In this episode, Justine interviews Chef Chetan Sharma.

Raised in Berkshire, Chef Chet Sharma’s route into kitchens was anything but conventional. Born to Indian and British heritage, his earliest food memory is of arriving at his family’s farm in Gurgaon, India, at age six, greeted by his uncle’s freshly made malai kofta—from buffalo milk paneer to hand-rolled rotis made with heritage wheat. That moment of warmth and flavour left a lasting impression.

Born with a lung condition, Chet spent much of his childhood indoors, often in the kitchen with his grandmother, absorbing her resourceful, waste-free cooking. A voracious reader, he developed a keen academic mind, studying Chemistry at UCL while funding his studies with a late-night DJ residency at Ministry of Sound. Alongside, he worked in professional kitchens, including Benares under Atul Kochhar.

His culinary path deepened at Locanda Locatelli, where Giorgio Locatelli spotted his talent and assigned him to pastry. While pursuing a Master’s in Neurology, Chet completed 16 stagiaires at leading restaurants including The Fat Duck, Le Manoir, and Dabbous. He later earned a second Master’s in Physics and a DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics at Oxford.

In 2013, he joined Mugaritz in Spain under Andoni Aduriz, a formative chapter that shaped his creativity and leadership. Back in the UK, he became Director of R&D for Simon Rogan, followed by roles at The Ledbury and Moor Hall.

In 2021, after years developing his own culinary voice and working closely with JKS Restaurants, he opened BiBi in Mayfair—an award-winning homage to his grandmothers and the diverse influences that shaped him.

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Follow your host, Justine Murphy, on Instagram @justinemurphyofficial to keep up with her latest work and food adventures.

Follow Chetan Sharma on Instagram at @chetansharmaox to stay updated on his journey, restaurant and everything he's creating.

This episode is part of Season Four of Chefs Get Personal - real conversations with some of the world's most exciting chefs, recorded in our brand new studio, bringing you closer than ever before.

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