Food Made Fancy

In this episode, AJ Sharp is joined by the incredible Maria Bradford – chef, cookbook author, and founder of Shwen Shwen, the newly opened Sierra Leonean restaurant in Sevenoaks. Maria shares her journey from growing up in Freetown to becoming one of the UK’s most exciting voices in food.

Together, they dive into the flavours of West Africa, the cultural significance of ingredients like sustainable palm oil, and the power of fusion cooking using Kentish produce. Maria talks candidly about representation in the food industry, her cookbook Sweet Salone, and why West African cuisine is so much more than just heat – it’s about umami, balance, and deep-rooted tradition.

If you love food with a story, this one’s for you.