/11/2022

BESTIEEEESSSSS!!!!!!! THIS IS NOT A DRILLLL

I’m excited to announce my new collaboration with .distillery. The the worlds first superior zero alcohol premium farm to bottle distillate. Botan prides it’s self by being the first in the industry to produce bottles with zero alcohol, zero preservatives and zero sugar.

Keep an eye out for all the fun, exciting content coming your way!

16/11/2022

Nothing gets me going more than seeing my people winning. Congratulations to the über hardworking, talented team behind NIRI for their selection in the inaugural Michelin Guide Abu Dhabi.

Big shouts to my sister Chef Omaka for the representation in the region. It’s almost a breath of fresh air seeing another African being represented in the scene. I’m very proud of you sis!

17/09/2022

Where did the first week go?! 🥵

I guess that’s what happens when you’re having a blast at work!

I’m delighted to announce that earlier this week, I joined the Dubai based global ultra luxury concierge company .ae as a General Manager, overseeing the fast paced company’s growth and expansion program, VIP client experience design and overall operations geared towards improving the near faultless efficiency of the team.
ae has been championed as the cities singular most luxury concierge, proving almost 💯 client satisfaction over the last 6 years, it’ll be difficult to top that but I like a challenge.

Working with the talented business tycoon .theroyalgame is an exciting opportunity I can’t wait to explore!

If you have a second, please give my work account .theroyalgame a follow to stay updated on all the best Luxuries Dubai has to offer!

11/09/2022

Toddy’s hangover is proudly sponsored by .

08/09/2022

I’m delighted to announce the den one appearance of in our community with the first ever COUNTDOWN event in the region.

COUNTDOWN is a bold, global movement to find ways to rapidly shift l to a world with net zero greenhouse emissions and tackle the climate crisis. Powered by TED and Future Stewards, COUNTDOWN is a TED-style event geared to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. The goal: to build a better future by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 towards reaching net zero by 2050.

TEDxBarshaHeights COUNTDOWN will play host to leaders of sustainability, climate warriors and other Humans-of-the-planet who are taking action to solve the global climate crises.

If this sounds like you… hurry now to the link in bio of and apply now to share your progressive Idea Worth Spreading!

28/08/2022

Golden 💫

25/08/2022

I stopped by chic Mediterranean restaurant Paradiso a few days ago for a lovely sunny lunch and went away feeling bright and warm inside. Not just from the taste blasting deliciousness of the cuisine, but the ethos of the iconic venue resonated so deeply with me.

Here’s to celebrating Love & Passion with everything we do.

In the words of its founders:

“Paradiso is a celebration of the unique sense of warmth, belonging and life, that only the finest Mediterranean fare can conjure.”

_Nicole Rubi & Pierre Gagnaire

23/08/2022

Encounter Dragon’s Tooth, a truly inspired speakeasy tucked away inside the Rosewood Abu Dhabi.

The aesthetics is inspired by the 1920’s Shanghai Jazz revolution, Dragon's Tooth is a hidden bar found through the 'Tea Room' of the hotel's restaurant, Dai Pai D**g.

Enjoy the extensive Asian-inspired bar menu set within a secretive and majestic ambience.

19/08/2022

Classification of attention to detail, The Rosewood Abu Duabi has it on lock. The team discovered my love for Negroni’s and when I came back from dinner, I was greeted with a barrel of aged Negroni to unwind with. Quite honestly the best gesture I’ve ever experienced with any property, I’m still reeling from it!

07/08/2022

Every summer has a pool story and mine is found ’s turquoise paradise.

21/07/2022

Use your smile to change the world!

14/07/2022

Experince Varq, a new contemporary Indian dining sat within the regal Taj Exotica The Palm.

The new venue explores couture dining whilst elevating simple ingredients. With most of the dishes & drinks decked out in some type of Gold, something I found to be a very mild inconvenience, Varq presents authentic Indian flavors in non-traditional styles.

The crap dish (slide 4) was quite literally, the most memorable crab-anything I’ve ever tasted. I found the Lamb was cooked exquisitely, falling off the bone nicely without any need to tug.

The desert options were…. Interesting. New flavors I’d probably skip on next time.
tajpalm

13/07/2022

Mama Mia 🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽

03/07/2022

Tomorrow is my birthday! And to celebrate, I’m delighted to announce my first book is coming January 2023!

The first sentence begins with:

“First of all, LISTEEEEN!!!!! This is a very serious book! And you should take it seriously on God! Or not, I can’t, really, tell you what do...”

A few moments later, the following mess ensues:

“… and then I was like ‘OMG, yassss! It’s giving low budget Lady Gaga in a meat dress”

HELLO THERE chronicles the chaotic life of Benson EKPO in a hilarious conversation-style. Sprawled with Gen-Z references that’ll make most people reach for urban dictionary, my first book will give you an insight into all the craziness I’ve been through and the incredible lessons I’ve learned along the way, like how you should never really judge a person for using an android phone (*cough cough)

A few of my ideologies make it in here as well. Some of them serious, lol, who am I kidding.. I firmly believe people who wear crocs & Ugg’s should be cancelled 🙄😒

From starting my first social impact project at 13; leaving home at 16, then having my first, second and third mental breakdowns, surviving su***de by the skin of my teeth and the lessons I pulled from that experience.

Discovering food; finding passion, starting life over multiple times, dealing with endless pressure of fitting into everyone’s idea of who I should be. Losing myself, dealing with sexuality and my very strict religious & traditional African heritage, oh, and that one 15 secs relationship I thought I had that year🥲

Discover my POV on flying across the world to join the protest & the events of the night of Lekki massacre, a night where two of my close friends took to the streets of Lagos to March for their lives and until this day, no word nor contact has been made with either of them.

Hello there will be available for preorder November 2022!

29/06/2022

I recently checked out the playful lifestyle destination Hyde Hotel Downtown, recently opened in the glittery downtown area of Dubai, Hyde boasts of a chic, design forward aesthetics with a vibrant playful personality.

The fourth floor at Hyde was the game changer for, nicknamed , the floor plays host to a one stop shop nightlife experience. I started my dinner with some pre-drinks at the pool bar, continued on to one of the most immaculate Omakase experiences I’ve ever had curated by the ultra talented Chef of Katsuya and then wrapped up at the fun and highly spirited Hudson Tavern.

Hyde brings a spirit of gastronomy, mixology and unless opportunities.

27/06/2022

The best taco’s I’ve ever had! The Yellow tail with avocado & white miso & Japanese A5 Wagyu with tofu cream & shichimi ponzu Crispy Taquitos.

26/06/2022

My experience sparked off with Guacamole spiced with Aji Amarillo served with some brightly colored homemade crispy chips.