30/04/2012 - Permalink

Curry chefs to compete for prestigious Shropshire title

Related topics: Community

Curry chefs from restaurants and takeaways in Bridgnorth, Market Drayton, Shrewsbury and Dorrington will compete to be named the best in the county in a prestigious competition run by Shropshire Council. 

The four finalists in the council’s 2012 ‘Curry Chef of the Year’ competition are:

  • Himalaya Tandoori Restaurant, Bridgnorth
  • Oruna Cuisine Indian restaurant and takeaway, Market Drayton
  • Café Saffron Indian restaurant, Shrewsbury
  • Dorrington Old Hall Persian Cuisine. 

The winner of the award will be the restaurant or takeaway in the Shropshire Council area with the nominated chef producing the best curry, side dish and rice accompaniment, as well as demonstrating high standards of food hygiene in their premises and catering practices. 

The finalists will take part in a ‘cook-off’ in front of a panel of judges at Radbrook Catering College in Shrewsbury on Monday 14 May 2012, where they will have one hour to cook and display their chosen menu. 

All Indian, Bangladeshi, Balti and similar restaurants and takeaways in the Shropshire Council area with a food hygiene rating of satisfactory or above were invited to enter the competition.  The entries were assessed by the council’s food safety team, making reference to the most recent food hygiene inspection.  The successful applicants were visited to ensure that good food safety practices are being met, and to taste and consider the nutritional value of the chef’s chosen dishes. 

At the final cook-off the competing curries will be tasted and assessed by the judges before the winner is awarded the title of Shropshire Council Curry Chef of the Year 2012. 

Last year’s winner was Rukon Abdullah from Oswestry Tandoori.  The first Shropshire Council Curry Chef of the Year competition was held in 2010 when the winner was Abdul Husen of Café Saffron. 

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental health, said:

“I would like to thank all who entered this year and my congratulations go to each of our four finalists. 

“The competition has proved to be a resounding success since it was first held in 2010.  It offers a great opportunity to boost local businesses by highlighting the many excellent curry houses that we have across the county.  The competition also places the focus on the important work carried out by our environmental health officers to ensure that our restaurants and takeaways are safe, hygienic places. 

“The title has gone to very worthy winners in previous years and this year’s cook-off is set to be an exciting close-fought event.  The four successful restaurants and takeaways have demonstrated exceptionally high standards of culinary expertise, hygiene, nutrition, flair and creativity to earn their place in the final. 

“I am looking forward to being on the judging panel and being a part of this fantastic competition.” 

The competition judges will be:

  • Councillor Steve Charmley
  • Sean McNulty, catering manager at Radbrook College
  • Kal Parkash, Shropshire Council’s diversity officer.