121:
100:
450:
UK to hold two
Michelin stars, the other being Gymkhana in London, and the first restaurant in Birmingham to hold two Michelin stars. It continues to be the only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant outside London. Opheem is also one of only four Indian restaurants in the world with two Michelin stars.
449:
In
October 2019, Aktar Islam became the first British-born Bangladeshi chef to be awarded a Michelin star and Opheem became the only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in the UK outside of London. In February 2024, Opheem won a second Michelin star, making it only one of two Indian restaurants in the
232:
He left the Lasan Group in 2016 to work on his new, flagship project, Opheem, and launched his now-closed
Italian restaurant, Legna, in winter 2018. His new group of restaurants concentrates on the celebration of ingredients and is dedicated to gastronomy. Both Opheem and Legna opened to critical
236:
Islam opened another restaurant in March 2020, Pulperia, an
Argentine restaurant built around the celebration of beef, and went on to become the only Michelin-listed Steakhouse restaurant in Birmingham before permanently closing in September 2022.
423:
Aktar at Home was launched in the spring of 2020 as a response to the national lockdown. This service has been praised by the
Michelin-starred chef community and has garnered support and praise from the national press and the general public.
811:
322:, after beating Santa Maria (South American cuisine) and Sweet Mandarin (Chinese cuisine) in the semi-final. Aktar Islam then went on to win the overall final, after beating The Pheasant from Keystone.
420:
He launched
Pulperia in Brindley Place Birmingham in March 2020 and was due to launch another restaurant in Edgbaston, Birmingham in 2021. Pulperia closed permanently in September 2022.
819:
577:
901:
182:
357:. He is a regular judge and mentor for MasterChef Professionals and also a veteran judge on Great British Menu. Along with other celebrity chefs, he attends the
411:
for his contribution to the
British hospitality industry. Islam was selected by Marketing Birmingham to represent the city in their Birmingham Bites campaign.
396:
Until 2017 Islam co-owned Indian restaurants Lasan, Lasan Eatery (now known as Raja Monkey), Nosh and Quaff, and
Argentinian restaurant Fiesta Del Asado.
298:
Islam started working in the restaurant industry at the age of 13. His first restaurant project, Karma in
Shirley Solihull, was launched when he was 20.
975:
607:
240:
AI Restaurant Group now is steered by Aktar Islam's focus on product-led cooking whilst creating opportunities for young individuals from
Birmingham.
188:
731:
1223:
1198:
905:
841:
757:
709:
1156:
1080:
871:
1130:
1052:
233:
acclaim and Opheem received its first Michelin star in October 2019. In February 2024, Opheem received a second Michelin star.
555:
501:
949:
462:
1102:
1218:
408:
1213:
599:
1228:
1208:
318:
253:
158:
1030:
982:
287:
414:
He left the Lasan Group in 2017 to work on his new, flagship project, Opheem which opened in May 2018.
735:
433:
635:
1007:
529:
389:
466:
1203:
1193:
680:
658:
335:. He went on to win the fish course in the final. Islam's other television appearances include
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1188:
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8:
80:
1134:
788:
440:
404:
331:
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1107:
533:
400:
312:
In 2010, Islam and his sous chef, Aysan Shaikh, beat Curry Corner from Cheltenham on
347:
176:
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845:
761:
506:
384:
375:
76:
337:
170:
72:
902:"Chef Aktar Islam to feature in this year's BBC TWO series Great British Menu"
290:. At the age of 13, Islam's first job was working at his father's restaurant.
1182:
283:
and came to Britain in the late 1970s. He is the second eldest of five sons.
244:
120:
99:
95:
325:
In June 2011, Islam won the Central regional heat to reach the final of the
267:. He returned to the Great British Menu Kitchen as a veteran Judge in 2022.
812:"Great British Menu: Aktar Islam beats formidable rival Richard Bainbridge"
353:
226:
953:
976:"It's celebrations all round for top restaurant with award winning touch"
927:
875:
417:
Legna was launched in the winter of 2018. It closed permanently in 2020.
446:
In May 2012, Aktar was named Birmingham Young Professional of the Year.
280:
276:
41:
313:
248:
556:"Aktar Islam: TV has really changed the way people think about food"
685:
326:
258:
221:(born 1980) is a multiple award-winning English Michelin-starred
432:
In 2010, Aktar won 'Best Local Restaurant' on Gordon Ramsay's
1053:"Aktar Islam named Birmingham Young Professional of the Year"
470:
1157:"Saturday Kitchen star in TripAdvisor row for selling pork"
257:. In June 2011, he won the fish course in the final of the
222:
458:
Islam lives in Birmingham and has a son Alex (born 2007).
502:"Brummie chef Aktar Islam calls Gordon Ramsay a pussycat"
710:"Gordon Ramsay names Lasan as F Word restaurant winner"
1173:
758:"F-antastic! Lasan is Britain's Best Local Restaurant"
803:
681:"Birmingham restaurant Lasan wins Ramsay's 'F Word'"
301:
In 2007, he launched his cookbook and DVD named the
207:
1022:
1008:"Lasan Riding High on Recognition and Award Wins"
809:
734:. Redhotcurry.com. 7 January 2010. Archived from
480:Despite his name, he is not a practising Muslim.
1180:
1123:
981:. Masala Magazine. 15 April 2011. Archived from
522:
495:
493:
439:In 2011, Aktar came first in the BBC TV Series,
1073:
592:
1095:
1045:
834:
750:
732:"Lasan wins Gordon Ramsay's 'F Word' contest"
701:
490:
243:In 2009, Aktar Islam was crowned champion by
1000:
872:"Aktar Islam: Kicking it with the Big Boys!"
842:"Aktar Islam: Kicking it with the Big Boys!"
629:
627:
625:
904:. Rewired PR. 15 April 2011. Archived from
724:
570:
968:
864:
810:Manzoori-Stamford, Janie (29 April 2011).
1081:"Lasan chief feasts on top award at BYPY"
952:. Restaurant Hall of Fame. Archived from
894:
780:
650:
622:
786:
636:"Aktar Islam & Jabbar Khan of Lasan"
548:
461:Islam also supports charities including
942:
399:Islam has also attended a reception at
1181:
707:
499:
16:British Michelin starred chef (b.1980)
1224:People from Birmingham, West Midlands
1199:English people of Bangladeshi descent
1028:
920:
656:
633:
600:"Lasan Birmingham ~ F Word Finalist"
1133:. Birmingham Future. Archived from
13:
1083:. TheBusinessDesk.com. 18 May 2012
787:Moriarty, Chris (8 January 2010).
673:
14:
1240:
1167:
791:. Birmingham: Brum Notes Magazine
307:Warwick University Medical school
275:Islam was born and brought up in
764:. 2 January 2010. Archived from
708:Paskin, Becky (8 January 2010).
610:from the original on 1 July 2013
500:Stuart, Paul (8 November 2009).
453:
279:, England. His parents are from
119:
98:
1149:
1103:"Aktar Islam's perfect weekend"
1031:"Aktar Islam talks to Tandoori"
1010:. Menu Magazine. December 2009
878:. 16 June 2011. Archived from
848:. 16 June 2011. Archived from
789:"Brum's Lasan wins The F Word"
463:Birmingham Children's Hospital
1:
659:"Lasan victory on The F Word"
483:
270:
7:
558:. Daily Post. 13 April 2013
367:Heart of England Fine Foods
38:1980 (age 43–44)
10:
1245:
477:Spice for Life campaign.
427:
293:
202:
198:
148:
130:
109:
86:
64:
57:
49:
30:
23:
634:Indi (9 February 2010).
305:, in collaboration with
183:Masterchef Professionals
44:, West Midlands, England
1219:Chefs of Indian cuisine
1029:Indi (September 2008).
657:Indi (7 January 2010).
1214:English businesspeople
580:. Prince Albert School
469:Organ Donor Campaign,
441:The Great British Menu
390:Mrs. Osbourne Presents
134:Previous restaurant(s)
69:Modern British cuisine
1229:20th-century Bengalis
1209:English restaurateurs
530:"Lasan's dynamic duo"
371:Food & Drink Expo
113:Current restaurant(s)
738:on 24 September 2015
288:Prince Albert School
229:, and entrepreneur.
1174:https://opheem.com/
1111:. 12 September 2011
1033:. Tandoori Magazine
930:. Good Food Channel
359:BBC Good Food Shows
81:Argentinian cuisine
1159:. 12 January 2019.
1108:Express & Star
988:on 29 October 2013
956:on 29 October 2013
908:on 29 October 2013
882:on 29 October 2013
852:on 29 October 2013
768:on 1 November 2014
606:. 6 January 2010.
475:Warwick University
405:Queen Elizabeth II
332:Great British Menu
264:Great British Menu
165:Great British Menu
152:Television show(s)
712:. Big Hospitality
534:Tandoori Magazine
401:Buckingham Palace
381:Grand Design LIVE
216:
215:
53:Mishke Fredericks
1236:
1161:
1160:
1153:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1142:
1127:
1121:
1120:
1118:
1116:
1099:
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1077:
1071:
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1068:
1066:
1049:
1043:
1042:
1040:
1038:
1026:
1020:
1019:
1017:
1015:
1004:
998:
997:
995:
993:
987:
980:
972:
966:
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963:
961:
946:
940:
939:
937:
935:
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918:
917:
915:
913:
898:
892:
891:
889:
887:
868:
862:
861:
859:
857:
838:
832:
831:
829:
827:
818:. Archived from
816:Satellite Dishes
807:
801:
800:
798:
796:
784:
778:
777:
775:
773:
754:
748:
747:
745:
743:
728:
722:
721:
719:
717:
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699:
698:
696:
694:
689:. 8 January 2010
677:
671:
670:
668:
666:
654:
648:
647:
645:
643:
631:
620:
619:
617:
615:
604:Eat-the-midlands
596:
590:
589:
587:
585:
574:
568:
567:
565:
563:
552:
546:
545:
543:
541:
536:. September 2011
526:
520:
519:
517:
515:
497:
348:Saturday Kitchen
212:
209:
177:Saturday Kitchen
123:
102:
21:
20:
1244:
1243:
1239:
1238:
1237:
1235:
1234:
1233:
1179:
1178:
1170:
1165:
1164:
1155:
1154:
1150:
1140:
1138:
1137:on 4 March 2016
1129:
1128:
1124:
1114:
1112:
1101:
1100:
1096:
1086:
1084:
1079:
1078:
1074:
1064:
1062:
1058:Birmingham Post
1051:
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1027:
1023:
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1005:
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948:
947:
943:
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926:
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921:
911:
909:
900:
899:
895:
885:
883:
870:
869:
865:
855:
853:
846:The Asian Today
840:
839:
835:
825:
823:
808:
804:
794:
792:
785:
781:
771:
769:
762:The Asian Today
756:
755:
751:
741:
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730:
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715:
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706:
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692:
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679:
678:
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664:
662:
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641:
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623:
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598:
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583:
581:
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575:
571:
561:
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554:
553:
549:
539:
537:
528:
527:
523:
513:
511:
507:Birmingham Mail
498:
491:
486:
456:
430:
385:Sharon Osbourne
376:Taste festivals
296:
286:Islam attended
273:
206:
194:
154:
153:
144:
140:
136:
135:
126:
115:
114:
105:
92:
91:
79:
77:Italian cuisine
75:
71:
59:Culinary career
45:
39:
37:
36:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1242:
1232:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1196:
1191:
1177:
1176:
1169:
1168:External links
1166:
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1148:
1122:
1094:
1072:
1044:
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967:
941:
919:
893:
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833:
822:on 1 July 2013
802:
779:
749:
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672:
649:
621:
591:
569:
547:
521:
488:
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338:Market Kitchen
295:
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171:Market Kitchen
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96:Michelin stars
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73:Indian cuisine
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1204:English chefs
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1194:Living people
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1132:
1131:"Aktar Islam"
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1110:
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1104:
1098:
1082:
1076:
1061:. 18 May 2012
1060:
1059:
1054:
1048:
1032:
1025:
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1003:
984:
977:
971:
955:
951:
950:"Aktar Islam"
945:
929:
928:"Aktar Islam"
923:
907:
903:
897:
881:
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873:
867:
851:
847:
843:
837:
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579:
578:"Aktar Islam"
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459:
454:Personal life
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418:
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412:
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409:Prince Philip
406:
403:, invited by
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303:Spice of Life
299:
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256:
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246:
245:Gordon Ramsay
241:
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197:
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189:Snack Masters
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67:
65:Cooking style
63:
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56:
52:
48:
43:
33:
29:
22:
19:
1151:
1139:. Retrieved
1135:the original
1125:
1113:. Retrieved
1106:
1097:
1085:. Retrieved
1075:
1063:. Retrieved
1056:
1047:
1035:. Retrieved
1024:
1012:. Retrieved
1002:
990:. Retrieved
983:the original
970:
958:. Retrieved
954:the original
944:
932:. Retrieved
922:
910:. Retrieved
906:the original
896:
884:. Retrieved
880:the original
866:
854:. Retrieved
850:the original
836:
824:. Retrieved
820:the original
815:
805:
793:. Retrieved
782:
770:. Retrieved
766:the original
752:
740:. Retrieved
736:the original
726:
714:. Retrieved
703:
691:. Retrieved
684:
675:
663:. Retrieved
652:
640:. Retrieved
612:. Retrieved
603:
594:
582:. Retrieved
572:
560:. Retrieved
550:
538:. Retrieved
524:
512:. Retrieved
510:. Birmingham
505:
479:
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354:The One Show
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297:
285:
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262:
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227:restaurateur
218:
217:
187:
181:
175:
169:
163:
157:
58:
18:
1189:1980 births
876:Desi Xpress
661:. DESIblitz
638:. DESIblitz
363:Autumn Fair
219:Aktar Islam
35:Aktar Islam
25:Aktar Islam
1183:Categories
772:1 November
484:References
434:The F Word
319:The F Word
281:Bangladesh
277:Birmingham
271:Early life
254:The F Word
159:The F Word
42:Birmingham
314:Channel 4
249:Channel 4
139:Pulperia
90:Rating(s)
686:BBC News
608:Archived
473:and NHS/
343:Perfect
329:series
327:BBC Two
261:series
259:BBC Two
203:Website
118:Opheem
1141:1 July
1115:1 July
1087:1 July
1065:1 July
1037:1 July
1014:1 July
992:1 July
960:1 July
934:1 July
912:1 July
886:1 July
856:1 July
826:1 July
795:1 July
742:1 July
716:1 July
693:1 July
665:1 July
642:1 July
614:1 July
584:1 July
562:1 July
540:1 July
514:1 July
428:Awards
294:Career
208:opheem
50:Spouse
986:(PDF)
979:(PDF)
471:Oxfam
141:Legna
1143:2013
1117:2013
1089:2013
1067:2013
1039:2013
1016:2013
994:2013
962:2013
936:2013
914:2013
888:2013
858:2013
828:2013
797:2013
774:2014
744:2013
718:2013
695:2013
667:2013
644:2013
616:2013
586:2013
564:2013
542:2013
516:2013
407:and
383:and
351:and
223:chef
210:.com
31:Born
467:NHS
387:'s
316:'s
251:'s
247:on
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
