The nominees for the 12th annual 'Oscars' of the curry world, the Asian Curry Awards 2022, have been revealed and a strong selection throughout Wales has made the cut - with south Wales particularly dominating.
The awards, which are organised by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF) which represent the UK's 30,000 Asian restaurant and takeaways - celebrate the culinary industry's best and covers all Asian and Oriental cuisines including Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.
As stated by the website, the Asian Curry Awards "recognise the peak performance of outstanding restaurateurs and chefs for their culinary excellence, innovation, creativity and endeavour throughout the past year." It also recognises "the commitment of key individuals to their local communities and their generosity to charitable causes."
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Nine Welsh restaurants have made it onto the shortlist - categories for which have not yet been revealed. This shortlist is then to be whittled down by an online public vote - foodies can vote for their favourite Asian restaurants and takeaways here - before the judges determine the winners. These will then be announced at a ceremony being held on Sunday, November 20 that will be taking place at London's Grosvenor House.
This year will see the addition of a new award, the Pat Chapman Memorial Award, which honours English food writer, broadcaster, The Curry Club founder and the awards' long-time chairman of judges, Patrick Chapman, who passed away earlier this year.
Winners of these awards will be included in the ACF’s new ‘One Hundred Top Curry Restaurants’ guide which is set to be published later this year, with a print version coming next year.
The Welsh nominees are as follows:
Vegetarian Food Studio, Cardiff
Jashaan, Cardiff
Little India Newport, Wales
Red Fort Caerleon, Newport
Shampan Indian Restaurant, Cowbridge
The Grand Sultan, Port Talbot
Sheesh Mahal, Llanelli
Maahis, Wrexham
Ijazz, Wrexham
A number of nominees in this list are no stranger to these awards with many taking home trophies at ceremonies gone by. Vegetarian Food Studio in Cardiff scooped the top vegetarian/vegan prize in 2019 as well as in 2021 and Port Talbot's The Grand Sultan, which was also honoured at the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTA) this year, took the gong for Asian Restaurant of The Year, Wales in the same year. Read our review of it here.
With an accolade such as this boosting the reputation of a food establishment, the chairman of the Asian Catering Federation, Yawar Khan, urges keen foodies amongst the public to cast their vote amid the "quaduple whammy" of rising cost of living, food, energy and staff shortages.
He said: "Every week I hear from another owner closing their restaurant because they cannot see an end in sight to the economic situation – but an award win can bring a massive upsurge in trade,” said Khan, adding, “For customers wanting to help their favourite restaurants survive, their votes can be crucial.”
This prestigious awards ceremony follows in the footsteps of a number of others similar to this in which the best of the culinary industry is celebrated.
In the last few weeks, we have seen winners for the ARTA, AA Hospitality, The Golden Chopsticks and Curry Life Awards unveiled.
Lokky's was crowned Best in Wales at the GCAs, The Grand Sultan in Port Talbot won Restaurant of the Year: Wales and Elaichi in Camarthen took home Regional Chef of the Year: Wales at the ARTAs. Royal Balti in Barry took home gong for Best Curry Takeaway 2022 and a number of Welsh hospitality businesses, such as The Grove in Narberh and Gem 42 in Newport were recognised at the AAs.
For more information on the Asian Curry Awards, see here.
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