Great British Menu 2023 chefs: Kareem Roberts, Central Heat

Kareem Roberts, Head Chef at Trinity, is one of four chefs competing for the central region on Great British Menu 2023.

Series 18 of the competition starts on January 31 2023 on BBC Two at 8pm and will air for eight weeks.

Kareem is going head to head with chefs Tom Shepherd, Thom Bateman, Marianne Lumb in a bid to represent the central region in the regional finals, and ultimately cook a dish at the final banquet.

This is Kareem's first time competing in Great British Menu.

Full name

Kareem Roberts

Nickname

Brokedinner

Age/DOB

41, May 21st 1981

Place of birth / residence

Leicester / Cambridge.

Relationship status / children

I have a girlfriend, no children.

Height

6ft 3

Type of chef (restaurant, hotel, development chef, etc.)

Restaurant chef

Favourite type of cuisine

Indian, followed by French.

Path to becoming a chef

Unconventional to say the least. Started cooking professionally at 26.

Past and present place of work

Past place of work - DoubleTree by Hilton, The Punter Pub, Varsity Restaurant. Current - Trinity Restaurant.

All in Cambridge.

Personal and professional mentors / role models 

Chef Frank Sham. Role Models - Neil Degrasse Tyson, Gordon Ramsay, Kobe Bryant.

Guilty pleasure dish

2x Spicy Samyang chicken noodles.

Best / worst thing about being a chef

Best thing: There is always something new to do. Worst thing: the physical demand can wear on you.

Feelings stepping onto the GBM set

My exact thoughts were 'awwwww fuck brokedinner is HERE!'. It was truly a humbling moment as I have watched the series devotedly since 2010.

Plans for the future

My immediate plans will always be the same, be a better cook.

My broader plans are to become a culinary communicator in some capacity.