539. Opheem Spring Menu.

 

  A recent dinner - all 10  courses - at Opheem confirmed that, as 2026 progresses, all is well at Birmingham’s 2 Michelin star restaurant despite Chef Patron Aktar Islam having recently opened a restaurant in London, Oudh 1722, and his attention necessarily being directed to that establishment. Dinner at Opheem remains a memorable experience which should be enjoyed at every possible opportunity. The welcome is as professional as one could ever hope for, the delicious pre-dinner snacks are as gorgeous as ever and the gentle transfer from lounge to dining room is managed as soothingly as anyone could wish, the anticipation growing during the course of the short up to one’s table. 

  The menu is of course meticulously curated - delightful new dishes jostle with old favourites, such as the universally beloved aloo tuk, for the title of best dish of the meal. The paper menu itself is presented in a new luxurious-looking packet with the appearance of black velvet and two red macarons tastefully and discreetly nestling at the bottom just as cameos of the king are positioned on a postage stamp 

  Of course, I enjoyed it all - the deep fried shisho leaf pakora with chutneys is such a brilliant take on poppadoms and mango chutney as we have long been used to in local Indian restaurants dating back to the 1960s - I wonder how many poppodums have been nibbled at by Englishmen in the past fifty years - probably trillions of them by now, a figure to dwarf Elon Musks trillion dollar salary. Then there was the mildly spiced Orkney scallop, finely and accurately cooked and aptly served with mooli and apple, the dish rejoicing in the name of Badami korma.

  Amla tok was a dish of Cornish sea bass, again accurately cooked and bringing with it Indian gooseberries and gourd and Wazwan was a delicious way to present hogget. Saagwala was a presentation of Guinea fowl with spinach, wild garlic and seekh kebab with a toothsome accompanying bharta.

  The desserts were familiar and none the worse for that and the post-dinner mignardises were also old favourites but too good not to enjoy again - the gorgeous mini-Madeleine and the fabulous canale should in reality be consumed in large numbers by everyone on a daily basis to lift the national mood.

  Opheem, supreme.

Rating:- 🌞🌞🌞

26 March 2026.

531. Opheem, An Interlude With Jean Delport.

 

  South Africa-born Jean Delport, opened Interlude at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens in wealthy West Sussex in 2018 and was awarded a Michelin star there the following year. His restaurant was also awarded a green star in 2023. He appeared in the 2025 series of the BBC’s Great British Menu and became one of the few competing chefs ever to present two of his dishes at the final banquet.

  Delport had been invited by Aktar Islam to cook at Opheem and it seemed a pity not to seize the opportunity to attend what promised to be an interesting evening. I enjoy collaborations but those in which sponsors push their cause too far are trying I find. This is particularly irritating when it is revealed that a sponsor will be talking to the captive audience of diners only once the diners are seated at their tables, netted and entrapped. 

  It evolved that this particular collaboration was organised by Prept, which has been set up to promote cooking, perhaps as a future career, for children. A good cause, among many, I suppose but the representative of the company was slick and pushy and reminded one of a candidate on The Apprentice trying to promote his cause to gain the favour of Lord Sugar and I felt slightly resentful about it all. I’ve paid my money and really don’t want to feel cornered to empty my pockets even more especially when all I came for was to be served a good meal.

  The evening began in the Opheem lounge, as ever, where the exalted familiar amuses gueules were served. There’s no reason to describe them as they have appeared in this blog before but, as ever, they were delicious and all part of the Aktar Islam contributions to the menu.

  Thence to the main dining room. After a delightful croustade on to Delport’s first contribution to the meal - Onion Royale - a delightful, deeply flavoured broth which would have been quite satisfactory all by itself. The N25 caviar, presumably oscietra included  to give added umami, was a luxury for this special dinner, but the broth itself would have stood alone very nicely and sometimes the simple is often the best.

  The dishes presented by Aktar and his team were all familiar to those who regularly (or at least fairly regularly) like to bask in the indulgent pleasure of Opheem’s fine food and the next course brought Badami korma, an immaculately cooked scallop with mooli, apple and almond, prepared as beautifully as we would expect. Alternating with Jean Delport’s dishes there were also our dearest friend Aloo tuk and later, Hiran karahi, unimpeachably cooked saddle of venison with bhuna sauce and Aktar’s refreshing dessert, Seb which put the emphasis on apple and had more to do with Birmingham than the subcontinent and was none the worse for that.

    Delport’s next course - his fish presentation - was aged Atlantic cod with a plump Cape Malay mussel, wild garlic and lardo. It was very tasty and finally cooked though it had the air of sous vide about it and so it never really fully appealed to me. Then on to Delport’s main which was first presented uncut to the diners and was centred on very pink salt-aged duck stuffed with boerewors (a South African sausage) with the accompanying flavour of lid rose which did not work for me. I needy something gutsier - cherry or orange - there’s a reason why they are long recognised flavours for duck. Still, this was an opportunity to dine on food prepared by a meticulous and innovative chef but on the whole I preferred the dishes which had been born in our Birmingham homeland. Delport ended the meal with a delicious dessert centred on chocolate mousse and with that I was replete. 

528. Events Dear Boy Events - January To June 2026.

 

See also Blogs 400, 416, 452 and 492.

12 January 2026 - Aktar Islam, Chef Patron of Opheem, announces that he intends to open a new restaurant, Oudh 1722, in Borough in London during spring 2026.

15 January - Harborne Kitchen announces that it is to close permanently and will not reopen after the Christmas holiday break.

6 February - Chef Angelina Adamo and Charlotte Carter open Vieni in the Goodsyard in the Jewellery Quarter and serve Sicilian-style cuisine.

8 February - The Michelin awards ceremony is held in Dublin and Alex Claridge’s The Wilderness and Liam Dillon’s The Boat (Lichfield), each are awarded a Michelin star for the first time. Opheem retains its two star status and Adam’s, Grace and Savour (Hampton in Arden), Le Champignon Sauvage and Lumière (Cheltenham), Upstairs by Tom Shepherd (Lichfield), The Cross (Kenilworth), The Royal Oak (Whatcote) and The Homeend (Ledbury) retain their single stars. Bibs Gourmands are retained by Tropea, Riverine Rabbit, Duncombe Arms (Ellastone) and The Inn at Welland (Welland). Plates by Purnell in Birmingham and Forelles (Ludlow) are removed from the Guide.

16 February - It is announced that The Mount by Glynn Purnell in Henley-in-Arden will close on the Ides of March (15 March) after 4 years serving diners.

2 April - Raj Rana announces the Itihaas is up for sale for a price of £1.25 million. Rana opened the restaurant in January 2005. Rana revealed that he was planning to move on and be involved with a hotel with restaurant in Worcestershire.

22 April - Hollow Bottom in Guiting Power in Gloucestershire is added to the Michelin Guide.

7 May - It is announced by Chef Patron Munayam Khan that Raja Monkey in Hall Green would close permanently on10 May due to “an increasingly challenging and demanding [hospitality business] climate”.  The restaurant had been in business for the previous 13 years.

  

26 May - Glynn Purnell’s Trillium is added to the Michelin Guide.

28 May - Andreas Antona announces the permanent closure of  Simpsons, the doyen of Birmingham restaurants.

12 June - Andreas Antona awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list

21 June - Gaijin Sushi in Bristol Street closes after being fined in April 2026 for environmental health offences relating to mice infestations. 

26 June - Adam Stokes announces that Michelin-listed The Oyster Club will close permanently on 11 July.

Omelette Arnold Bennett, King prawns, Sunday lunches roast Chateaubriand and all the trimmings for £32, and Dover sole -