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A few
months ago food historians Peter & Colleen Grove decided to
embark on a project to acknowledge and honour the efforts of the men
and women who have been instrumental in building up the ethnic
restaurant industry in the past and running it to be what it is today.
"We celebrate to 200th
anniversary of the first Indian restaurant in UK in 2009", Peter
said "and we felt strongly that the efforts of the prominent
people in the industry should be recorded as new generations appear
and the achievements of the past are forgotten".
This will be a labour of love for
the pair as it is scarcely a commercial operation and they are
looking to companies involved in the industry to act as patrons and
also some of the restaurateurs featured to become 'fellows'.
Actual entries are free and
viewing the material on www.resthof.co.uk
is also free with over 5000 people taking advantage of this in the
first three weeks. The research involved is huge and ongoing, so
'Fellowships' have been offered at a one-off cost of £50 and
commercial patronage at just £1000.
"We are not surprised
that several of our friends such as Cyrus Todiwala, Rajesh Suri,
Vivek Singh, Enam Ali and Namita Panjabi to name but a few, came
forward immediately," commented Colleen, "but we
have been disappointed in the response from the companies who benefit
so much from this huge industry."
The website already boasts nearly
200 Asian, Italian and Oriental entries with more appearing every day
and it is expected that it will eventually provide a permanent record
of owners, chefs, suppliers, managers and others connected with the
industry from its very beginnings to the present day.
"At the moment we are
funding the project ourselves supported by a few Fellows,"
said Peter, "but we will not be able to make the project the in-depth
information site it needs to be without some support. We are very
passionate about this project and hope that this passion will be
reflected by others in the industry over the coming weeks and months."
Website : www.resthof.co.uk
- Restaurant Roll of Honour.
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