The Curry Awards is an award given to curry restaurants in the United Kingdom, which have achieved "total excellence" in all departments by The Curry Club in association with its publication, The Good Curry Guide. The Good Curry Guide Awards

ceremony A ceremony (, ) is a unified ritualistic event with a purpose, usually consisting of a number of artistic components, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan language, Etruscan origin, via the Latin . Religious and civil ...

was established in May 1991 by Pat Chapman and was the first

awards An award, sometimes called a distinction, is given to a recipient as a token of recognition of excellence in a certain field. When the token is a medal, ribbon or other item designed for wearing, it is known as a decoration. An award may be d ...

ceremony of any

restaurant A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and Delivery (commerce), food delivery services. Restaurants ...

sector. The awards and the associated guide books continued until 2013.

History

Pat Chapman's first Good Curry Guide was published in 1984. About 600 Indian restaurants were selected for entry (out of the 4,000 that existed then) and it carried little critical information. The next edition (1987) addressed this by having critical entries from

correspondents A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is usually a journalist or commentator for a magazine, or an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, locati ...

. No one restaurant was rated higher than any other. In other words neither of these editions named the ‘Best in Class’; Chapman considered that since only the top percentage achieved entry, all entries were ‘Good Curry Guide Restaurants’. The publication attracted considerable media attention. However journalists and food writers from such publications as

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, and the

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Good Food Magazine pressured Chapman to name the best. Chapman asked his correspondents which restaurants could qualify into a TOP 30 category (which became TOP 100 in 1995), and which could be best regionally and best in UK. The results were duly published in the 1991 Guide and to launch it Chapman decided to hold an Awards Ceremony for the winners. Unlike today, it was a time when there were few such ceremonies. Chapman modelled it on the

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, by commencing with a formal presentation of a certificate to each winner in turn before a group of their peers and media, and following with a luncheon to emphasise the event's social side. On that first ceremony, there were eight winners, including Chutney Mary Indian restaurant

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, SW10 as Best in UK, where the event was held. Media and public response to this was enormous. So by the time the next GCG was due for publication, the TOP 30 was increased to the new TOP 100 category, and from that no less than 18 ‘Best in Category were to be awarded. A bigger venue was needed, away from the winning restaurants. Chapman had been to an Asian wedding at a Heathrow Hotel where the catering was by Madhu's. Chapman suggested they did his catering and the Park Lane Hotel was chosen with a

seating capacity Seating capacity is the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, in terms of both the physical space available and limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that ...

of 330 seats. It was the first time Madhu's had catered for any event other than Asian weddings. Chapman organised the entire event. Of the 300 seats, 80 were taken by media.

Present

Between 18 and 20 Awards are given before an audience of restaurant personnel and their guests, sponsors,

media Media may refer to: Communication * Means of communication, tools and channels used to deliver information or data ** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising ** Interactive media, media that is inter ...

, press and others, totalling some 800. The luncheon is a major feature of the event.

Catering Catering is the business of providing food services at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, hospital, pub, aircraft, cruise ship, park, festival, filming location or film studio. History of catering The earliest account of major service ...

for any event attended by others in the catering trade is a challenge; Chapman's Awards the more so. Being an Indian Restaurant event, the restaurateurs are from all countries of the

subcontinent A continent is any of several large geographical regions. Continents are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria. A continent could be a single large landmass, a part of a very large landmass, as in the case of A ...

so it is no mean task for the caterer to satisfy 800 of his international peers, and one few caterers would attempt. The event is widely reported in the UK and in the

, and it is televised by Sony Entertainment Television Asia and is screened and repeated in

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Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

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, the

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, the

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and the

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to millions of viewers.

Timescale

The Good Curry Guide Awards ceremony has been held each time a Good Curry Guide is published as follows:

Past and present winners of "Best in the UK" award

The chief Award is the Best in the UK. *1991/4 ~ Chutney Mary, SW10 *1995/7 ~ Bombay Brasserie, SW7 *1998/9 ~ La Porte des Indes, W1 *1999/2001 ~ Chutney Mary, SW10 *2002/3 ~ Quilon Restaurant, SW1 *2004/6 ~ Madhu's, Southall *2007/8 ~ Ithiaas, Birmingham *2009/10 ~ Masala World Group, London: Amaya, Chutney Mary, Veerswamys, Masala Zone (8) *2013 ~ Painted Heron, SW1

Good Curry Guide Awards Categories, 2013

Regional Awards These 25 restaurants (and one group of 11) are located all over the UK, and are considered to be the Best in their region. Each of these winners, has been visited by Pat Chapman during 2012/3 and presented with their Award Certificate. * Best in the

North of England Northern England, or the North of England, refers to the northern part of England and mainly corresponds to the historic counties of Cheshire, Cumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, Westmorland and Yorkshire. Officially, it is a gr ...

2013 * Best UK GROUP ~ Akbars (11 restaurants): Bradford (2), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds (2), Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Rotherham & York. * Best in YORKSHIRE ~ Ashoka Sheffield * Best in MERSEYSIDE ~ Gulshan Liverpool * Best in NORTH EAST ~ Valley 397 Newcastle * Best in the Midlands, England 2013 * Best in MIDLANDS ~ Anoki Burton, Derby, Nottingham * Best in EAST MIDLANDS ~ Curry Fever Leicester Leics * Best in WEST MIDLANDS ~ Maharaja Birmingham West Midlands * Best in CENTRAL ENGLAND ~ Calcutta Brasserie Milton Keynes Bucks * Best in

South East England South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, regions of England that are in the ITL 1 statistical regions of England, top level category for Statistics, statistical purposes. It consists of the nine counties of england, ...

2013 (''alphabetical)'' * Best in the SOUTH EAST ~ The Ambrette Margate Kent & Rye Sussex * Best ON SOUTH COAST ~ Bombay Bay, Southsea Hants * Best in OUTER LONDON, WEST ~ Brilliant Southall, Middlesex * Best in HOME COUNTIES, NORTH ~ Chez Mumtaj St Albans, Herts * Best in SURREY ~ India Dining, Warlingham, Surrey * Best in SOUTH ENGLAND ~ Massala, Cobham, Surrey * Best in HOME COUNTIES, WEST ~ Mango Lounge Windsor Berks * Best in OUTER LONDON, SOUTH ~ Sesame New Malden * Best in

South West England South West England, or the South West of England, is one of the nine official regions of England, regions of England in the United Kingdom. Additionally, it is one of four regions that altogether make up Southern England. South West England con ...

2013 * Best in THE WEST COUNTRY ~ Viceroy, Yeovil, Somerset * Best in THE SOUTH WEST ~ Mysterica, Bristol * Best in CORNWALL ~ Rajdoot, St Ives, Cornwall * Best in

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

2013 * Best overall in SCOTLAND ~ Verandah Edinburgh * Best in NORTH SCOTLAND ~ Balaka St Andrews Fife * Best in EAST SCOTLAND ~ Mya, Edinburgh, Lothian * Best in

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

2013' * Best in WALES ~ Moksh Cardiff Glamorgan * Best in NORTH WALES ~ Bengal Dynasty Shotton & Llandudno Cuisine Awards ''(Not Awarded in 2012/3)'' * Best

Bangladeshi Bangladeshis ( ) are the citizens and nationals of Bangladesh, a South Asian country centred on the transnational historical region of Bengal along the Bay of Bengal, eponymous bay. Bangladeshi nationality law, Bangladeshi citizenship was fo ...

* Best Nepalese * Best Indian * Best

Pakistani Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...

* Best Sri Lankan * Best South East Asian Speciality Awards ''(Not Awarded in 2012/3)'' * Best

Chef A chef is a professional Cook (profession), cook and tradesperson who is proficient in all aspects of outline of food preparation, food preparation, often focusing on a particular cuisine. The word "chef" is derived from the term (), the di ...

* Best Maître d' * Best Newcomer Lifetime Achievement Award ''(Not Awarded in 2012/3)'' Awarded 2007 to Satish Arora, Chef Culinaire, Taj Group

Bibliography

• 1984 Good Curry Guide, Curry Club — • 1987 Good Curry Guide, Piatkus, London — • 1991 Cobra Good Curry Guide, Piatkus, London — • 1995 Cobra Good Curry Guide, Piatkus, London — • 1998 Cobra Good Curry Guide, Hodder & Stoughton, London — • 1999 Cobra Good Curry Guide, Hodder & Stoughton, London — • 2000 Cobra Curryholics’ Directory, John Blake Publishing, London — • 2001 Cobra Good Curry Guide, Simon & Schuster, London — • 2004 Cobra Good Curry Guide, Curry Club, Haslemere — • 2007 Cobra Good Curry Guide, John Blake Publishing, London — • 2009 Cobra Good Curry Guide, John Blake Publishing, London — • 2010 Cobra Good Curry Guide, John Blake Publishing, London — New cover same text as 2009. • 2013 Cobra Good Curry Guide, Curry Club Publisher, Haslemere — Complete rewrite.

DVD

• Good Curry Guide Award Ceremony 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20090105192355/http://www.patchapman.co.uk/catalogue/product/914/2461

References

External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20110929175920/http://globalmalaysians.com/feature/story.asp?file=%2F2006%2F4%2F21%2Ffeature%2F13970739&sec=feature * https://web.archive.org/web/20100410135959/http://www.patchapman.co.uk/page/cobra-good-curry-guide * http://www.curryhouse.co.uk/scene/gcg2004.html * https://web.archive.org/web/20110520033239/http://londoneats.com/news/default.asp?PressID=75 * https://web.archive.org/web/20100823215756/http://www.victoriasindia.co.uk/news.htm * https://web.archive.org/web/20110710204551/http://www.ethnicnow.com/channels/food-drink/press-release/11/947/itihaas-scoops -top-honours-at-2007-cobra-good-curry-awards.html * https://web.archive.org/web/20110707151940/http://aphrohead.com/Product.aspx?pid=11927505
The Times
{cbignore, bot=medic * https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/nov/11/shopping * https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/mar/24/foodanddrink * https://web.archive.org/web/20090105192355/http://www.patchapman.co.uk/catalogue/product/914/2461

International Chef Award-2
Food and drink awards British cuisine Restaurant guides 1991 establishments in the United Kingdom