Derby curry house hoping for success at Midlands awards

Saturday, October 17, 2009, 07:30

A RESTAURATEUR with more than 30 years' experience is hoping his family-run curry house will be named as one of the best in the Midlands.

Chunu Miah has run restaurants in Derbyshire since 1978 and his newest venture, Red Chilli, has now been short-listed in the Midlands Curry Awards.

The 54-year-old said he hopes his freshly prepared food and emphasis on customer service will win over the judges and help him beat businesses from cities such as Birmingham – known as the curry capital.

He said: "We didn't know the judge was here until after they had gone. Then they called up and said we'd been short-listed.

"I've been in the restaurant business all my life and it is nice to be recognised, especially now during the credit crunch when restaurants have to compete for business."

Mr Miah said: "I'm very pleased to be short-listed for this award – we will soon be celebrating the first anniversary of opening Red Chilli so the news is particularly welcome."

The Midlands Curry Awards take place at St John's Hotel, in Solihull, on November 1 and are an offshoot of the British Curry Awards, which have been running for five years.

An award will be given to the best restaurant in each of the 10 areas represented, which include Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Jubada Alam is helping to organise the awards and said: "The British Curry Awards have been running for a while now but because the Midlands has such a healthy supply of Indian restaurants it was decided to hold a separate awards ceremony here.

"The response has been overwhelming."

Reference: http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/belper/Derby-curry-house-hoping-success-Midlands-awards/article-1428887-detail/article.html