You don’t hear about a simple Kenyan from Jericho becoming one of the best chefs at one of the biggest football clubs in the world every day.
But Bernice Kariuki, a driven Kenyan who serves as the first-team cook at London club Arsenal, is a perfect example of this.
You did read that correctly. While many ardent Arsenal supporters look forward to the chance to one day meet some of their heroes, Bernice has the uncommon privilege of cooking for them.
So how did it happen? Her narrative, though, is one of unwavering devotion, tenacity, and perhaps a little luck.
Bernice was born and raised in Jericho, Eastlands in Nairobi but somehow worked her way up and ended up studying Culinary Arts at Westminster Kingsway College in London.
Her passion for culinary arts led her to land jobs at 5-star hotels in England as a Chef, with big names like The Lanesborough, The Dorchester and The Waldorf Hilton London among those in her portfolio.
But perhaps her biggest source of pride at the moment is working as a private chef for Arsenal’s first team, a role she landed at the time the Gunners were confirming Mikel Arteta’s appointment.
Working under the leadership of Darren Taylor, the Executive Chef at Arsenal, her roles include cooking for first team players and members of the technical bench and management team.
A quick tour of her Instagram will reveal that indeed she is a master at what she does as she has photos of some exquisite-looking meals which speaks volumes about her work.
Bernice recently spoke at a forum for Kenyans in the U.K in Windsor, Berkshire on Monday, November 29 where she urged Kenyans in the diaspora to relentlessly chase their dreams without too many excuses.
“When I win we all win…we all have challenges. It’s not easy, we need to push because we are in a better country where you can become who you want. Don’t say kuna racism (there’s racism). No, no, no – you can become who you want,” she said.
At the forum, she also ran into Manoah Esipisu, and the Kenyan High Commissioner to the UK could not contain his excitement.
“Delighted to bump into Arsenal first-team chef Bernice Kariuki at a black-tie Kenya UK Diaspora event in Windsor, Berkshire. Trailblazing and embodying the Kenyan ‘can do’ spirit. Congratulations,” the diplomat shared on his social media.
