Chet Sharma welcomes Cal Byerley and Ian Waller of Pine, Northumberland, into the kitchen at BiBi for a special collaboration as part of the BiBi & Friends series.

The evening brings together chefs connected by a long-standing friendship. Sharma and Byerley first crossed paths more than a decade ago during their time with UMBEL Restaurant Group, with Sharma working at Aulis and Byerley at Rogan & Co. They recently reconnected at 2nd Bite for Cancer Research, the charitable event hosted by Byerley and his wife Siân at Wylam Brewery, where Sharma was also introduced to Pine’s head chef, Ian Waller.

The collaborative menu celebrates seasonality and shared culinary values, exploring the unexpected synergies between Pine’s produce-led cooking and BiBi’s modern Indian expression. Byerley and Waller draw on the Northumberland larder, while Sharma contributes ingredients sourced through his network of farmers and fishermen across the UK, with preservation and pickling forming a common thread throughout the menu.

Signature dishes include BiBi’s Scallop Nimbu Pani and Pine’s Tomato, Fennel Pollen & Strawberry, alongside a series of new creations developed exclusively for the collaboration using ingredients from each chef’s pantry.

Reflecting on the collaboration, Cal Byerley said: “Catching back up with Chet at 2nd Bite this year felt very fortuitous. I’ve long thought we could create something really exciting together, and when he told me about the BiBi & Friends series, it felt like the perfect opportunity. Ian and I are very excited to join the kitchen at BiBi.”

Chet Sharma added: “I’m a great admirer of the work Cal and Ian do at Pine, and I’m really looking forward to exploring the connections between our cuisines, particularly our shared approach to preservation and pickling.”

A meeting of minds shaped by shared history, friendship and a deep respect for seasonal British produce.