Exeter restaurant in running for 'Oscars'
Success is clearly a highlight on the menu at Denley's Essence of India, as the popular Topsham restaurant has been shortlisted to win one of the country’s prestigious British Curry Awards for an impressive fourth year. Taking place at the vibrant Battersea Evolution, London, in two weeks time (Monday 25 November), the Awards this year attracted a record total of 270,000 public nominations and will be broadcast to over 200 countries around the world.
Having run Indian restaurants since 1996, Jamil Miah, founder of Denley's Essence of India, has prepared and served an estimated 1 million Indian meals and his vast experience of the industry is apparent throughout his restaurants, menus and cookery classes alike.
Jamil says: “We are extremely excited and proud to have been nominated for a fourth time for the prestigious British Curry Awards, and to have been put forward by our loyal customers makes it all the more special.
"We had a great night last year at the awards ceremony and were thrilled to have been listed in the Top 100 Indian restaurants, but have high hopes that we can make it into the Top 10 this year.”
The shortlisting for what have become known as the 'Curry Oscars' is in no small part due to the exciting development of the hugely popular Denley's Curry School, which launched in January this year. The Denley's Curry School provides an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in Indian cookery – from business people, mums and dads to team building events and hen / stag nights – to work on the practicalities of curry making with personal tuition from highly trained chefs.
Jamil continues: "Just like the increasingly popular Indian restaurant sector, the British Curry Awards have grown in stature year on year since they began in 2005, and we are delighted to be part of a celebration of that expanding industry.
"Denley's Essence of India has also gone from strength to strength over the last few years - now with 120 combined years of experience in preparing Indian cuisine - so we are delighted to be able to highlight excellence in that sector in the South West with both Denley's and our other restaurant Agree Bhajee in Exeter.
"We have not only incorporated a huge amount of new and delicious dishes into our menu using high quality, fresh and, where possible, locally sourced ingredients, we’ve also worked hard on making the restaurant extra special. Our VIP room with its personal chef, is proving massively popular, and we have already had lots of groups, from families to businesses looking to book for special occasions.”
In celebration, Jamil will be taking staff, family and friends to the awards ceremony on the 25th November, and he hopes to return jubilant.
Further information about Denley's Essence of India can be found at www.denleysessenceofindia.co.uk
