I have rarely met someone with such extraordinary cooking talent. Outside of chefs I see on television, I had never encountered anyone who could prepare local Cameroonian dishes, international recipes and everything in between—until I met Denis Barika online in a group I started called “Cameroonian Foodies.” Denis, who uses the nickname Lapiro, has an exceptional culinary instinct. He knows the kitchen inside and out. Judging by his photos, you might assume he trained at a culinary school. The surprising truth is he didn’t. A former business analyst with an MBA, Denis cooks out of pure passion.
After admiring his photos on Facebook for a while, I arranged a chat to learn more. He shared how he learned to cook, how his partner reacts to his constant time in the kitchen, and a memorable reward he received after preparing a family meal. Enjoy this conversation.
First, why do you call yourself Lapiro?
I use the name Lapiro because Lapiro is my favorite musician. My given name is Denis.
Who taught you to cook?
No one formally taught me. I watched my mother cook and often helped with small tasks—like peeling Maggi cube wrappers so I could eat them afterwards. My mother was a stay-at-home mom who prepared two meals every day, and growing up watching her gave me a deep affection for cooking.
At what age did you begin cooking?
I started cooking at nine, around the end of primary school. My mother would make groundnut soup and I would be responsible for boiling the rice. In our home we often ate Ndop rice, which requires skill—if you aren’t careful you can end up with something more like fufu than rice. At eleven, when I went to secondary school, I lived with my uncle and took on cooking duties at home while my cousin handled cleaning. That experience taught me how to cook a wide variety of dishes.
You create a lot of food art too. Have you considered a food-related career?
People tell me all the time I should go to culinary school. I enjoy food art and working with my hands—back home I earned top marks in handwork at primary school. My mother did handiwork as well, and I learned cross-stitch and other crafts from her. I planned a fruit table for my cousin’s baby shower—my first large event piece—and I was excited to create something different. I’ll share photos and a video in the group once it’s done.
Lapiro wrote: “I made her with vegetables—she loves carrots, leeks, celery, green beans and parsley. Her earrings are radish; I think she just got her eyebrows done, and oh—she’s got cute lips!” He also adds humor about drawing faces on eggs and the time he spent making dyed deviled eggs.
I once cooked a three-course meal for a family who invited me to their home: rice, chicken stew, and Cameroon Eru, followed by strawberries and yogurt served in apple cups. The host’s wife had a spacious, well-equipped kitchen and I enjoyed working in it. After the meal, the husband gave me $250 as a token of appreciation—an unexpected and humbling reward. The next day he sent a photo of his wife eating the Eru straight from the pot with the caption, “this is how you know the chef did a good job.”
How does your partner feel about you cooking so much?
She appreciates it. At first she was unsure, but she came to accept that cooking is part of who I am. She’s still in school, so I do most of the cooking, but it’s driven by my passion for food rather than necessity. I don’t like eating food that’s more than two days old—if something’s been in the fridge that long, I’d rather freeze it and prepare something fresh.
You also seem passionate about photography. Where does that come from?
My father loved photography and often took pictures of me growing up. I inherited that interest and now take a photo every day. I even choose a color each week and photograph subjects that match it. One of my images was featured on Flickr Explore, which really boosted my enthusiasm. I didn’t study photography formally; it’s a creative skill I developed over time.
Would you encourage other men to cook?
Absolutely. Cooking for your partner and setting the table before they arrive shows care: she comes home, relaxes, and enjoys a meal without extra stress. Men should feel confident in the kitchen—preparing food for someone creates a warm, welcoming home.
Thank you, Lapiro, for sharing your story. Your dedication to cooking and creativity in the kitchen are inspiring. Whether you pursue culinary school or continue cooking from the heart, your passion is already taking you places. Now we invite readers to reflect: is there a man in your life who cooks? What do you think about men who love to cook?