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Staff
shortages in ethnic restaurants is one of the biggest problems
facing the industry at present and whilst lobby groups try to
persuade the Government to change its immigration and work permit
regulations to avoid potential disaster, Brilliant Restaurant in
Southall has come up with its own solution.
For
some years now Thames Valley University has been encouraging people
from all backgrounds to study for qualifications in Indian cuisine
supported by many of London's top chefs.
Owner
Gulu Anand and his daughter, soon to be Dr Dipna Anand, who helps
run the restaurant, have just completed running a 15 week module on
Indian cuisine at the university as part of the students Btec course.
With
all the hard work behind them, it was the job of the 6 students and
their helpers to make their presentations to a daunting panel of
judges of Gulu Anand himself, Enam Ali of Le Raj in Epsom and editor
of Spice Business and Peter & Colleen Grove, food critics and
editors of Mood Food Magazine.
The
students produced their presentations in just 2 hours from start to
finish under the watchful eye of course presenter Dipna helped by
Brilliant chef Jasinder and the results were described by the judges
as outstanding.
It
was generally agreed that the standard was very high and that great
thought and effort had gone into the starter and main course called
for in the exam. All four judges were highly complimentary of all 6
students, so much so that Enam Ali commented they could find a job in
his kitchen any time. Gulu Anand had already gone one step further in
giving some of the students hands-on experience at some of his
outside catering functions.
Once
the course is completed, these students will give way to the next
batch and be highly skilled and worthy of any top class kitchen and
if the results of the exam presentations are anything to go by,
Indian cuisine in the UK is still very much on the way up. |