Top Chefs to be Honoured at House of Lords on Election Day
Prestigious Asian Oriental & Chef Awards Recognize Culinary Excellence
In a spectacular celebration of culinary excellence, many of the country’s leading chefs will be honoured at the prestigious House of Lords on July 4th, coinciding with Election Day. This esteemed event will be hosted by Lord Kamall in collaboration with the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), the organising body behind the illustrious Asian Oriental & Chef Awards.
The awards, recognized as one of the hospitality industry’s most prestigious accolades, witnessed fierce competition at the Pillars Restaurant, University of West London, on May 19th. The contest, held at the alma mater of Home Secretary James Cleverly, showcased the exceptional talent of top chefs from across the nation.
Jiwal Lal, the executive chef of the Michelin-ranked Babur in South London, emerged as the overall winner of the competition. Close on his heels was Dev Biswal, owner of The Cook’s Tale in Canterbury, who secured the runner-up position by just one point. The third-place honor was shared between Jerome Jorda of Kas & Kin and Saroj Thapaliya of Panas Gurka, both based in London. Other distinguished finalists included Ajay Chaurasia of Bombay Delight in Wimbledon, Rafiqur Raza of Bangor Tandoori in North Wales, Vishal Verma of Mango Lounge in Windsor, and Ameen Ainiyappillai of Sajee in Lewisham.
A Night of Celebration
Leading chefs from across the UK will gather at the House of Lords on July 4th to be honoured for their exceptional culinary skills.The Competition
The Asian Oriental & Chef Awards contest took place on May 19th at the Pillars Restaurant, University of West London.
Rajesh Suri, a renowned restaurant consultant formerly associated with Tamarind Collection and Grand Trunk Road, chaired the panel of judges. Suri lauded the competition, stating, “The cooking at this year’s event was on a different level compared to previous years. Competing chefs raised the bar, showing great technical ability, combining fresh ingredients to create some amazing dishes.”
Contestants were meticulously selected from thousands of public nominations for their favorite chefs. These nominations were followed by recipe submissions, from which the finalists were chosen. In the final cook-off, contestants had one hour to prepare a starter and a main course, judged on criteria including originality and creativity, technical skill, use of fresh local produce, presentation, and flavor.
The Winners
- Overall Winner: Jiwal Lal, Executive Chef at Babur, South London
- Runner-Up: Dev Biswal, Owner of The Cook’s Tale, Canterbury
- Third Place: Jerome Jorda of Kas & Kin, London and Saroj Thapaliya of Panas Gurka, London
ACF Chairman Yawar Khan emphasized the importance of such accolades in motivating chefs and restaurateurs to elevate culinary standards. “These awards encourage chefs to strive for ever higher culinary standards and for restaurateurs to compete for more discerning customers, on quality – not price,” said Khan. He also urged curry lovers to support their local establishments during these challenging times by nominating them for future accolades.
Public nominations for the awards can be made at www.asiancurryawards.com. Additionally, the ACF will be hosting the Asian Restaurant Awards in Manchester on August 27th, providing another platform to celebrate culinary excellence.
Raising the Bar in Culinary Standards
Judges’ Praise
Rajesh Suri, chair of the judging panel, praised the high standards and technical abilities displayed by this year’s contestants.Selection Process
Chefs were chosen from thousands of public nominations, culminating in a live cook-off judged on creativity, technical skill, use of fresh produce, presentation, and flavour.
The Asian Catering Federation, representing the UK’s 35,000 Asian and Oriental restaurants and takeaways, organizes these awards. The ACF champions the diversity of Asian cuisine, encompassing Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese cuisines. This sector is a significant contributor to the UK economy, employing over 100,000 people and generating more than £5 billion annually.
Upcoming Events
Asian Restaurant Awards
The ACF will also host the Asian Restaurant Awards in Manchester on August 27th.About the ACF
The Asian Catering Federation represents 35,000 Asian and Oriental restaurants and takeaways in the UK, contributing over £5 billion to the economy annually.
