Aktar Islam

Aktar Islam (born 1980) is a multiple award-winning English Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur, and entrepreneur.

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.

AI Restaurant Group now is steered by Aktar Islam's focus on product-led cooking whilst creating opportunities for young individuals from Birmingham.

In June 2011, he won the fish course in the final of the BBC Two series Great British Menu.

In 2007, he launched his cookbook and DVD named the Spice of Life, in collaboration with Warwick University Medical school.

[6] In 2010, Islam and his sous chef, Aysan Shaikh, beat Curry Corner from Cheltenham on Channel 4's The F Word, after beating Santa Maria (South American cuisine) and Sweet Mandarin (Chinese cuisine) in the semi-final.

[8][9][10][11][12] In June 2011, Islam won the Central regional heat[13] to reach the final of the BBC Two series Great British Menu.

Islam has also attended a reception at Buckingham Palace, invited by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip for his contribution to the British hospitality industry.

[22][23] 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.