Afro‑fusion and Sierra Leone food buzz
Social posts are spotlighting Afro‑Fusion and Sierra Leonean cuisine — a rotating Afro‑Fusion menu with peppersoup, Abacha and guineafowl drew rave praise, while chef Maria Bradford is credited with elevating Sierra Leonean food in the UK. The coverage frames African cuisines as varied and rising in mainstream dining conversations. (x.com)(x.com)
Peppersoup, Abacha and even guineafowl are showing up on Afro‑fusion and West African pop‑up and restaurant menus across multiple markets — for example The Peppersoup Lounge lists peppersoup as a signature item and Thunder Bay African Restaurant and other eateries include Abacha on their menus. (thepeppersouplounge.com) Maria Bradford opened her debut restaurant, Shwen Shwen by Maria, in Sevenoaks, Kent on June 6, 2025 after building a profile through supper clubs, product lines and her cookbook Sweet Salone. (thediningroompr.co.uk) Bradford’s Sweet Salone cookbook was published in 2023 and she served as a judge for the Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Awards in 2025, credentials cited in press coverage when she announced the restaurant. (amazon.com) Shwen Shwen was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand and named Michelin’s Opening of the Year at the 2026 MICHELIN Guide ceremony, language used by Michelin and industry press at the awards presentation. (guide.michelin.com) Reviews and profiles list recurring menu elements at Shwen Shwen such as pepe/pepper chicken and fish, moringa and fonio ingredients, and a short‑rib with groundnut/coconut accents that illustrate Bradford’s Afro‑fusion approach. (theknife.online) Industry coverage and trend reports show Afro‑fusion and Afro‑Caribbean styles moving into fine‑dining and pop‑up circuits, with outlets and data platforms documenting increased menu experimentation and press attention for chefs bringing West African dishes into mainstream settings. (finedininglovers.com)
