Renowned Chef & Restaurateur
Ayo Balogun: Biography at a Glance
- With 20 years in the restaurant industry, Ayo Balogun brings a wealth of knowledge from diverse culinary settings, including Michelin-starred restaurants and authentic delis.
- Ayo has successfully launched and managed popular dining establishments in Brooklyn, such as The Bureau and the Dept of Culture, creating natably unique dining experiences.
- Under Ayo’s leadership, the Dept of Culture has garnered numerous accolades, including being named one of the top fifty restaurants in America by Bon Appétit and a finalist for the Best New Restaurant James Beard Foundation award.
- Ayo’s dedication to Nigerian cuisine through his IYA EBA pop-up dinners and the Dept of Culture highlights his commitment to promoting and educating others about the diversity and richness of Nigerian food.
- Ayo emphasizes the importance of sharing cultural stories through cuisine, celebrating commonalities and fostering understanding, making him an inspiring voice on the power of food in cultural exchange.
Biography
A 20-year veteran of the restaurant industry, Ayo Balogun has worked everywhere from a Michelin-starred Indian restaurant to an Italian deli making fresh mozzarella. He serves American food at his popular Brooklyn cafe, The Bureau, and offered similar fare at his now closed Trade Union Diner. While he’d flirted with the idea of opening a place dedicated to his native Nigerian cuisine, he shied away from it because he thought there needed to be more education about the diversity of Nigerian Cuisine.
Beginning in 2015 Ayo hosted a series of Nigerian pop-up dinners called IYA EBA — a Yoruba name for women who sell eba, a Nigerian staple food made from pounded cassava flour — this proved immensely popular. Ayo opened the aptly named Dept of Culture, where he prepares elegant, flavorful four-course meals based on the regional cooking that he grew up with in Nigeria’s Kwara State. “It’s important for us to tell our stories from our own perspective,” says Ayo, 43. ” We should celebrate the similarities we have through food.”
Since opening in 2022, Dept of Culture has been named one of the top fifty restaurants in America by Bon Appetite, one of the top ten restaurants of the year by Eater, Time Out Magazine's top10 new restaurants in New York, infatuations top 10 of 2022 and many more. Dept of Culture and is currently a finalist for the Best New Restaurant James Beard Foundation award.
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FAQs
How do I book Ayo Balogun for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Ayo Balogun to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Ayo Balogun's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Ayo Balogun’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Ayo Balogun in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Ayo Balogun's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Ayo Balogun's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Ayo Balogun, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Ayo Balogun's speaking fee?
Ayo Balogun's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Ayo Balogun's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Ayo Balogun's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Ayo Balogun as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Ayo Balogun as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Ayo Balogun's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Ayo Balogun's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Ayo Balogun for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Ayo Balogun speaking engagements.
Official contact for Ayo Balogun bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/ayo-balogun
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Ayo Balogun.
Is Ayo Balogun available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Ayo Balogun speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Ayo Balogun's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Ayo Balogun's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Ayo Balogun's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Ayo Balogun for?
Book Ayo Balogun for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Ayo Balogun customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
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- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Ayo Balogun engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Ayo Balogun can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Ayo Balogun booking information and availability
Check Ayo Balogun's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Ayo Balogun for your preferred event date.
Book Ayo Balogun keynote speaker through CAA
Book Ayo Balogun through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Ayo Balogun, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Ayo Balogun's calendar
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Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Ayo Balogun for your next event.
Will Ayo Balogun speak at private events?
Yes, Ayo Balogun speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Ayo Balogun's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Ayo Balogun?
CAA Speakers responds to Ayo Balogun booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Ayo Balogun?
Book Ayo Balogun 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Ayo Balogun pricing information?
Get Ayo Balogun pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.
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For speaker-related inquiries, email speakers@caa.com, or send us a message using the form below.
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