Aktar Islam facts for kids
Islam in 2018
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| 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, including Michelin stars. He is also a successful restaurant owner and business person.
Aktar Islam is known for creating amazing food. He focuses on using the best ingredients. In 2016, he started his main restaurant, Opheem. This restaurant quickly became very popular. Opheem earned its first Michelin star in October 2019. Then, in February 2024, it received a second Michelin star. This makes Opheem one of the top Indian restaurants in the world.
He also opened an Italian restaurant called Legna in 2018, which later closed. In March 2020, he launched Pulperia, an Argentine restaurant. Pulperia was known for its delicious beef dishes. It was the only Michelin-listed steakhouse in Birmingham before it closed in September 2022.
Aktar Islam's restaurant group, AI Restaurant Group, focuses on great food. It also helps young people in Birmingham find opportunities in the cooking world.
Aktar Islam has appeared on many TV shows. In 2009, he won a cooking competition on Channel 4's The F Word. In 2011, he won the fish course in the final of the BBC Two series Great British Menu. He later returned to Great British Menu as a judge in 2022.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps
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 just 13 years old, he started working. His first job was at his father's restaurant. This is where his journey in the food world began.
Cooking Career Highlights
Aktar Islam started working in restaurants at 13. By the time he was 20, he opened his first restaurant, Karma. It was located in Shirley Solihull.
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 and his sous chef, Aysan Shaikh, won on Channel 4's The F Word. They beat other restaurants in the semi-final and then won the overall final.
In June 2011, Aktar won the Central regional heat of Great British Menu. This allowed him to reach the final. He then won the fish course in the final competition.
TV Appearances and Events
Aktar Islam has been on many TV shows. These include Market Kitchen, Perfect, Saturday Kitchen, and The One Show. He is also a regular judge and mentor on MasterChef Professionals. He is a veteran judge on Great British Menu.
He often attends big food events. These include the BBC Good Food Shows and Taste festivals. He has also been part of campaigns like Birmingham Bites.
Restaurant Ventures
Until 2017, Aktar Islam co-owned several Indian restaurants. These included Lasan and Lasan Eatery. He also co-owned Nosh and Quaff, and an Argentinian restaurant called Fiesta Del Asado.
He left the Lasan Group in 2017. He wanted to focus on his new main project, Opheem. Opheem opened its doors in May 2018.
Legna, his Italian restaurant, opened in late 2018. It closed permanently in 2020.
He launched Pulperia in Birmingham in March 2020. This restaurant closed permanently in September 2022.
During the national lockdown in 2020, Aktar launched "Aktar at Home." This service delivered meals to people's homes. It was highly praised by other chefs and the public.
Royal Recognition
Aktar Islam was invited to Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip invited him. This was to recognize his important contributions to the British hospitality industry.
Awards and Achievements
In 2010, Aktar won 'Best Local Restaurant' on Gordon Ramsay's The F Word.
In 2011, Aktar won first place in the BBC TV Series, The 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 earn a Michelin star. His restaurant, Opheem, became the only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in the UK outside of London.
In February 2024, Opheem earned 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 achieve this. Opheem is also one of only four Indian restaurants in the world with two Michelin stars.
Personal Life and Charity Work
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 and Oxfam. He also supports the NHS Organ Donor Campaign. He helped with the NHS/Warwick University Spice for Life campaign.
External links
- https://opheem.com/
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