A chef from Holmfirth was voted one of the best curry chefs in the UK at the 2014 Curry Chef of the Year Awards at the Lancaster Hotel, London.
Amruj Ali, who is the head chef at the Massala Lounge Restaurant in Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, was one of 33 chefs to receive official recognition for their contribution to an industry worth more than £4.2billion a year.
Amruj said: “To win this title is the greatest vote of confidence I could wish for, not just for myself, but for my team who work so hard to make things happen at the Massala Lounge.
“The award will inspire us to keep improving and I’d also like to thank all our customers for their help putting us on the map.”
Guests at the event included employment minister Esther McVey MP and renowned Asian MP Keith Vaz and former Secretary of State for Health Frank Dobson MP.
Employment Minister Esther McVey said: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and it was great to celebrate the success of so many of those who are experts in their field at the curry life magazine awards.
“The government is committed to supporting businesses that want to grow and expand. Congratulations to the deserving winners.”
Mr Vaz, who is the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, applauded the curry chefs for producing the best quality curries in Great Britain.
He also paid tribute to the organisers, Curry Life, for their tireless promotion of the curry industry over a decade and setting up the benchmark to promote the best talented chefs.
Syed Belal Ahmed, editor of Curry Life Magazine, said: “It was a fantastic evening and a great way to recognise and celebrate the skills and talents of our Curry Industry. Events like this illustrate the strength of our love as a nation for Curry. I would like to congratulate much deserving winners of this year’s Curry Life Chef Awards.”
