A new African restaurant opens in Sevenoaks, Kent today with a focus on the cuisine of Sierra Leone, from chef and food writer Maria Bradford.
Shwen Shwen – which means ‘fancy’ in the Krio language of Sierra Leone – will showcase traditional Sierra Leonean dishes as well as fusion cooking from across West Africa.
Maria learned to cook from her mother and grandmother in Freetown before moving to West Malling in Kent as a teenager. She qualified as an accountant, but her love of cooking led her to launch the supper club that became Shwen Shwen eight years ago. Her debut cookbook, Sweet Salone, was published in 2023, and she served as a judge for this year’s Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Awards.
Maria says: “Shwen Shwen is the realisation of a long-held dream for me that takes guests on a journey to experience the vibrant culinary landscape of Sierra Leone. Though my restaurant is in Sevenoaks, every dish is a love letter to my heritage.”
Less familiar ingredients to be found in her dishes include moringa, the powdered leaves of the drumstick tree; fonio, an ancient grain; and egusi, melon seeds – while peanuts appear frequently. She also takes a flexible approach, so parmesan cheese can make an appearance.