Restaurants Ready For Nationwide Curry Fight

Food lovers across the UK have voted in their favourite curry restaurants, now it’s time for them to prove their city is top of the poppadoms.

Restaurants need to have their wooden spoons ready, as this year’s Curry Capital of Britain Awards are proving to be closer than ever.

We’ve already spoken to city councils and organisers, now it’s time for restaurants to spill the beans on what they’re cooking up for a 2012 win.

Mister Singh's curries

Earlier this week, current title holders Bradford started their bid with the four representing restaurants – Shimla Spice, Aargrah Shipley, Zouk and Akbars coming together in a public appearance with the local council to talk curry. Their words packed some heat.

“As someone who owns restaurants in cities across the country, I know the standard set in Bradford,” Shabir Hussain of Akbars was quoted as saying.

“It is head and shoulders above the rest of the country. Bradford is the premier league of curries and I hope we win.”

Last year organisers praised Bradford for their teamwork and educational commitment – their giant Guinness World Record breaking onion bhaji helped get them across the line too.

Bradford's beast of a bhaji. Image, Narinder Bhardwaj

But there’s a lot more to it than stunts and fundraising, as restaurants, who carry the most weight when it comes to judging, will be marked on standard of food, service, hygiene, cleanliness and how they serve the community.

“We have been serving the local community for 18 years,” Satty Singh from Mister Singh’s India, one of the restaurants competing for Glasgow told hungryhouse.

“We have given lots of diners a very positive dining experience. We now have second generations coming in, we also have three generations of our own family still working in the restaurant.”

Happy diners dig in at Mister Singh's. Image - http://www.mistersinghsindia.com

Indian actress and food writer Madhur Jaffrey recently visited Mister Singh’s and picked them to be part of her Curry Nation programme and cookbook. She was also fascinated by the fusion food they offer, in particular the haggis samosa and haggis curries.

Madhur Jaffrey. Image, Roland

This kind of quality and unique cuisine is something Mister Singh’s believes will make them stand-out.

“In my opinion Glasgow consistently delivered quality Indian restaurants hence it has won more curry capital awards than any other city,” Ms Singh said.

Also representing Glasgow, and spreading the word like word like wildfire is Mother India.

“Winning it back (the Curry Capital title) would mean a lot to the people of Glasgow and be a boost to the host city of The 2014 Commonwealth Games,” Monir from Mother India said.

In the kitchen at Mother India. Image, http://www.motherindiaglasgow.co.uk

Although staying tight lipped on what exactly they plan to do for their bid, we hear it will be all about collaboration, not just with the other restaurants, KoolBa, Neelim and of course Mister Singh’s, but also with Glasgow council, focusing on charity efforts.

“We’ll be keeping up to date with local community projects and sponsoring local events, also charity donations such as to the National Autistic Society,” Monir said.

Glasgow won Curry Capital in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2010 and were runners-up in 2004, 2007 and 2011. Do you think Glasgow’s spice is still right?

Keep in mind VOTING closes on September 21 – the winner will be announced on October 29.

hungryhouse is in the process of speaking to all the busy restaurants involved, so stay tuned to hear what your favourite city is up to.