Tonbridge (Kent) restaurants take top gongs at Curry Awards 2023
The ‘Curry Oscars’ Winners Revealed at Glittering Awards Ceremony
The Cinnamon Square in Hildenborough, Tonbridge
Two restaurants from Tonbridge have won top titles during the 2023 Asian Curry Awards, otherwise known as the ‘Curry Oscars’.
Held at the Grosvenor House in London’s Mayfair, more than 1,200 guests, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan, celebrated the industry with BBC news anchor Samantha Simmonds presenting the awards.
The Cinnamon Square in Hildenborough, Tonbridge, once again took a top gong winning Asian Restaurant of The Year for the South-East Of England region.
Dalchini in Tonbridge took the enviable ‘Takeaway of The Year’ award.
Elsewehere, chef awards also went to Nanu Miah of iNaga in Bromley, while the Newcomer of The Year Award went to Panas Gurkha in Chislehurst.
Yawar Khan, chairman of the Asian Catering Federation which organises the event, acknowledged the economic, technological and social challenges faced by the sector, but was pleased to see some recovery across the hospitality industry.
However, Yawar Khan warned of a market increasingly dominated by fast, ready-made and mass-produced offerings.
“We are competing against quick food, which is often produced in factories and warehouses – without the personal attention, authentic skill and attention of our top chefs, then shipped out to customers eager to take advantage of the convenience of the click-to-order online buying phenomenon.
“Our winners tonight are the guardians of fresh food cooking – the vanguard protecting and promoting quality in Asian cuisine and in many ways, keeping the high streets alive,” he said.
To combat the adversities which hit independent local restaurants, lacking the resources of chains and multi-national chains, the ACF will be unveiling a unique initiative for which the top hundred venues shortlisted for these awards will be eligible to participate. A nationwide roadshow will demonstrate how the curry sector – which is often notoriously slow to adopt the advantages of new technologies.
Participants will be educated on how to use social media platforms, build and exploit invaluable customer databases, create marketing calendars, communicate new customer offerings, and increase footfall on what are mistakenly deemed slack trading periods. Individual, fully functioning Individual order and table booking apps will also be offered. The ACF will include the participants in a Top 100 Curry Restaurant Guide, initially published region-by-region online before 100,000 hard copies are produced.
KENT AWARD WINNERS:
Asian Restaurant of The Year - South-East Of England
Cinnamon Square - Hildenborough
Asian Restaurant of The Year - London Suburbs
The Bombay Restaurant, Orpington
Takeaway of The Year
Dalchini, Tonbridge
Newcomer of The Year
Panas Gurkha, Chislehurst
Chef of The Year
Chef Nanu Miah, iNaga Restaurant, Bromley
