Kenyan chef makes history by preparing meal for Sir Lewis Hamilton
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 07.07.25. | 10:44
Despite that, the day marked a personal triumph for Kariuki, whose journey from Nairobi to the global stage has been nothing short of spectacular
On Sunday, 6 July, renowned chef Bernice Kariuki made history by becoming the first Kenyan to put their culinary skills to the test by preparing a meal for seven-time Formula One world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton.
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The momentous occasion took place ahead of the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where Hamilton, now racing for Scuderia Ferrari, was chasing his 14th podium on home soil.
The F1 maestro narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth behind Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and surprise podium finisher Nico Hülkenberg.
Despite that, the day marked a personal triumph for Kariuki, whose journey from Nairobi to the global stage has been nothing short of spectacular.
Kariuki was born and raised in Jericho, Nairobi.
Chef Bernice Kariuki has made history for being the first Kenyan to prepare a meal for the renowned British Formula 1 driver, Sir Lewis Hamilton @LewisHamilton and the Scuderia Ferrari team ahead of the 2025 Silverstone Grand Prix.
— Antonellah Kakuko(The pastoralist Child). (@Truepastoralist) July 6, 2025
Chef Bernice was raised in Jericho estate in… pic.twitter.com/p7Q5G8qfN4
She went through the 8-4-4 system, starting at Jeshi la Wokovu Nursery before proceeding to Rabai Road Primary School. After excelling in her KCPE exams, she earned a place at the prestigious Precious Blood Girls' School.
However, her strong-willed nature led to an early exit after a dispute over her school placement.
Unshaken, her father enrolled her at Magomano Girls Secondary School in Nyandarua. It was there that Kariuki found her rhythm and completed her secondary education.
At just 17, she left for Sweden in search of a new path, a bold move that would eventually shape her life’s trajectory.
In Sweden, Kariuki joined a culinary school for 18 months, hoping to find her footing in the culinary world. However, she found Swedish cuisine uninspiring and shifted her focus to pastry.
Still unfulfilled, she relocated to the UK and briefly studied Psychology, yielding to her father’s wishes. For seven years, she practised psychology until the kitchen called her back.
Determined to follow her passion, she enrolled at Westminster Kingsway College in London, a premier institution for culinary arts.
Upon graduation, Kariuki worked in some of London’s most luxurious hotels, including The Lanesborough, The Dorchester, and The Waldorf Hilton, carving out a name for herself in the UK’s competitive hospitality industry.
The turning point came during a Christmas party in 2020 when she met then-Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. In a bold move, she asked if there were chef openings at Arsenal. Impressed by her confidence, Aubameyang hired her on the spot.
Kariuki’s signature Kenyan dishes, including a much-loved pilau, won over the football star, and by mid-2021, she joined Arsenal officially as a first-team private chef, coinciding with Mikel Arteta’s managerial takeover.
At Arsenal’s London Colney training ground, she cooked exclusively for players, the coaching staff, and the technical bench. She also played the dual role of nutritionist and dietitian, overseeing players' wellbeing both on and off the pitch. She left Arsenal in mid-2023.
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