Chef Adejoke Bakare’s restaurant Chishuru (which, in Nigeria’s Hausa language translates to “the silence that descends at the table when enjoying a meal”) has just been awarded a Michelin star, giving her the priceless status of being the first Black female chef in the UK to earn the privilege.
A Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants offering outstanding cooking, taking into account five universal criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and, just as importantly, consistency both across the entire menu and over time.
Chisuru launched in 2020 as a temporary popup in Brixton (South London), but is now located in Fitzrovia (Central London), thriving exceptionally as one of London’s best eateries to offer modern West African cuisine.
Says Bakare: “I always dreamed of having my own restaurant. I always felt that having a Michelin star would be the cherry on the cake, which is why I was so thrilled to be awarded one this week.”
Chef Bakare grew up in Nigeria as the oldest sibling, and was usually the go-to person in the family for scrumptious meals. About 20 years ago, she moved to the UK to study microbiology, took her love for cooking with her, and turned it into a restaurant favourite.