Michelin Starred Indian Fine Dining Restaurant by Aktar Islam

Indian Fine Dining

When you come to Opheem, you get an insight into the inner workings of my mind. We’re striving to push the boundaries with Indian flavours, but with cooking techniques from all over the world, some traditional, and some very modern. At Opheem, I’ll be using the same paints as I’ve always done, to create a very different picture, on a very, very different canvas. Why? Because to evolve and adapt is what makes us human, and cooking is what sets us apart from the animals.

I grew up in Aston, North Birmingham. My parents were humble, hard-working immigrants from Bangladesh. I remember working for my Dad in his restaurant, aged 16, and being proudly introduced to a regular customer with “This is my Son. It is his duty and pleasure to serve you.” Somewhere deep in my subconscious, I always felt a little bit like an outsider (at worst), or a second-class citizen (at best). I knew that my culture and heritage had way more to give, so my mission from a young age, was to cook the food of Kings and Emperors. And that’s how we ended up here.

The kitchen was the only place that I experienced ultimate freedom. With my knives, pans, meat, fish, vegetables, herbs, spices and creativity, I felt free from constraints. The more I learned, the more I realised there was to discover, and the more I cooked, the more barriers I broke, both personal and culinary. And that’s where you’ll find me. No duty. All pleasure.