The UK's first black female chef to win a Michelin-star is heading to Manchester

By Ben Arnold | 20 February 2024

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The first ever black female chef in the UK to win a Michelin-star is coming to Manchester next month.

Adejoké Bakare will be among the chefs cooking at the annual Eat Well MCR fundraising dinner at the recently-opened Fenix in Spinningfields.

Nigerian chef Bakare made history earlier this month, after gaining a Michelin star for her restaurant Chishuru, in London’s West End.

The restaurant grew from a pop-up site in Brixton Market in 2020, where it received a rave review from Jay Rayner, with her first permanent restaurant only opening in September last year.

She joins a host of other celebrated chefs cooking at the fundraiser on 11 March, which will be the opening event for the annual Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB) show.

Stosi Madi from the Parkers Arms

Among them will be Ngwafu Tansie from Gwafvegan, Stosi Madi from The Parkers Arms, Sally Abe from The Pem in London, former L’Enclume chef Tom Barnes, who is soon to open Skof in Manchester, Farida Hamad from Manchester’s Erst, Seri Nam from Flawd and Zisis Giannouris from Fenix.

Eat Well MCR co-founder chef Mary-Ellen McTague said: “We cannot wait to come together to celebrate our wonderful hospitality scene and the launch of NRB and continue to raise essential funds for Eat Well MCR!”

Chris Brazier, group event director of Northern Restaurant & Bar added: “We are delighted to collaborate with Eat Well MCR once again for the upcoming fundraising dinner as part of our commitment to supporting Northern hospitality and launch of NRB24.

“This partnership aims to generate funds for the highly commendable community efforts of Eat Well, while simultaneously celebrating northern talent and fostering unity during these challenging times for the hospitality industry.”

Conceived at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown, Eat Well MCR hit the milestone of providing 100,000 meals to those in food poverty last year.

Last year’s fundraising meal raised over £16,000 for the non-profit organisation, which works with professional kitchens across the city to cook meals for those in need.

The meal will be an eight course dinner with welcome drinks, wine and canapes.

You can buy tickets here…