Chefs Chet Sharma and Joké Bakare unite at BiBi for collaborative dinner celebrating Indian and West African cuisines

Two of London’s top chefs will come together on Saturday 23^rd May, when Chet Sharma will host Joké Bakare at his Mayfair restaurant, BiBi, for the fifth event in the BiBi & Friends collaborative dinner series. Bakare, the chef-owner of Michelin-starred Chishuru in Fitzrovia, will join Sharma to present a shared menu that draws on the culinary traditions of both West Africa and the Indian subcontinent, reflecting the distinct yet complementary heritages that underpin each chef’s cooking.

The evening will feature dishes from both establishments alongside original creations developed specifically for the occasion. Contributions from Chishuru will include snacks such as Obẹ̀ Chà (cassava salad with plantain ash dressing) and Sinasir, a fermented rice cake served with slow-cooked tomato and mushroom shitto. BiBi’s offerings will include Creedy Carver Duck Khaas Nihari and Strawberry and Uziza Pepper Shrikhand.

Sharma, whose restaurant opened in September 2021 and is named after the Urdu word for grandmother, draws on a dual cultural heritage – his maternal grandmother was from India and his paternal grandmother from London – to produce ingredient-led, seasonal cooking rooted in the flavours of the Indian subcontinent. Impressively, before turning to professional cookery, Sharma completed a Master’s in Neurology at University College London, a second Master’s in Physics and a DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics from the University of Oxford, while simultaneously undertaking 16 kitchen stagiaires between 2005 and 2013.

Bakare, who was born in Nigeria and grew up shaped by Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa cultural influences. She launched Chishuru as a pop-up in Brixton Market in 2020 after winning a competition, relocating to Fitzrovia in 2023. Her restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in February 2024. The chef’s array of accolades includes Chef of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards, Code Hospitality’s Woman of the Year, and recognition in both the Financial Times’s 25 Most Influential Women and The Vogue 25: The Women Defining Britain in 2025.

Speaking about the collaboration, Bakare said, “BiBi is a gorgeous spot, and I love visiting as a customer, so it’s a thrill to get behind the stoves with Chet for the first time. Indians and Nigerians are rice-eating peoples, so there’s a natural affinity which I’m really looking forward to exploring”.

Her co-chef Sharma enthused: “I am truly excited about this opportunity to collaborate with Joké. Her approach to hospitality is a perfect match for the warm atmosphere we always aim to foster at BiBi. Designing a menu alongside likeminded chefs, finding common yet distinctive flavours always makes these collaborations super enjoyable and educational. With Joké, it’s all about opening our eyes to a whole different lexicon of spice and heat that threads our two cuisines together. Plus this is the only way I could get her to teach me how to make proper Jollof!”

The dinner is sponsored by Dom Pérignon and is priced at £195 per person, which includes a paired glass of champagne. An optional wine or non-alcoholic pairing is also available on request. Seats are limited and will be released on 25^th April via the BiBi newsletter.

Food Desk

Chet Sharma and Joké Bakare’s collaborative dinner takes place on 23^rd May 2026 at BiBi, 42 North Audley Street, London W1K 6ZP. For further information or to book tickets, visit the restaurant’s website here.