The heritage series: Meet Lulu and William Wood of The Wood Kitchen

Together, Lulu and William Wood have fostered a lively culture of sharing and cooking in Zambia. Although Zambia doesn’t celebrate a designated Heritage Day, the concept deeply resonates with them as it presents an opportunity to celebrate their origins, Zambia’s diverse cultures – and particularly their cuisine, which holds a central place in their lives. Through recipe development, live cooking demonstrations and collaborations with food brands, The Wood Kitchen has begun to popularise an underexplored cuisine by championing local, ethically sourced ingredients and forging new traditions. With food media on the rise in Zambia, The Wood Kitchen is a pioneering force that has placed their local food on the map, signalling a bright future for the Southern African food scene.

 

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What does celebrating heritage look like for you?

For us, celebrating heritage isn’t just about looking back: it's also about elevating and showcasing our local Zambian dishes, which are often underrated on the global stage. Zambia has 72 official tribes. As a couple we come from two different tribes, Tonga and Lozi, and we’ve found immense joy in experimenting with the traditional foods we grew up with and blending them with the flavours and techniques we’ve encountered while living in various countries. This blending of past and present has become a hallmark of our cooking style. Every dish we create at The Wood Kitchen carries with it a piece of our heritage, whether it’s in the use of traditional ingredients or in the adaptation of cooking methods that honour where we come from.

Which foods evoke the strongest sense of nostalgia for you, and what memories do they bring back?

Tripe is a dish that holds a special place in our hearts. In Zambia, tripe is often prepared simply, allowing the natural flavours to shine through. However, the South African approach, with its rich array of spices, adds a new dimension to this humble ingredient. The first time we tasted South African tripe, it brought back memories of home but with an exciting twist –like reconnecting with an old friend who has grown and evolved in beautiful ways. These dishes remind us of our roots while also highlighting the culinary traditions that connect different African countries.

Find the recipe for Lulu's Fisashi here. 

Is there a particular dish or ingredient that connects you to your heritage?

Village chicken is a dish that is deeply intertwined with our cultural identity. In Zambian tradition, village chicken is more than just food; it is used to symbolise important narratives, especially milestones such as weddings, marriage negotiations and festive seasons like Christmas. For us, it holds memories of family gatherings, where the aroma of village chicken cooking would fill the air, signalling a special occasion. In our culinary journey, we’ve embraced the challenge of showcasing this beloved dish to a broader audience. By treating village chicken the same way turkey is showcased during Christmas in the West, we’ve created our own tradition. We enjoy experimenting with both local and Western flavours, creating a fusion that respects the authenticity of the dish while introducing new ways to enjoy it.

How do you balance preserving traditional recipes with incorporating modern techniques or innovations in your cooking?

We approach cooking with a mindset of curiosity and respect. Having lived in different places, we’ve developed a palate that enjoys flavours from all over the world, and we bring this love of diversity into our kitchen. When it comes to balancing tradition and innovation, we don’t see it as a strict formula but as an ongoing dialogue between the old and the new. Some traditional recipes are perfect as they are and deserve to be preserved in their original form. However, at The Wood Kitchen we love experimenting with individual ingredients, and exploring how different techniques or spices can enhance a dish without it losing its essence. For example, we might keep a traditional dish intact but innovate by incorporating modern techniques to simplify the process or highlight a particular flavour. We believe that honouring tradition doesn’t mean being rigid – rather, it’s about keeping the heart of the recipe alive while allowing it to evolve in ways that resonate with today’s tastes.

 

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In what ways do you think food can help celebrate and preserve heritage, and how do you see your role as a chef contributing to this effort?

Food is a gateway to understanding culture, and for us, it’s one of the most powerful tools for celebrating and preserving our heritage. By sharing traditional recipes, whether through cooking for friends, hosting events, or creating content, we’re not just feeding people, we’re educating them about where we come from. We’ve made it a point to document and experiment with our local ingredients and recipes, knowing that this not only keeps our culture alive but also introduces it to new generations and wider audiences. Our role as home cook content creators who create a blend of local, fusion and Western foods goes beyond just creating delicious meals; it’s about being custodians of our culinary heritage. We take pride in showing people, especially those in the diaspora or younger generations who might not be familiar with traditional Zambian dishes, what it means to be Zambian through food. We celebrate our heritage in a way that is both respectful of tradition and open to innovation, ensuring that these recipes continue to be relevant and cherished.

Follow @ luluhaangalawood and @woodkitchenz on Instagram.

Photography: Toby Murphy, Studio 31