Aktar Islam has already made a name for himself in Birmingham’s rising food scene. His first solo project – the South Asian fusion restaurant Opheem – earned a coveted Michelin Star in the recently released 2020 Michelin Guide.
As a first-generation Brit, Islam draws heavily from his parents’ Bangladeshi heritage. However, he does not shy away from the cooking styles of his home in Birmingham. His fusion of eastern and western cooking styles has caught the attention of food critics and lovers around the world.
In addition to the Michelin star honor, Opheem has also earned a nomination for the Restaurant and Bar Design Award for its luxurious, spacious interior. “I wanted the interior to reflect the unique approach I’m taking with food here,” Islam explains.
Indian inspired Gajar (sweet carrot dessert) to Bengal white chicken tantalize the taste buds of Birmingham-ians. An elegant constellation of lights hanging above the restaurant adds to the ambience of the experience.
Aktar Islam Elevates Birmingham’s Culinary Scene
Opheem’s coronation as a Michelin star restaurant puts Birmingham only behind London in terms of British cities with top-rated eateries. Islam thrives in this rich culinary scene.
For Islam, the Michelin star not only confers a reputation of excellent food, but also marks Opheem as a member of an extremely exclusive list of elite European restaurateurs now on the world stage. There are only 159 restaurants in the UK with at least one star.
However, even before opening Opheem in May of 2018, Islam was already making a name for himself for his work with the Lasan Group. In 2010 he and his sous chef, Aysan Shaikh, won Gordon Ramsey’s cooking competition TV series “The F Word.” Ramsey described Islam’s cooking methods as “genius”.
A Family Tradition, Revisited
Islam attributes much of his culinary training to his parents, who also ran a restaurant. “I remember working for my Dad in his restaurant, aged 16, and being proudly introduced to a regular customer with “This is my Son,” he recalls.
However, Islam gives most of the credit for his culinary talent to his mother. Despite working for his father, childhood time in the kitchen was what spawned his love for food.
“My mother’s always been very creative in her culinary skills,” he explains. “With a very receptive view of food from around the subcontinent as opposed to just one region…this has stayed with me my entire life.” Islam even goes as far as joking that “there will always be a battle between us as to who is the best cook.”
Aktar Islam Promotes Creative Freedom
Despite finding solid ground in his culinary career, Islam always felt different from the rest growing up in Birmingham. “Somewhere deep in my subconscious, I always felt a little bit like… a second-class citizen,” he reveals. “I knew that my culture and heritage had way more to give.”
Opheem gave Islam a way to demonstrate this potential. “Over the years, I’ve learned that there is no such thing as a second-class citizen,” he continues. “I believe we all have the right to creative freedom, and that the only person that decides who you are, is you.”
Islam recently used this principle to combat a TripAdvisor comment that accused him of “selling out as a Muslim” by serving pork and alcohol. “Religion has nothing to do with my restaurant,” he explains, noting that he is not practicing.
Fans of fine dining can try Islam’s carefully crafted lunch and dinner menus for themselves. Opheem opens Tuesdays through Saturdays on Summer Row in Birmingham.
