The owners of a multi-award winning Indian eatery in Ayrshire say they are in ‘dreamland’ after being named the best Takeaway of the Year for Scotland - and for the whole of the UK.
Delighted bosses at The Curry Leaf, in Ayr’s Wills Road, picked up the two special accolades during the 1st Nation’s Curry Awards 2023.
The glittering awards bash took place at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel, with more than 150 guests in attendance.
The awards recognised excellence in a range of categories, including Best Chef of the Year, Vegetarian Restaurant of the Year, and Best Customer Service.
Several Scottish sites were recognised, but The Curry Leaf took the main prizes of top takeaway for Scotland and the UK.
Delighted proprietor Rajinder said: “Winning two awards - the Takeaway of the Year in Scotland and the Overall Winner from all the regions in Britain - still feels like a dream.
“It’s an honour to bring the Takeaway of the Year Award to Ayr, and we couldn’t have made it this far without our amazing and hard-working staff and, of course, a special thanks to all our delivery drivers, who always ensure that the food reaches our customers on time and hot.
“It truly shows that hard work always pays off, no matter how long you have been in the industry - five years or 20 years.
“Anything is possible if you believe in what you are doing, and the key to success is consistency, hard work, and an innovative menu.”
Since opening in 2017, The Curry Leaf has grown rapidly in popularity.
The takeaway boasts some exquisite dishes. Currently topping the taste charts are their South Indian, butter masala and chasni ranges.
And the owners have expanded their offering to include some truly mouth watering Egyptian-style kebabs, chicken curry burritos and a wide range of sensational pizza fries, which are all taking the town by storm.
The 1st Nation Curry Awards celebrate the UK’s rich and diverse curry culture and encourages the continued growth and evolution of the industry, with the judges saying that the winners had “distinguished themselves with their exceptional quality, innovation, and consistency in offering a truly memorable dining experience.”
A spokesperson for The 1st Nation’s Curry Awards 2023 said: “It has been an unforgettable night, filled with incredible food, vibrant energy, and passionate conversations.
“We have celebrated the finest in the UK’s curry scene, recognising the creativity, innovation, and exceptional service that have become synonymous with this beloved cuisine.
“The UK’s curry industry is a vital part of our culture, and these awards recognised the exceptional talents of the individuals and businesses that make it so special. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees, and thank you to everyone who participated and supported this event.”
In 2022, we told how The Curry Leaf landed a double during the Scottish Takeaway Awards in Glasgow.
They won two awards, Best Curry Takeaway for the Southwest Region and the Best Curry (Overall).
And that made it a treble of industry awards for The Curry Leaf - because they also celebrated glory in the 2022 Scottish Curry Awards, where they won the Best Takeaway and Home Delivery of the Year prize, the previous month.
Those accolades were the latest in a long line of awards for the family-owned business after The Curry Leaf won the Good Food Awards in 2019, 2020 and was also voted top takeaway in the 2019 Scottish Curry Awards.
Proprietor Rajinder runs the business with husband and chef Karamjeet Singh and mum, Kashmir, overseeing the operation.
Rajinder said: “We are a small family-run business. From day one, our focus has been on providing quality food and introducing innovative dishes to our customers.
"We quickly established a reputation among the people of Ayrshire, and we are humbled by how warmly they have welcomed us.
“We are doing something incredibly unique in the industry and we are extremely excited and proud to have represented Scotland’s curry industry at the prestigious Nation’s Curry Awards in Manchester.
“We dedicate this award to my late father, Sardaar Mohinder Singh, who we know would have been incredibly proud of us today.”
Rajinder added: “We feel privileged and grateful for the love and support we have received. This win is dedicated to all our wonderful customers and supporters who helped make it possible.
“Also a big thank you to Oceanic Consulting and the Nation’s curry award for organising such an amazing event.”
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