The UK’s top Indian and Asian culinary talents were honoured in a grand ceremony at the House of Lords, hosted by Lord Kamall for the Asian Catering Federation (ACF) and emceed by BBC news presenter Samantha Simmonds. The event, organised by the ACF, paid tribute to the creators of the finest Indian and Asian cuisine from across the nation.
A major highlight at the July 4 event was the exhilarating live cook-off to determine the best Asian and Oriental Chef Awards. In a show of support for the very best local eateries, the Top 100 Asian restaurants in the UK also received recognition.
George Shaw, the Federation’s communications director, said: “Announcing the Top 100 allows us to recognize more of the better venues in the UK. Not all restaurant-goers want or can afford to eat in, fine dining establishments very often – if at all. This listing allows customers to also find very good local restaurants.”
The event also marked the kickoff for the eighth Asian Restaurant Awards, welcoming entries from all types of Asian establishments nationwide, set to take place in Manchester on August 27, as well as the 14th Asian Curry Awards scheduled for London on November 17.
ACF Chairman Yawar Khan has called on curry enthusiasts to nominate their top picks, saying, “These awards help attract young talent to the sector, motivate owners to achieve ever higher standards and provide a massive boost to business to winners.”
If you don’t see your favourite in the Top 100, members of the public can vote online via the Asian Restaurant Awards site and the Asian Curry Awards website.
All ACF awards are open to all Asian cuisines: Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.
