Should everyone have a dream? Adejoké Bakare is the first Black British woman to win one of the highest accolades in the restaurant world — a Michelin star.
The superstar chef who blends cultures

Comprehension quiz
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What is meant by the word “accolades” as it is used in the first sentence?
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Which word is the closest synonym for “persuaded”?
A: Forced
B: Discouraged
C: Convinced
D: Questioned
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According to the article, what was the prize for winning the Brixton Kitchen competition?
A: A full-time job at a property management company.
B: A cash prize to fund a new university course.
C: A three-month pop-up restaurant in Brixton Village.
D: A feature in the Financial Times newspaper.
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What does the name of Adejoké Bakare’s restaurant, “Chishuru,” mean?
A: “A dream come true”
B: “The silence that descends when you’re eating.”
C: “Food is sustenance”
D: “A hospitable warmth”
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Which two of the following are reasons why Adejoké Bakare felt “very lucky” about her family background?
A: She was the oldest child in her family and got to cook for her siblings.
B: Her father was Igbo and her mother was Yoruba, giving her a connection to two different food cultures.
C: She learned to sell fish and chips from a cart at university.
D: Her parents gave her confidence by encouraging her to enter competitions.
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Adejoké Bakare initially struggled with doubt, saying, “I’m always judging and doubting myself.” How do you think winning the Michelin star might change her confidence and career moving forward, and why is this award important for West African food?
Answers
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Glossary
Property management - The day-to-day running, operation and maintenance of real estate, from rental houses to properties used by businesses.
Brixton Village - A market in Brixton, an area in south London.
Michelin star - A rating awarded by the Michelin Guide, a series of guide books produced by French tyre company Michelin. The guide books were initially produced by the company as a way to increase the demand for cars.
Igbo - With a population of roughly 30 million, the Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. The other main ethnicities are Hausa and Yoruba.
Yoruba - A language mainly spoken in southwestern Nigeria and Benin.