Ayo Adeyemi to ‘embark on a new chapter’ as he departs Akoko
In a statement, Adeyemi said the time had come for him to ‘embark on a new chapter in his life and career’.
It follows a stellar year for the chef, who earned Akoko its first Michelin star in back February and was subsequently named Chef to Watch at the National Restaurant Awards this summer.
“It’s been an honour to represent the West African diaspora within the food space,” Adeyemi said.
“Through my journey, I've been privileged to share the rich culinary traditions, flavours and stories of West Africa with a broader audience.
“This experience has not only allowed me to celebrate my heritage but also bridge cultures and bring people together through food.”
Akoko was originally opened by restaurateur Aji Akokomi in October 2020 with chef William JM Chilila, a former MasterChef: The Professionals finalist, leading the kitchen.
However, Chilila soon left the project to be replaced by Theo Clench, who himself subsequently departed the restaurant to launch Cycene with Blue Mountain School founders James and Christie Brown.
This then led to Adeyemi, whose CV included stints at Heston Blumenthal’s three Michelin-starred The Fat Duck and his one-star gastropub The Hind’s Head, both in Bray, taking the reins in September 2022.
Balde, who trained with Alain Ducasse as chef de partie at the Plaza Athenée Hotel Paris and most recently worked oversaw operations at Le Comptoir Group, will be Akoko’s fourth executive chef in as many years.
Akokomi will oversee the creative direction and menu design at Akoko, alongside Balde.
“We wish Ayo all the best and are grateful for his dedication over the last two years. We’re excited to welcome Mutaro to the Akoko family,” said Akokomi.
“He’s been a close friend of the brand from the start, and after years of collaboration behind the scenes, we’re excited to finally work together to continue raising the bar at Akoko.”
Akoko, which serves a tasting menu that draws influences from the cuisines of Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia and Senegal, is currently ranked at number 23 on the National Restaurant Awards Top 100 list.
