On Tuesday 21 July, chef Chet Sharma will host the latest edition of the BiBi & Friends series, welcoming Aktar Islam, chef patron of Birmingham’s Michelin-starred Opheem and the recently launched London restaurant Oudh 1722.
The collaborative dinner will bring together two leading voices in contemporary Indian cuisine. Sharma and Islam are connected not only by their shared ambition to rethink traditional Indian dishes, but also by a long-standing friendship built on mutual respect, support and a common creative language. Over the years, the two chefs have regularly turned to one another for advice and perspective, drawing on their experience in the hospitality industry as each has developed his own distinct vision.
Born and raised in Birmingham, Islam began working in his father’s restaurant at the age of 13. He has since earned widespread acclaim for his progressive approach to Indian cuisine, securing two Michelin stars for Opheem and making it the only Indian restaurant outside London to hold this distinction. Sharma’s cooking, meanwhile, is deeply shaped by his Indian heritage, with BiBi known for its ingredient-led dishes and its commitment to sustainability, seasonality and a forward-thinking approach to Indian food.
For the dinner, guests will be served a menu featuring signature dishes from both restaurants. Islam will present his celebrated Aloo Tuk from Opheem, a Sindhi-inspired dish made with pink fir potatoes and tamarind. From BiBi, Sharma will serve Green Chilli Dover Sole with courgette, mussel and plantain purée.
“Aktar bucks every trend you hear about this profession,” says Sharma. “As two prominent progressive Indian chefs in the country, you would expect some degree of healthy rivalry between us, but since we’ve opened, Aktar has both privately and publicly championed the BiBi story. And vice versa. This collaboration is built on mutual respect between two friends and we are so excited to create a menu celebrating the diversity of modern Indian food.”
Islam adds: “Chet is not only a chef whose work I greatly admire, but also a friend. Over the years we’ve shared plenty of conversations, ideas and mutual respect, so having the opportunity to cook together is a real pleasure. I’m looking forward to sharing the kitchen with Chet and creating an experience that reflects our love of great food.”
Sponsored by Krug, the dinner is priced at £195 per person, including a paired glass of Krug. Two optional wine pairings and one non-alcoholic pairing will also be available to accompany the meal.
To find out more about BiBi and book, visit the links below:
BiBi
42 N Audley St
London W1K 6ZP
United Kingdom
Web: bibirestaurants.com
Online Bookings: bibirestaurants.com/reservations
Email: info@bibirestaurants.com
Instagram: @bibi_ldn
Interior images © Mark Scott, all other images © Anton Rodriguez