UK’s first black female Michelin-starred chef: ‘We’re at the forefront of west African food’

Adejoké Bakare, founder and head chef of Chishuru in London, says her achievement feels ‘quite surreal’

Fermented rice cake, mushroom puree and a side of plantain. West African cuisine is gaining traction in London, according to the first black woman to be awarded a Michelin star in the UK.

Adejoké Bakare is the founder and head chef at Chishuru, which received the honour on Monday. The restaurant, which specialises in modern west African cuisine, began as a pop-up in September 2020 after Bakare won a competition in Brixton Village. It then moved across various sites in London before finding a permanent home in Fitzrovia in September 2023.