Asian Curry Awards Finalists to Be Announced at House of Commons Lunch

The finalists in the 5th Asian Curry Awards are being announced at a special networking lunch in the Terrace Pavilion at the House of Commons on Monday 12th October.

Restaurateurs will have the chance to meet their local MPs and discuss challenging issues facing the curry restaurant and takeaway industry with their fellow business owners. Over 50 MPs have already confirmed their attendance.

Curry lovers still have time to vote for their favourite Indian, Bangladeshi Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Malaysian restaurants and chefs. Voting for the 5th Asian Curry Awards closes 30th September. Vote online via www.asiancurryawards.com/nomination or email the name and location of the restaurant tovote@asiancurryawards.com

The Parliamentary lunch follows a live cook off competition and chefs' workshop being held in the Pillars Kitchen at the University of West London in Ealing on at the 5th October. The cook off will determine the winners of the Asian & Oriental Chef of the Year and the Young Asian & Oriental Chef of the Year (under 30) categories.

In London, the early front runners in public voting are Benares, Café Spice Namaste, Chutney Mary, Cinnamon Club, Masala Zone, Quilion Gymkana and Veeraswamy.

Around the country, top Thai restaurants currently toping the poll are Blue Elephant, Busabai Eathai, Chaopharaya, Giggling Squid, Rosa, Thaikun, Thai Square and Rosa – although none has established a clear lead.

"Ultimately, the winners will be decided buy a team of judges led by Pat Chapman, editor of the Cobra Good Curry Guide, but the shortlist will be determined by votes from members of the public – there's very little daylight between them with everything still to play for," said Asian Curry Awards chairman, Yawar Khan.

There are also regional award categories that will allow outstanding local restaurants and takeaways to receive their deserved plaudits at the high profile, glittering awards ceremony at the London Hilton on Park Lane in Mayfair on Sunday 15th November.

Leading restaurants will be visited unannounced by a panel of judges led by customer dining experience.

"We expect top chefs to challenging the existing standards and exceed them," furthered Khan, who added, "These Awards are designed to encourage our young people into the restaurant industry and to motivate those already in the profession to set sights even higher."

Nominations forms and details of the whole awards process may be downloaded from the ACA website www.asiancurryawards.com.

The full list of national award categories is:

• Best Asian Restaurant of the Year
• Best East Asian Takeaway/Delivery of the Year
• Best South Asian Takeaway/Delivery of the Year
• Newcomer of the Year (restaurants established less than 3 years)
• Best Asian & Oriental Chef of the Year (International)
• Young Asian & Oriental Chef of the Year (under 30)
• East Asian Restaurant of the Year
• Best International Asian Restaurant
• Lifetime Achievement Award

There are also 10 regional awards for the Best South Asian restaurants in London, London suburbs, South East, South West, East, South Coast, North, Midlands, Wales and Scotland & Northern Ireland.

ENDS

Editors' Notes:

The Awards are a joint initiative from the Federation of Bangladeshi Caterers (FoBC) and the Asian Caterers Federation (ACF).

The awards are open to restaurants that have been trading for at least 12 months and have a minimum 4-star hygiene rating, with a plan to boost this to 5 stars.

Current sponsors include: Cobra Beer, Square Mile Insurance, Aroma, Malayasian Kitchen, Asian Catering Federation, Chinese Takeaway Association, Malayasian Restaurant Association.

Federation of Bangladeshi Caterers: The "voice of the curry industry" is a nationwide non-profit making and non-political organisation, led by the Westminster Press and Parliamentary office – which lobbies on MPs, Government and Whitehall, promoting and protecting the interests of the curry industry in Britain.

The FoBC viewpoint delivers a wide range of high quality business services to its members. The Bangladeshi dominated curry industry contributes approximately £4.5 billion to the British economy and creates about 100,000 employment opportunities.

Asian Catering Federation: Uniting the Asian Food Industry's sister organisation with similar objectives representing restaurateurs outside the Bangladeshi community across the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia, with members drawn from the Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Burmese, Korean, Singaporean and India restaurant sectors.

Media Contact: George Shaw, Avocado Media

T: 01892 750851 M: 07860 695555 geo@avocadomedia.co.uk

Yawar Khan, Chairman, Asian Curry Awards

No 1 Poultry, London EC2R 8JR T: 020 83956820 M: 07939 936 786

E: info@asiancurryawards.com W: www.asiancurryawards.com@AsianCurryAward