This International Women’s Day (Sunday 8 March), Cavita in London will host a vibrant, one-off collaborative lunch showcasing five extraordinary female chefs. Their backgrounds span the Middle East, Mexico, Sierra Leone, the Caribbean and South Asia, creating a spectacular and truly international (and not forgetting, totally delicious) event rooted in culture, creativity and the power of food.

The International Women’s Day Lunch unites Adriana Cavita, Ayesha Kalaji, Keshia Sakarah, Maria Bradford and Sabrina Gidda - five voices redefining what modern British dining looks and tastes like today. Working across restaurants, publishing, education and consultancy, these women are shaping the UK food scene while proudly celebrating their global heritage through their cooking.

Food has always been one of the most powerful ways culture is shared, protected and reimagined. For these chefs, it is so much more than what appears on the plate. It’s about storytelling, identity and representation. Their work reflects journeys of migration, memory and innovation, showing how global traditions continue to influence and enrich the UK’s culinary landscape, and how these five women are part of something genuinely magical and important within the UK restaurant industry.

Hosting the lunch is Adriana Cavita, Founder and Executive Chef of Cavita, whose modern Mexican menus bring the depth and diversity of Mexico’s regional cooking to Marylebone, blending tradition with contemporary flair.

“I’m delighted to collaborate with such a brilliant lineup of female chefs at Cavita this International Women’s Day. It’s a privilege to come together to celebrate talent, creativity and the vital role women play in shaping the future of hospitality and our communities” – Adriana Cavita

Joining her is the multi-award winning and this year’s Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs Chef of the Year 2026,  Ayesha Kalaji, Chef-Owner of Queen of Cups in Glastonbury, whose bold Middle Eastern cooking draws on her Jordanian heritage, academic research into food history and close relationships with British producers, creating food that is deeply personal, culturally rich and unmistakably modern.

“Women and food have always been intertwined; the chefs, the grandmothers, the aunts, the teachers; women in the kitchen have shaped culinary histories, stories and our shared experience. This event brings together some of the most talented chefs I know, representing our cultures in the most intentional and considerate ways. We’re coming together to celebrate, to feed, and ultimately to raise money for a good cause. I couldn’t be more excited!” – Ayesha Kalaji

Chef, educator and author Keshia Sakarah brings a powerful focus on African and Caribbean culinary heritage, exploring how culture and identity shape what we eat in the UK today. Through her writing, broadcast work and recipe development, she continues to champion underrepresented food stories, earning recognition as one of CODE Hospitality’s 100 Influential Women in Food in both 2021 and 2022.

“Really looking forward to cooking with other people wonderful and talented women in food!” – Keshia Sakarah

Also taking part is award-winning chef and author Maria Bradford, whose Afro-fusion cuisine celebrates the bold flavours of Sierra Leone. Her newly Michelin Bib Gourmand–awarded restaurant, Shwen Shwen in Kent - also hailed Best Opening of the Year by Michelin - is inspired by her childhood memories of Freetown. Using ingredients such as tamarind, moringa, fonio and hibiscus, Maria’s cooking is vibrant, expressive and deeply rooted in heritage.

“International Women’s Day is deeply important to me. As a black woman, I want to show other women what is possible. Representation truly matters.” - Maria Bradford

Completing the line-up is Sabrina Gidda, Chef, Author & hospitality creative. Her multidisciplinary approach to cooking is a celebration of classical techniques, global flavours, culture and community. She is a passionate advocate of women in hospitality and also the nurture of next generational talent into industry. She is co-host of Belu Water’s podcast Served with Purpose - discussing the wider inspirations in hospitality legacy building.

“This year marks 115 years of IWD, a powerful milestone that inspires bright minds to come together and imagine the opportunities that emerge when we collaborate with intention and purpose. I can think of no better way of marking this occasion than collaborating with so many wonderful women on what will be a very special day” – Sabrina Gidda

Alongside the collaborative feast, guests will also be treated to an inspiring live Q&A hosted by Justine Murphy - entrepreneur, talent manager, cookbook author and podcast host - offering deeper insight into the chefs’ journeys, their influences, and what it means to build meaningful careers in the UK food industry today.

Together, these five chefs will create a collaborative menu inspired by traditional flavours, personal histories and contemporary creativity reflecting how global cultures live, evolve and thrive within the UK food scene today.

More than a lunch, this is a celebration of culture, progress and possibility. Spotlighting the chefs leading change, amplifying diverse voices, and proving that the future of food is global, inclusive and powered by women.

Tickets are £120pp which includes the Q&A, five courses and a welcome drink and can be purchased via this link

All profits will be donated to women and children’s charity, ‘Refuge’.

Sunday 8th March 2026 from 12:30pm

Cavita, 60 Wigmore Street, London W1U