Bradford College

Heat Turns Up in Regional Finals of Junior Curry Competition

Budding young ‘master chefs’ wanting to make it to the top of the culinary world, were pushed to the absolute extremes of their cooking abilities, in the battle to be crowned National Junior Curry Chef 2012! 

The tough cooking competition launched in response to the ‘Curry Crisis' and the skill shortage in the industry; saw talented young chefs as young as 12, pull out all the stops to create the ultimate ‘culinary curry masterpiece.’

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This comes after the announcement that one in four vacancies in Indian restaurants are unfilled. Commenting on the competition that encourages young cooks to become the curry chefs of the future, Event Organiser and Head Chef at the International Food Academy, Colin Burt said: “We’re keen to promote and encourage budding young chefs, both female and male to develop the skills needed to fill the gap.” 

Restaurateurs throughout the country are facing an unprecedented ‘Curry Crisis’ and are struggling to find skilled chefs due to a tightening of immigration laws. This red hot issue has since been the subject of Parliamentary debate, with the cuisine worth a staggering £3.5bn to the UK economy. 

In a bid to win the coveted cookery title, the passionate young finalists pulled out all the stops to impress critically acclaimed judges Mumtaz Khan, Owner of Mumtaz Restaurants, Kaushy Patel, Founder and Executive Chef of Prashad Restaurant, and Charalene Lee, General Manager of Dragon Thai restaurants (formally Chino Thai restaurants) with their preparation, cooking and presentation of a curry dish of their choice.

Torn between an array of extraordinarily top-class dishes from the young finalists, the panel of award winning judges decision to select winners from each category (18 years and under) and (16 years and under) was extremely difficult in the demanding cooking competition.

Westmill Foods, Ross Foods and Wharfe Valley Farms were proud sponsors of the culinary curry event, which saw the young hopefuls turn up the heat in the kitchen to impress the judges.

This is the latest in a string of ‘curry loving initiatives’ to emerge from International Food Academy, including smashing the Guinness World Record for the biggest bhaji in the world, in partnership with award winning restaurant Prashad.

Internationally renowned business tycoon Mr Mumtaz Khan has built his award winning chain of restaurants on a reputation of culinary excellence. Mr Khan is also an international food manufacturer, supplying Asian food products to over 39 countries worldwide.  Commenting on the calibre of entries, Mr Mumtaz Khan said: “I’m very impressed with the standard of entries from these exciting new chefs coming into the industry. They’ve all chosen very hard dishes to make, which demonstrates the level of skill, confidence and commitment these innovative young chefs possess.”

Leading restaurateur, Prashad’s Bobby Patel speaking on behalf of Kaushy Patel said: “I think the competition is really interesting given the age of the competitors being quite young. The passion I can see is really high. The cleanliness of how they work, the freedom of working without a recipe and the confidence that they show is really, really strong.  I’m very impressed!”

Mr Patel, Director of Prashad Indian Vegetarian Restaurant has recently been announced as a distinguished Associated Patron of the International Food Academy.   Working alongside wife Minal and mother Kaushy, Mr Patel has successfully competed in a wide variety of culinary cooking competitions of national and international repute.

The name ‘Prashad’, which when translated, means ‘Blessed Food’ - lives up to its name. Gordon Ramsay described the food at Prashad as ‘Extraordinary’ and ‘The best vegetarian cuisine he had ever had’ after the critically acclaimed restaurant reached the final of Gordon Ramsay’s hit Channel 4 TV series ‘Ramsay's Best Restaurant’ beating off stiff competition from more than 12,000 eateries nationwide.

Successful business entrepreneur Charalene Lee and distinguished Associated Patron of the International Food Academy has a string of restaurants and is a leading authority on exceptional oriental cuisine.   Speaking at the event, Charalene said: “Children as young as 12 and 13 have entered into this competition and can actually make a curry from scratch.   They’re incredibly enthusiastic and into their food and cooking. It’s fabulous that we’ve got such a lot of talent in such young people.”

Award winning Michelin Star Chef, Atul Kochhar has been announced as one of the judges of the national final which will take place later this year.  Atul was the very first Indian Chef to receive a Michelin Star during his time at Tamarind. Mr Kochhar went on to win his second Michelin Star at his world renowned Benares Restaurant.

13 year old Oliver Robinson and 15 year old Kyle Richardson won the under 16 category, while 18 year old Habiba Khan scooped the award for the under 18 category.  

Oliver a student at Prince Henry’s Grammar School in Otley, won with his mouth watering ‘Chicken Tikka Balti, with Mango Chutney, Raita and Naan Bread’.    Oliver has been cooking since the tender age of 4, frequently cooking for his mum and family.  Speaking during the event he said: “I enjoy cooking and have a passion for it! I’d like to go into the food industry and make a career out of it.”  Oliver added:” It feels great to have won today.”

Determined Kyle travelled from Blackpool to compete for a place in the National Finals.  He wowed judges with his ‘Malaysian Chicken Curry, Boiled Rice, Steamed Pak Choi and Naan Bread’ and was thrilled to make it into the National Finals.  Kyle has been cooking since the age of 7! Kyle said: “I feel ecstatic to have won today!” 

Habiba served up a delicious Chicken Karahi with Bhindi side dish and chapattis.  Commenting on making it into the finals, Habiba modestly remarked: “I wasn’t really expecting it.  This is just a typical dish I cook at home.  I’ve been cooking since the age of 8 and feel quite passionate about it!” Habiba also received a cheque for 50 pounds.

Ross Maslen, Senior Brand Manager for Westmill Foods, speaking at the event said: “The standard today was very, very high. These young chefs have shown a lot of enthusiasm and passion for cooking.  I think anyone who has that much passion and dedication for cooking will always have a brilliant future ahead of them.”

All competitors in the regional final were presented with an official Bradford College certificate and curry cookery book (donated by Russums Catering Suppliers), whilst all regional finalists in the ‘18 and Under Category’ received an essential knife set.

Colin Burt, Head Chef at the International Food Academy reflecting on the success of the competition which has the backing of award winning restaurants, Prashad, Mumtaz, Akbars, Nawaab, Dragon Thai and Aagrah said: “This competition is really hotting up! The standard of entry once again has been absolutely amazing…. the judges have been blown away and have also agreed to allow the winners into their kitchens for a day! Look out for these bright young stars of the future!”

Head of the International Food Academy, Graham Fleming backed the initiative and concluded: “We’re delighted to host the Junior Curry Chef Competition at the International Food Academy - in the ‘Curry Capital of the UK.  It is the right time and the right place to discover the young inspiring cooks of the future, whilst working with top Asian restaurants to plug the gap in the current staffing crisis.”

• Regional Finals of Junior Curry Competition - Gallery