Olayemi Adelekan

Olayemi Adelekan at ‘Yummy By Design’ is a passionate cook and MasterChef UK 2022 (Top 6) Semi Finalist who has been cooking for over 40 years.

She shares her love and passion for food through food blogging, content creation, private chef and private dining services, cooking demonstrations, pop up events, Supper club and a weekly food feature (Yemi’s Food Stories) in The Stray Ferret (https://thestrayferret.co.uk) celebrating Yorkshire producers and their produces.

Olayemi is a writer, coach, public speaker, author of two books (Flying High in a Polka Dot Dress and The Purposeful Life Project) and a blogger (purposefulme.co.uk).

At the core of Chef Olayemi’s culinary philosophy lies a deep appreciation for her heritage and a profound respect for the culinary traditions she draws inspiration from. Olayemi grew up in Nigeria before moving to the island of St Kitts and Nevis, West Indies; her final move in 1997 brought her to the UK, a place she now also calls home.

Olayemi possesses the audacity and talent to harmoniously blend diverse flavours and ingredients from different cultural cuisines. She has carved a unique niche for herself through her fusion cooking of West & North African, European, West Indian, and Middle Eastern flavours.

She is part of the 2023/24 and 2024/25 Academy of The Taste Awards Judges (American Taste Awards) and a past presenter and judge for the annual BBC Radio York Make A Difference Awards.

She features regularly in food festivals and events across the UK and Ireland including The Great Yorkshire Show, Great British Food Festivals, BBC Good Food Shows working with multiple brands with interviews on BBC Radio York, BBC Radio Sheffield, BBC Radio Manchester and other local stations.

Professions

Chef, Consultant, Cookery demonstrator, Feature writer, Food and travel writer, Recipe writer, Restaurant reviewer

Special subjects

Nigerian Cuisine
Spices
West Indian Cuisine
Middle Eastern Cuisine

Regular work

Weekly Column in The Stray Ferret: Yemi's Food Stories

Advisory boards / Awards

Academy Judge at The Taste Awards

Languages spoken

English
Yoruba
Pidgin English

Commercial interest

Paid partnerships
Food writing
Features writing
Magazine & Newspaper feature writing
Recipe writing
Consulting

Olayemi Adelekan

Search for another member

Search