19th October 2017
Over 100,000 of the nation’s curry lovers have voted for their favourite restaurants to determine the shortlist of this year’s Asian Curry Awards – the UK’s only pan-Asian culinary accolades.
A team of judges, led by Pat Chapman, editor of the Cobra Good Curry Guide, are now touring the country to determine this year’s winners. The top restaurants will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane in London’s Mayfair on Sunday 12th November 2017.
Over 900 guests including the county’s leading restaurateurs with their staff and customers, plus ambassadors and embassy officials, food writers, politicians, VIPs and celebrities, will attend. This year the awards were open to the country’s 20,000 Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, and Vietnamese restaurants and takeaways.
Last year’s top accolade went to London’s La Port Des Indes, which was named Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year.
“Intense competition, chef shortages, rising costs make the restaurant business incredibly challenging – but the rewards for those who get the formula right are considerable,” said Yawar Khan, Chairman of the Asian Curry Awards.
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.
Pat Chapman, chairman of the judges said; “The best restaurateurs have respond to customers’ changing customer tastes and encourage their chefs to innovate and produce the exciting, healthy and authentic dishes that today’s discerning diners demand.”
The judging criteria is heavily weighted towards the quality of the food and cooking; additional points will be awarded for ambience, customer service, community involvement and hygiene.
Entertainment will be provided by London-born British-Bangladeshi singer Shapla Salique, famed for her original, powerful and emotionally-charged performances. The East London raised singer-song writer, is known for her unique and edgy acoustic Bengali folk music, with jazz and funk influences.
A Bollywood dance troupe will deliver an energetic and highly stylised display of colour and movement.
Rolling Stones tribute band Not The Rolling Stones, whose early work was heavily influenced by the revered Indian sitar player, Ravi Shankar, will complete the line-up.
The full list finalists can be viewed at:
www.asiancurryawards.com/asian-curry-awards-2017-the-shortlist