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The 5th British Curry Awards, founded by Enam Ali MBE, took place on
Tuesday 3rd November at an exciting new venue, the Battersea
Experience on the banks of the River Thames.
A record 1500 guests and celebrities gathered for the annual event
now dubbed as the "Oscars" of the curry industry. The
evening was hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald OBE supported by the
ghostly voice of David "Kid" Jensen and Chris Tarrant
provided extra glamour with his appearance on behalf of Lord's
Taverners who were the official charity for the night.
Surprise guest was Conservative Leader David Cameron MP who was
almost mobbed by enthusiastic restaurateurs trying to get pictures
with him and the applause generated by his speech suggested many
thought they might be listening to a future PM.
In due course guests sat down to a meal produced, once again by the
ever efficient Madhu's team not realising that their boss Sanjay
Anand MBE was to receive his own special award at the end of the
evening. The only detracting factor was the continual bouncing of the
boarded temporary floor which caused many to suggest the venue did
not match those of other years.
Considerable interest was shown in the awards themselves by gathered
restaurateurs and the judges table was often besieged by owners
wanting to know whether they had won. Unfortunately the judges could
only answer they had no idea of the final selections and would have
to wait and see with everyone else.
Mumbles about the winners grew inevitably as four categories were
seen to have the same winner three years in a row and another two,
two years in a row. There was also confusion about the actual
categories such as Aagrah Sheffield, which won the Newcomer category
in 2008 appearing in the shortlist again this year and Aagrah Leeds
being in North East and Aagrah Cleckheaton in North West - in fact no
less than 6 Aagrah branches were included in the regional shortlists.
In such a setting with passions running high, such comments are not
unusual but the amazing efforts of organiser Enam Ali in overseeing
every aspect of the operation did not go unnoticed by those present.
The biggest surprise of the evening came when a new category of
"Personality of the Year" was announced. Sir Trevor
McDonald who said, by way of introduction, that the person chosen
would have had to provide that little extra something to complete the
restaurant experience and guests wondered which of the industry's top
people it might be. What did we get? Anjum Anand. Total silence from
the guests. Yes Anjum Anand, not a restaurateur at all. Reactions
went from casual acceptance, to indifference to disbelief.
This event is undoubtedly a major social event now and Enam Ali and
his team are to be congratulated on their continuing achievements and
to avoid the importance of the social aspect outstripping the
importance of the awards themselves, we understand a new judging
format will be in place for 2010.
2009 Winners :
Best Casual Dining : Tayyabs London E1 (7 in shortlist)
Best in London Central & City : Bombay Brasserie SW7 (winner
2005) (13 in shortlist)
Best in Wales : Bokhara, Bridgend (winner 2008) (5 in shortlist)
Best in London Suburbs : Brilliant, Southall (winner 2007, 2008) (10
in shortlist)
Best in North East : Aagrah, Leeds (8 in shortlist)
Best in North West : Indian Ocean, Ashton under Lyne (winner
2007,2008) (9 in shortlist)
Best in Scotland : Cinnamon, Aberdeen (winner 2008) 7 in shortlist)
Best in South East : Jaipur, Milton Keynes (24 in shortlist)
Best in South West : Rajpoot, Bath (winner 2007,2008) (9 in shortlist)
Best in Midlands : Lasan, Birmingham (winner 2007,2008) (11 in shortlist)
Newcomer of the Year : Cinnamon Kitchen London EC2 (10 in shortlist)
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