Ravinder Bhogal, a Kenyan-born journalist, shattered the glass ceiling by opening a high-end restaurant in London despite relocating to the UK as an immigrant.
In an interview, the acclaimed food journalist-turned-chef revealed that her passion for food began during her childhood in Kenya. Bhogal recalled that during her seven years in the country, she would prepare small meals for her family, fostering a love for cooking at an early age.
Her family moved to the United Kingdom when she was seven. In her twenties, she secured a job as a writer for More, a London-based beauty magazine. Bhogal’s major breakthrough came in 2007 when she competed in a UK television cooking competition, triumphing over 9,000 other contestants to win the top prize.
Her career skyrocketed following the competition, with offers from agents and clients flooding in. This led to a book deal with Harper Collins. “My first book, ‘Cook in Boots,’ was published the following year and won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for the UK’s best first cookbook. The book deal provided me with the financial stability to leave my magazine job. I had worked tirelessly to become a beauty writer, interning at magazines, completing a postgraduate degree in journalism, and climbing the career ladder, but my heart was always in food,” Bhogal noted.
Taking the leap, Bhogal left her journalism career to become a full-time chef and a prominent figure in the UK food scene. She was invited to cook at notable restaurants and even catered for Michelin-star chef Brett Graham’s birthday party.
After gaining substantial experience, Bhogal’s colleagues encouraged her to open her own restaurant. She chose the upscale Marylebone district, where she has successfully operated for the past five years. “In 2016, I opened Jikoni in Marylebone, one of the most exclusive parts of London. Jikoni is an extension of my home. I wanted to create a menu that represented my experience as an immigrant in London,” she explained.
Bhogal has since become a renowned chef, contributing to the vibrant culinary landscape of London.
