A RESTAURANT in Leamington has won an ‘Oscar’.
The hugely prestigious Asian Curry Awards, known in the trade as the ‘Curry Oscars’, are a benchmark of quality for restaurants serving cuisines from every corner of Asia, from the Indian sub continent to China, Thailand and beyond.
At a glittering ceremony at Grosvenor House in London’s Mayfair, Leamington’s Paprika Club was named the West Midlands’ Asian Restaurant of The Year.
The family run business is no stranger to awards having also been named the Best Curry Restaurant in Britain at the Curry Life Awards, staged by Curry Magazine, for the past two years.
Mohammed Azad, owner of the Regent Street restaurant, admitted receiving the Asian Curry Awards title was still sinking in.
He said: “It is such an honour, it still feels like something of a dream.
“It is very much down to the hard work of our team and the support of the customers who I cannot thank enough.”
Like many other restaurants, Paprika Club experienced tough times during the pandemic and was forced to close its doors.
But their loyal customers were quickly on the phone asking if the restaurant was providing a takeaway service during lockdown, which they were more than happy to do.
Yawar Khan, chairman of the Asian Catering Federation which organises the Asian Curry Awards, acknowledged the pressures faced post lockdown by restaurants – notably a market increasingly dominated by fast, ready-made and mass-produced offerings.
He said:“We are competing against quick food, which is often produced in factories and warehouses – without the personal attention, authentic skill and attention of our top chefs.
“Our winners tonight are the guardians of fresh food cooking – the vanguard protecting and promoting quality in Asian cuisine and in many ways, keeping the high streets alive.”
And that is exactly the ethos at Papkria Club where every dish is cooked to order using the freshest of ingredients.
That ethos makes for some very special dishes in which every single ingredient earns its place on every single plate, from signature dishes such as Maharaja Special – tandoori baked chicken tikka and spiced minced meat with peppers and tomatoes – to ever-popular favourites such as the Jalfrezi.
The restaurant itself is bright and tastefully decorated having undergone a major makeover while closed during lockdown.
A mention must also go to the waiting staff who are friendly, knowledgeable and quite rightly proud of the restaurant’s recent successes.
The only difficulty customers face at Paprika Club is deciding what to choose from the menu, which is no doubt the reason why so many return for another award-winning taste of Asia.
Visit paprikaclub.co.uk for further details.
