INTERNATIONAL INDIAN CHEF OF THE YEAR 2005
(25 February 2005)

Wasim Aslam of the Yorkshire's 'Aagrah' restaurant group walked off with the 'International Indian Chef of the Year 2005' title after a closely fought battle with seven other expert cooks in Edinburgh last Friday. The unique contest, founded in 1991 to promote innovation and quality in Indian cuisine, attracts worldwide entries from thousands of cooks, amateur and professional. They all enter a four-dish menu and finalists have to cook their menu, unaided and against the clock, under scrutiny of judges at Edinburgh's Telford College.

Wasim won with a menu of Nihari Gosht (diced lamb) Kasmirir Zafrani Korma (diced breast of chicken) Bangan Aloo (thinly sliced aubergine and potato) and Gobhi (cauliflower) with cashew nuts. Wasim's father Mohammed won the same title 10 years ago.

Second place went to Deepak Rohilla, of Windsor. An amateur cook, Janet Anderson of Stoke on Trent took third place. Janet, did not know she had entered the competition until she was told she was in the final. She was a student in an Indian Cookery class and was entered by her teacher.

The eight finalists were:

1. Janet Anderson CPL, 11 Howard Place, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent
2. Mottakin Ali Anise Restaurant, 1 Smithfield Road, Wrexham
3. Wasim Aslam Aagrah House, Saltaire Road, Shipley
4. Shafi Hussain 75 Stoney Lane, Winchester
5. Junko Mackenzie 18 Duddingston Park, Edinburgh
6. Deepak Rohilla Spice Route, 18a Thames Street, Windsor
7. Fazal Said 86 Anthony Road. Alum Rock, Birmingham
8. Mohiuddin Howladar, 22/19. Khilji Road, Mohammadpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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