Chef proves he has the taste for success (From Echo)
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Chef proves he has the taste for success
12:00pm Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in Local News
l/r Chef Burhan Uddin and Raj Mannan - manager. The restaurant's chef Burhan Uddin recently won chef of the year at the Bangladesh Caterers Assocaition awards.
A chef has proved he has got a taste for success after scooping a prestigious award.
More than 200 Indian cooks from across the country entered the Bangladeshi Catering Association’s 2012 Awards and Burhan Uddin from at the Bekash restaurant in Nevendon Road, Wickford, won the chef of the year gong.
He entered with his own dish, chicken shahi bhuna, which is tandoori chicken cooked in a sauce of green chilis, yoghurt, garlic, and mushrooms, and impressed the judges with its flavour and creativity.
He was given the award at a special bash at the Westminster Place Plaza in London on December 9, and the gong now takes pride of place in the restaurant.
Mr Uddin, 38, who has been working at the restaurant for 15 years, said: “I’m so happy to win this award and it’ll give me the motivation to go on and win more.
“The job is very tiring at times with long hours but when customers give us good feedback it’s really nice to hear.
“I was so surprised to win the award because of how many chefs entered. It’s the restaurant’s signature dish and I created it to give our customers something that would taste nice.”
He was entered into the contest by the Bekash’s owner Raj Mannan, and the duo went to the Hammersmith College to take part in the heats.
Judges rated each chef on flavour, hygene, creativity, and cost-effectiveness.
Chefs as far as Glasgow even turned up to try their hand at the prize.
The Bekash has been a staple in Wickford for the past 27 years, while Mr Uddin has been working there for 15 years.
Mr Mannan said: “It’s brilliant to win the award. I entered him because he’s a brilliant chef and to get him out of the kitchen for a bit.
“I knew he could cook a great dish, and I was quietly confident.
“The award looks a bit like an Oscar and we’ve got it up in the restaurant.
“Hopefully it brings in a bit of business for us.”
Comments(11)
Eutraveller
says...
2:06pm Wed 2 Jan 13
black jack ketchum wrote:What did you order, Sour Grapes ??
He obviously wasn't working the night we went there as the food was awful!
Born & bread
says...
2:43pm Wed 2 Jan 13
black jack ketchum
says...
3:16pm Wed 2 Jan 13
Eutraveller wrote:We have eaten in some of the best Indian restaurants in the uk & believe me Bekash doesn't even come close to being an award winning restaurant,
black jack ketchum wrote:What did you order, Sour Grapes ??
He obviously wasn't working the night we went there as the food was awful!
No I am not a chef & no I don't work in any food related business so no idea what the sour graped comment comes from!
SpiffSpaffington1984
says...
4:04pm Wed 2 Jan 13
howironic
says...
4:08pm Wed 2 Jan 13
black jack ketchum wrote:Awwww diddums!!!!
Eutraveller wrote:We have eaten in some of the best Indian restaurants in the uk & believe me Bekash doesn't even come close to being an award winning restaurant, No I am not a chef & no I don't work in any food related business so no idea what the sour graped comment comes from!black jack ketchum wrote: He obviously wasn't working the night we went there as the food was awful!What did you order, Sour Grapes ??
Where exactly does it say they won an award for best restaurant? As far as I can see it was for an individual dish, perhaps you should try the chicken shahi bhuna next time.
Eric Whim
says...
4:26pm Wed 2 Jan 13
Carnabackable
says...
5:32pm Wed 2 Jan 13
Eric Whim wrote:And thanks for your racist toned and juvenilistic joke.
sounds tasty - might poppadom along one day. Might ask my Naan if she fancies a ruby murray....
SpiffSpaffington1984
says...
6:41pm Wed 2 Jan 13
ng, leftie. I bet you donate to greenpeace dont you?
Carnabackable
says...
7:28pm Wed 2 Jan 13
SpiffSpaffington1984 wrote:No I do not, though I am looking for some one to play the part of a hare, to give my dogs some exercise. do you want a job? I'd give a good head start.....
"racist toned" haha i've heard it all now, making puns out of food names is racist? Get a life you sandal-wearing, telegraph-reading, green tea-drinking, tie-dye-jumper-weari
ng, leftie. I bet you donate to greenpeace dont you?
Barry Bas
says...
7:49am Thu 3 Jan 13
SpiffSpaffington1984 wrote:The Coriander at the shops on the corner of Church Road and Whitmore Way is very nice too.
Bekash is a top restaurant, that & mintoo are the only decent indian restaurants in the whole bas area
black jack ketchum says...
12:24pm Wed 2 Jan 13