Neil Drysdale
There will be hot competition among north and north-east Indian restaurants who are in the running for honours at tonight’s Scottish Curry Awards at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel.
The sixteen accolades up for grabs include chef of the year, takeaway of the year and the much sought-after restaurant of the year honour.
Chiranjib Sahoo, who works at Aberdeen’s city-centre Shri Bheema’s, is among the candidates for chef of the year.
And there are contenders from all over the north in the takeaway of the year category, including The Taj Mahal in Fort William, AK’s Curry House in Inverness, Nu Spice in Stonehaven, and a quartet of Aberdeen challengers, Eastern Eye, Khyber Pass, Cinnamon and Royal Masala.
In the team-service of the Year battle the winners will emerge from a shortlist which includes Rajpoot and Shahi Darbar Indian Fine Dining, both in Inverurie, The Rajah and Saffron in Inverness, Light of Bengal in Aberdeen, Aviemore’s Royal Tandoori and Cafe Mango in Fort William.
As for the curry lover of the year field, there is an eclectic mix, including Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC, the current Scottish Cup holders.
Yasmin Mahmood, operations director for event organisers, Oceanic Consulting, said: “With the vast number of restaurants and takeaways in Scotland, curry is no doubt a much loved dish.
“The public have voted in their thousands to recognise those hidden gems as well as the better known curry houses.
“With everyone favouring their locals, all the finalists truly deserve to win and we wish everyone the best of luck.”
The winners will be presented with their gongs at a ceremony on front of their peers this evening.
