AVRUPA TIMES/LONDON-Over 700 VIP guests attended the Asian hospitality sector’s most prestigious event, the Asian Curry Awards in Association with Just Eat, at the Grosvenor House in London’s Mayfair on Sunday 17th November.Guest of Honour, Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London, took the opportunity to attack the “Government's 'wrongheaded' approach to immigration which is making it difficult to recruit the chefs and skilled workers.”On a positive note Sadiq Khan praised the contribution of the British Asians. “By bringing the best of Asian culinary traditions to these shores, these restaurant owners have expanded not only the choice of food available to the British public, but our very identity as an open, inclusive and multicultural nation,” he said.
Benares in Mayfair scooped the prestigious Fine Dining Award. Dishoom in Covent Garden has named Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year. Three restaurants shared the Just Eat Takeaway of the Year title – Chilli Tuk in London N12, Golden Dragon in Swansea and Rogan Josh in Cheltenham. Sanctua in Leicester was name Best Vegan and Vegetarian Food Studio Cardiff, Best Vegetarian. Royal Nawaab, Manchester is Buffet Restaurant of the Year. Spice Village in Croydon won Best Event Caterer. Rehmat’s in Aberdeen was announced Newcomer of the Year.
Crooked Skewer, Hull, claimed the Innovative Restaurant of the Year award.
Individual cuisine titles were awarded to Zuma, London W1 (Japanese), Romulo Café, London W8 (Filipino), Ottoman Kitchen, Southampton (Middle Eastern), Feng Wei Shi Tang, Soho (Chinese). The Nepalese Restaurant of the Year was shared by Everest Inn, Ashford Kent and Panas Gurkha, London SE13
Zaman’s in London W1 received the Pan-Asian Restaurant of the Year crown and Hakkaland, Harrow, the Best Asian Fusion award.
Hospital Venue of the Year went to Maida in Manchester, whilst Spice Village, Croydon, was revealed as Best Event Caterer.
Shahin Malek (Rivaaz, Lymington) won Best Maitre D’.
A special Social Responsibility of the Year award went to Millennium Balti, Royal Leamington Spa and there were Entrepreneur awards for Ajmal Mushtaq (Mushtaqs, Hamilton) and Habib Chowdhury (My Curry Club, Cheshire).
There were also a number of local and regional awards. The full list can be viewed at www.asiancurryawards.co.uk
Addressing an audience of ambassadors to London, high commissioners, senior politicians, embassy officials and business, Yawar Khan, Chairman of the Asian Catering Federation, which hosts the Awards, congratulated the winners, but warned them not to rest on their laurels. He said: “We work in a dynamic, fast developing sector where customers’ dining habits are constantly evolving.” He encouraged them to embrace change and welcome the challenges.
The biggest round of applause went to the Asian Curry Awards’ longstanding Chairman of Judges Pat Chapman, editor of the Cobra Good Curry Guide – who on the eve of his 80thbirthday – was too ill to attend. Accepting the award on his behalf, fellow judge George Shaw said, “Everyone who works in the curry sector owes Pat a huge debt and never has a Lifetime Achievement Award so richly deserved.”
The evening, with lavish hospitality and live entertainment was hosted by the brilliant stand-up comedian, Call Beaton.
The Asian Curry Awards shortlist was determined by over 100,000 votes from spice-loving members of the public. A team of judges, led by Pat Chapman, editor of the Cobra Good Curry Guide, toured the country to determine the winners with preference shown to restaurants, with healthy, authentic regional dishes with modern gastro influences.
The Asian Curry Awards are design to recognise the best in the industry, encouraging ever higher standards and to inspire the next generation of chefs and restaurateurs to join this dynamic sector. The Awards are organised by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF) and the Federation of Bangladeshi Caterers UK, representing 35,000 UK restaurants and takeaways.
Sadiq Khan: Government has made it difficult to recruit the chefs we need
Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London, is addressing the annual Asian Curry Awards taking place on Sunday 17th November at the Grosvenor House Hotel. He will praise the contribution of the industry, as well as British Asians to London and the UK. He will also attack the Tory Government's 'wrongheaded' approach to immigration which is making it difficult to recruit the chefs and skilled workers businesses need, and he will call for a migration system that is flexible enough to ensure we can fill key jobs in our food and hospitality sectors.
On the Asian Curry Awards, Sadiq Khan said:
“I’m delighted to be here at the Asian Curry Awards celebrating all the amazing businesses and restaurants that have been nominated for an award this evening.
“I have the best job in the world because I get to represent the greatest city on earth. A city that is defined by its incredible diversity, energy, entrepreneurship and wealth of opportunities.
“By bringing the best of Asian culinary traditions to these shores, these restaurant owners have expanded not only the choice of food available to the British public, but our very identity as an open, inclusive and multicultural nation.
“They help to show that our diversity makes us stronger as a society, not weaker. That it makes us richer, not poorer. And that our diversity isn’t the cause of our problems - as some try to make out right now - but rather, it’s a source of pride, progress and prosperity for all.”
On the contribution of the British Asians, he is expected to say:
“The triumph of the British curry industry is indicative of the massive contribution British Asians have made - and continue to make - to our cities, our towns and our villages.
“And its achievements are part of a much bigger success story - about the role of amazing Asian businesses, which number in the tens of thousands and - together - fuel growth and generate over £60 billion for our economy.
“These companies employ thousands of workers across our country, brighten our high streets, improve the quality of life in our neighbourhoods and enrich our society and culture
On the impact of the current immigration system on the industry, he is expected to say:
“Unfortunately, however, I believe our Government doesn’t always fully appreciate all the benefits that businesses like these deliver for our society.
“If they did, they wouldn’t have adopted such a wrongheaded approach to immigration that has made it so difficult for businesses to recruit the chefs and skilled workers they urgently need.
“That’s why I’m calling on the Government to put in place - as a matter of priority - a migration system that is flexible enough to ensure we can fill key jobs in our food and hospitality sectors. Because the last thing we should be doing is clipping the wings of businesses like these, which deserve our backing and support.
“I’m here to get the message out there that London is – and always will be – open. Open to food, talent and influences from around the world. Open to people of all faiths, customs and cultures. And open to brilliant businesses like the ones here tonight.”
Asian Curry Awards 2019 – Winners
ASIAN RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Region CategoryName of BusinessTown
LondonMango IndianLondon Bridge
London SuburbsThali HoSurbiton
South Coast Of EnglandRivaazLymington
South East Of EnglandTaj CuisineChatham, Kent
South East Of EnglandTamashaLindfield
South Of EnglandIndia GateChichester
Home CountiesTamarind LoungeKemsing
Central EnglandThird PlaceShrewsbury, Shropshire
West MidlandsMalabar Indian RestaurantAldridge, Walsall
East MidlandsThe RajKettering
East Of EnglandNavdhanyaCambridge
South West Of EnglandAromaGloucester
South West Of EnglandCafé DiwaliSalisbury
West CountryDenley’s Essence Of IndiaTopsham, Devon
North of EnglandAchariBolton
South WalesShampan Indian CuisineCowbridge
North WalesMaahisWrexham
North of ScotlandPanache RestaurantElgin
Northern IrelandCinnamonBelfast
Northern IrelandBanglaBangor, Belfast
Northern IrelandBengal SpiceBelfast
TAKEAWAY OF THE YEAR in Association with Just Eat
Region CategoryName of BusinessTown
LondonChilli Tuk TukBarnet
South West of EnglandRogan JoshCheltenham
ScotlandMushtaqsHamilton
WalesYasminsNewcastle Emlyn
NationalChilli PickleBrighton
ChineseGolden Dragon TakeawaySwansea
CASUAL DINING RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Region CategoryName of BusinessTown
LondonDishoomCovent Garden
South Coast of EnglandMemories of IndiaBosham
BEST VEGETARIAN & VEGAN RESTAURANT
Name of BusinessTown
SanctuaLeicester
Vegetarian Food StudioCardiff
BUFFET RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Name of BusinessTown
Royal NawaabManchester
Royal NawaabPerivale
W2 World BuffetMiddlesborough
BEST EVENT CATERER
Name of BusinessTown
Spice Village Event CaterersCroydon
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Name of BusinessTown
Rehmat’s RestaurantAberdeen
ASIAN CHEF OF THE YEAR
Region CategoryNameTown
London SuburbsFardous Ahmed BabluCurry Leaf, Old Coulsdon
London SuburbsLitu KhanHouse Of Spice, Raynes Park
LondonAvadhoot KamatZaman’s Restaurant, Marble Arch
North of EnglandMohammed Zahed MiahChutney Massala, Mossley
Home CountiesMohammed Kamal HussainIndian Diner, West Wickham
FINE DINING RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Name of BusinessTown
BenaresMayfair
INNOVATIVE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Region CategoryName of BusinessTown
EnglandThe Crooked SkewerHull
ScotlandRiksha Streetside IndianAberdeen
NEPALESE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Region CategoryName of BusinessTown
NationalEverest InnAshford
LondonPanas Gurkha RestaurantLewisham
JAPANESE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Name of BusinessTown
ZumaKnightsbridge
FILIPINO RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Name of BusinessTown
Romulo Café and RestaurantKensington
MIDDLE-EASTERN RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Name of BusinessTown
Ottoman KitchenSouthampton
CHINESE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Name of BusinessTown
Feng Wei Shi TangGerrard Street, London
PAN-ASIAN RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Name of BusinessTown
Zaman’s RestaurantMarble Arch
BEST ASIAN FUSION RESTAURANT
Name of BusinessTown
HakkalandHarrow
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
CategoryName of BusinessTown
MaleAjmal MushtaqMushtaqs Restaurant, Hamilton
FemaleHabiba ChowdhuryMy Curry Club, Cheshire
Young EntrepreneurSafwaan ChoudhuryBritish Raj Express
HOSPITALITY VENUE OF THE YEAR
Name of BusinessTown
Al MaidahManchester
SOCIAL RESPONSABILITY THE YEAR
CategoryName of BusinessTown
EnglandMillennium BaltiRoyal Leamington Spa
ScotlandMuhammed SultanCharcoals, Glasgow
BEST MAITRE D’
Region CategoryNameTown
EnglandShahin MalekRivaaz, Lymington
ScotlandAshish SharmaCharcoal Café, Glasgow
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Name
Pat Chapman – The Good Curry Guide
KNIGHTS OF THE RAJ LEGEND AWARD
NameTown
Abdul MalikCheam
Somuj Ali ChoudhuryCroydon
Manik MeahLondon
Mahmadur RashidSurrey
Shamsuddin KhanClapham
Ashraf UddinLondon
ATMW Saad GhaziWallington