Race is on for Curry Chef of the Year

What better dish to warm your heart and soul this damp and cool winter day than a spicy curry?

Celebrating this truly British institution, local chefs are recreating their signature curry dishes in the finals of the Curry Chef of the Year competition at the Brighton Racecourse today (31 October).

The annual city-wide cookery competition, organised by Brighton & Hove City Council, is part of the council’s food safety team’s ongoing work with local catering businesses, and is open to restaurants and takeaways across the city with a food hygiene rating of four or more stars.
 
Six finalists are lined up for the ‘cook-off’. A panel of judges including our very own Andrew Kay and Councillor Stephanie Powell will mark the dishes, taking into account everything from flavour and aroma to nutritional content and culinary skills.
 
Councillor Pete West, chair of the environment and sustainability committee, said: “This is a great way of highlighting food hygiene and healthy eating as well as showcasing the talents of our local chefs.
 
“Brighton & Hove has a fantastic variety of food outlets in the city and this competition shows part of that.”

Previous chefs awarded the accolade of ‘Curry Chef of the Year’ were Khanchit Nimnual-Anant of Krua Anne, Kensington Gardens (2010) and Sabu Joseph of The Chilli Pickle, Jubilee Street (2011).
 
Indian and Thai restaurants and takeaways with a food hygiene rating of four or more stars on the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme were invited to take part and checks have been carried out on their food safety and hygiene measures in the run-up to the competition.
 
The winner will be announced this afternoon.

Words: Jenny Berg