Aktar Islam facts for kids
| Born | Aktar Islam 1980 (age 44–45) Birmingham, West Midlands, England |
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| Cooking style | Modern British cuisine Indian cuisine Italian cuisine Argentinian cuisine |
| Spouse | Mishke Fredericks |
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Rating(s)
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Current restaurant(s)
Opheem
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Previous restaurant(s)
Pulperia
Legna |
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Television show(s)
The F Word, Great British Menu, Market Kitchen, Saturday Kitchen, Masterchef Professionals, Snack Masters
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Aktar Islam (born in 1980) is a famous English chef. He has won many awards and earned special honors called Michelin stars for his cooking. He also owns restaurants and is a business person.
In 2016, Aktar Islam started his main restaurant project, Opheem. He also opened an Italian restaurant called Legna in 2018, which is now closed. His restaurants focus on using great ingredients and creating amazing food. Both Opheem and Legna were very popular when they opened. Opheem earned its first Michelin star in 2019. Then, in February 2024, Opheem received a second Michelin star!
Aktar Islam opened another restaurant, Pulperia, in March 2020. This restaurant focused on delicious beef dishes. It was the only steakhouse in Birmingham listed by Michelin, but it closed in September 2022.
Today, Aktar Islam's restaurant group, AI Restaurant Group, focuses on cooking with the best ingredients. They also work to create chances for young people in Birmingham to learn about cooking.
Aktar Islam has also been on TV. In 2009, he won a cooking competition on Channel 4's The F Word, hosted by Gordon Ramsay. In 2011, he won the fish course in the final of the BBC Two show Great British Menu. He later returned to Great British Menu in 2022 as a judge.
Contents
Early Life and First Job
Aktar Islam was born and grew up in Birmingham, England. His parents came to Britain from Bangladesh in the late 1970s. He is the second oldest of five brothers.
Aktar went to Prince Albert School. When he was 13 years old, he started his first job. He worked at his father's restaurant.
Aktar Islam's Cooking Journey
Aktar Islam began working in restaurants when he was just 13. His first own restaurant project was called Karma. He opened it in Shirley Solihull when he was 20.
In 2007, he released his own cookbook and DVD. It was called Spice of Life. He worked with Warwick University Medical School on this project.
In 2010, Aktar Islam and his assistant chef, Aysan Shaikh, won a cooking challenge on Channel 4's The F Word. They beat other restaurants to win the overall final.
In June 2011, Aktar won the regional part of the BBC Two show Great British Menu. This allowed him to reach the final. He then won the fish course in the final competition. Aktar Islam has also appeared on other TV shows like Market Kitchen, Perfect, Saturday Kitchen, and The One Show. He often judges and helps young chefs on MasterChef Professionals. He is also a judge on Great British Menu. He attends many food events and shows, like the BBC Good Food Shows.
Before 2017, Aktar Islam was a co-owner of several restaurants. These included Indian restaurants Lasan and Lasan Eatery (now Raja Monkey), Nosh and Quaff, and an Argentinian restaurant called Fiesta Del Asado.
Aktar Islam was invited to Buckingham Palace by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. This was to recognize his important work in the British restaurant world. He was also chosen to represent Birmingham in a special campaign called Birmingham Bites.
He left the Lasan Group in 2017 to focus on his new big project, Opheem. Opheem opened its doors in May 2018.
His Italian restaurant, Legna, opened in late 2018. It closed permanently in 2020.
He launched Pulperia in Birmingham in March 2020. He had plans for another restaurant in 2021, but Pulperia closed for good in September 2022.
During the national lockdown in 2020, Aktar Islam started "Aktar at Home." This service delivered meals. Other famous chefs and the public praised this idea.
Awards and Achievements
- In 2010, Aktar won 'Best Local Restaurant' on Gordon Ramsay's The F Word.
- In 2011, Aktar won the BBC TV Series, Great British Menu.
- In May 2012, Aktar was named Birmingham Young Professional of the Year.
- In October 2019, Aktar Islam made history. He became the first British-born Bangladeshi chef to get a Michelin star. His restaurant, Opheem, became the only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in the UK outside of London.
- In February 2024, Opheem won a second Michelin star! This made it one of only two Indian restaurants in the UK with two Michelin stars. It was also the first restaurant in Birmingham to get two Michelin stars. Opheem is also one of only four Indian restaurants in the world with two Michelin stars.
Personal Life
Aktar Islam lives in Birmingham. He has a son named Alex, who was born in 2007.
Aktar also supports many charities. These include Birmingham Children's Hospital, the NHS Organ Donor Campaign, and Oxfam. He also supports the NHS and Warwick University's Spice for Life campaign.
