Adejoké "Joké" Bakare is a British Nigerian-born chef specialising in
West African cuisine
West African cuisine encompasses a diverse range of foods that are split between its 16 countries. In West Africa, many families grow and raise their own food, and within each there is a division of labor. Indigenous foods consist of a number of ...
. Largely self taught, in 2024, she became the first Black woman in the United Kingdom to be awarded a
Michelin-star
The ''Michelin Guides'' ( ; ) are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The ''Guide'' awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few restaurants in certain geographic ...
. Later that year, she was named Chef of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards.
Biography
Early life
Bakare was born and grew up in
Kaduna, Nigeria
Kaduna is the capital city of Kaduna State, and the former political capital of Northern Nigeria. It is located in north-western Nigeria, on the Kaduna River. It is a trade center and a major transportation hub as the gateway to northern states ...
. Her mother is of Yoruba ancestry and her father is Igbo, which exposed her to a variety of cultural influences growing up. While studying biomedical sciences at
Kaduna State University
Kaduna State University is located in Kaduna (city), Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was established in 2004. It has sixteen faculties with over 50 Academic department, departments. The School has two main campuses: Kafanchan and Kaduna (city), ...
, she supported herself by running a fish-and-chips cart.
In 1999, she moved to the United Kingdom to study.
While working in various fields including
property management
Property management is the operation, control, maintenance, and oversight of real estate and physical property. This can include residential, commercial, and land real estate. Management indicates the need for real estate to be cared for and mon ...
, Bakare continued her interest in and love of cooking. A self-taught chef, she operated a street food van outside her church, and later hosted
supper club
A supper club is a traditional dining establishment that also functions as a social club. The term may describe different establishments depending on the region, but in general, supper clubs tend to present themselves as having a high-class imag ...
s, sharing her interest in west African cuisine.
In 2019, her friends encouraged her to enter the Brixton Kitchen cooking competition, where the grand prize was a three month pop up shop in
Brixton Village.
To her surprise, Bakare won the competition in the amateur category.
Chishuru
In September 2020, Bakare opened
Chishuru, a pop-up restaurant in
Brixton, London
Brixton is an area of South London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Brixton experienced a rapid rise in population during the 19th century ...
specialising in modern
West African cuisine
West African cuisine encompasses a diverse range of foods that are split between its 16 countries. In West Africa, many families grow and raise their own food, and within each there is a division of labor. Indigenous foods consist of a number of ...
.
In 2022, Chishuru was named London's Best Restaurant by
Time Out Magazine.
Chishuru would appear in several other popup locations across London, before outgrowing their Brixton site. In September 2023, Bakare and Chishuru settled in
Fitzrovia
Fitzrovia ( ) is a district of central London, England, near the West End. Its eastern part is in the London Borough of Camden, and the western in the City of Westminster. It has its roots in the Manor of Tottenham Court, and was urbanised in ...
.
In November 2023, food critic
Charlotte Ivers
Charlotte Ivers (born 1 March 1995) is a British journalist. She is currently the Food critic, restaurant critic for ''The Sunday Times'' having previously been a political correspondent at Times Radio.
Early life
Born in 1995, Ivers sees herself ...
's positive review of Chishuru brought increased attention to the restaurant.
On 5 February 2024, Chishuru and
head chef
A chef de cuisine (, French for ''head of kitchen'') or head chef is a chef that leads a kitchen and its cooks. A chef patron (feminine form ''chef patronne'') (French for ''boss chef'') or executive chef is a chef that manages multiple kitche ...
Bakare were awarded a
Michelin-star
The ''Michelin Guides'' ( ; ) are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The ''Guide'' awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few restaurants in certain geographic ...
. With the recognition, Bakare became the first black woman in the United Kingdom to become a Michelin-starred chef.
She would become the second black woman in the world to be awarded a Michelin star after France's
Georgiana Viou, who was awarded a Michelin star in 2023.
In June 2024, Bakare was named "Chef of the Year" at Time Out's National Restaurant Awards.
See also
*
List of female chefs with Michelin stars
Women chefs were among some of the earliest to be awarded Michelin stars. Within the ''Michelin Guide'', stars were first introduced in 1926 with the present three star system added in 1931. When three stars were first awarded in 1933, two female ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bakare, Adejoké
Living people
Head chefs of Michelin-starred restaurants
Nigerian chefs
British chefs
Year of birth missing (living people)
Nigerian expatriates in the United Kingdom