Top Indian chefs Chet Sharma and Aktar Islam to join forces for exclusive dinner at BiBi in Mayfair

Chef Chet Sharma will host fellow chef Aktar Islam at his Mayfair restaurant BiBi this July for a one-off collaborative dinner – the latest edition of the venue’s BiBi & Friends series. The evening will bring together two figures associated with contemporary Indian cuisine, with Islam, who recently opened the London restaurant Oudh 1722, travelling from Birmingham, where he is chef patron of the two Michelin-starred Opheem.

The two chefs have a long-standing professional relationship and have frequently exchanged advice over the years, drawing on their shared experience in the industry. Their dinner this summer will feature signature dishes from each of their restaurants. Islam will serve his Aloo Tuk from Opheem, a Sindhi-inspired dish made with pink fir potatoes and tamarind, while Sharma will present Green Chilli Dover Sole with courgette, mussel and plantain purée from BiBi. 

Born and raised in Birmingham, Islam began working in his father’s restaurant at the age of 13. He earned his first Michelin star for Opheem in 2019 and a second in 2024, making it the only Indian restaurant outside London to hold two stars and Islam the first chef to do so in Birmingham. He is also a familiar presence on British television, with appearances on programmes including Saturday Kitchen and Rick Stein’s Food Stories, and roles on MasterChef: The Professionals and Great British Menu.

Meanwhile, Sharma’s background is unusual for a chef: he completed a Master’s in Neurology at UCL, a second Master’s in Physics and a DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Oxford and undertook 16 stages in kitchens, all between 2005 and 2013. He opened BiBi in Mayfair in September 2021 and took on the role of global culinary director at Gymkhana in June 2026.

Commenting on the collaboration, Sharma said: “Aktar bucks every trend one hears about this profession. As two prominent progressive Indian chefs in the country, some degree of healthy rivalry might be expected 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 added: “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.”

The dinner will run from 5.30 to 9pm and 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. 

Food Desk

Chet Sharma and Aktar Islam’s collaborative dinner takes place on 21^st July 2026 at BiBi, 42 North Audley Street, London W1K 6ZP. For further information or to book tickets, visit here.

For further information about Aktar Islam, visit the chef’s Instagram here.

For further information about Chet Sharma, visit the chef’s Instagram here.