BiBi: The Cookbook is the debut publication from Chet Sharma, the chef behind BiBi, London’s acclaimed Indian restaurant celebrated for its originality, precision and quiet emotional depth.
Sharma’s path to the kitchen was an unconventional one. After beginning his career in academia, he went on to work as a development chef with some of the world’s most influential restaurants, from Mugaritz in San Sebastián to Moor Hall in England’s north-west. When he opened BiBi, he drew deeply on his own heritage and memories of the Indian subcontinent. The restaurant takes its name from a term of affection used across India to mean “lady of the house” or grandmother—a figure central to Sharma’s understanding of food, memory and care.
The cuisine at BiBi is modern and progressive in form, yet deeply rooted in tradition. As Sharma explains, while the dishes may not immediately look Indian on the plate, their foundations remain unmistakable: flavours and techniques that would still be recognised by an Indian grandmother tasting them for the first time.
The book brings together 60 meticulously developed recipes drawn from BiBi’s repertoire, interwoven with personal essays that explore Sharma’s family history, formative travels and culinary influences. Alongside signature dishes such as Nimbu Pani, Wookey Hole cheese papad and Sharmaji’s Lahori Chicken, readers will find playful reinterpretations of classics including Seekh Kebabs and Alphonso Mango Lassi. A comprehensive ‘Essentials’ section provides the building blocks of the kitchen, with recipes for BiBi’s bespoke masalas, stocks and foundational preparations.
Completing the book are reflections on BiBi from a distinguished group of writers, chefs, artists and creatives, including Andoni Aduriz, Aziz Ansari, Mark Birchall, Ryan Chetiyawardana, Brett Graham, Tom Kerridge, Henrietta Lovell & Richard Hart, Trevor Noah, Olly Smith and Hans Zimmer.
Both a deeply personal memoir and a precise culinary manual, BiBi: The Cookbook is a celebration of memory, heritage and the enduring power of food to tell stories across generations.
