THE Voice promised to report back on how the ‘fare’ of Indian Kitchen in Westbury-on-Trym ‘fared’ in the third national Curry Awards – and we are delighted to be able to reveal their success in winning the title of Curry Kitchen of the Year, beating competition from nine other finalists from across the country.
Suresh Sharma, head chef and owner of the family-run curry house in the heart of Westbury village, has trained and worked in five-star hotels and restaurants both in Delhi and in various towns across England. He said that he was unable to attend the award ceremony in Manchester in February and was “a little scared at the thought of it all, but also shocked and delighted to win”.
He described how, when adjudicators came to sample his menu, they asked many questions including about the spices he used. “I was able to tell them that I use whole spices; everything is freshly prepared. However I did not know at the time who they were, only that customers later told me they were voting for me.”
Diners at the restaurant, which offers takeaway and delivery options, as well as in-house dining, were impressed by the “sharpness of the flavours” and the “beautiful presentation of the dishes”. Customer satisfaction is important to Mr Sharma, who says he “can’t make everyone happy but I try my best to do so”. The kitchen is a family affair, with his wife and children helping out where and when they can.
“This is amazing for me,” Mr Sharma added. “My whole family rely on me. I haven’t had a holiday in 35 years.” When it was suggested that he might have earned one now as a reward, he replied: “winning this is reward enough” and wanted to thank all his customers and regulars for their support and messages.
By Rosie Watson