Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Spotty showersNews
Farooq works his magic
Farooq is the flaming champ
28/ 7/2003
HELPING out in the kitchen as an emergency chef eventually paid
off for Farooq Ahmed - despite lack of formal training he has been
declared Rochdale's first curry champion.
Father-of-one Farooq (above) triumphed in a tense cook-out against
five other top Asian chefs. Contestants had just one hour to create
one main curry course, a side dish and an accompaniment of rice or
bread.
Judges found the overall standard very high but marked-up Farooq
for a bold and original use of ingredients.
His winning meal of butter bean king prawn in a coconut cream
sauce, triple Bombay mash with spinach, sweet potato and asparagus
and rice flavoured with apricot and ginger, offered a feast of
textures and tastes.
Bangladeshi-born Farooq, aged 27, is executive chef at the Veenas
Restaurant in Heywood.
He said he was delighted with the honour.
"I got into cooking almost by accident. I started as a graphic
designer, then got into fashion design and design of restaurants.
Sometimes, when they were short staff in a kitchen I was working
on, I lent a hand and it took off from there."
Father-of-one Farooq said he enjoyed combining ingredients from
different food cultures.
"I like to experiment with new tastes and take in other cuisines,
British, Thai as well as traditional south Asian."
Farooq will now go on to compete in the North West heats of the
national curry competition. The final will take place at the Good
Food Show later this year.
The Rochdale cook-out was organised by the Council's environmental
health department who hope it will improve food standards and
hygiene in the borough's large Asian restaurant and takeway
sector.
Judges included Environmental health chief Adrian Watson, top local
chef Andrew Nutter, owner of Nutter's at Norden and Asian News
editor Steve Hammond.
Said Andrew: "I thought the standards was very high but I did not
find it difficult to pick the winner. Farooq had really put some
imagination into his food and the presentation was
excellent."
Runner-up in the competition was Moshahid Hussein, head chef at the
La Min Haz Balti House in Middleton. Mohammed Rahman of the
Tandoori Ghar, Rochdale, came third.
The other finalists were Farid Maih of the Milnrow Balti, Abdul
Sattar of the Tandoori Plaza and Jemal Ahmed of the Raj
restaurant.
Rochdale Mayor Sultan Ali presented all the finalists with
certificates and paid tribute to the borough's Asian restaurant
workers.
"You now play a key role in the economic and cultural life of the
area and it is vital to keep raising standards.
"So I urge all of you to go out there and get at it," he said.
Got an opinion you want to share?| Card | BT Fee |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer | 1.7% |
| Capital One Low Rate Platinum | HASH(0x11f1d7f0) |
| Capital One Fixed Rate Card | 0.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Lloyds TSB | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
5.50% |
|
PRINCIPALITY BS e-SAVER |
5.35% |
|
ANGLO IRISH BANK Easy Access Account Issue 2 |
5.25% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
2.75% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Online Tracker |
4.75% |
|
BRADFORD & BINGLEY eSavings 6 |
4.60% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
3.50% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER eSaver - Issue 2 |
5.00% |
|
POST OFFICE Instant Saver |
3.75% |