Jail Break

‘Prisoners’ were arrested by Lothian & Borders Police and Fife Police in their work place, transported to jail (Edinburgh Castle) where they met fellow inmates. They were fed and watered and detained until they were able to raise the bail money required to buy their freedom.

‘Prisoners’ knew in advance that they were being arrested but it was entirely up to them as to whether or not they told work colleagues.

The Army were fantastic and re-arrested our “prisoners” when they stepped out of the Police car. They then put everyone in the Military Prison.

Jail Break raised over £26,000 – the money sponsored four wishes for children in Edinburgh and Fife.

Matin Khan receiving his award from Eugene Reddington, Sales Managing Director of sponsor Molson Coors breweries.

Midlothian restaurateur Matin Khan has been voted the best Bangladeshi chef in Scotland.

The director of Dalkeith restaurant Itihaas received the award at the annual dinner of the Bangladeshi Caterers’ Association (BCA) in front of 1,000 guests at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London.

Mr Khan, who moved to the UK from Bangladesh at the age of 13 and recently opened the Radhuni restaurant in Loanhead, Midlothian, commented: “Bangladeshi food is an increasingly important part of the Asian cuisine offering, so winning this award is yet another  tribute to the high standard of food consistently served at our restaurants in the Lothians.

“I believe cooking is an art form which needs to be created from the heart and perhaps that is the secret of this success. Curry is the spice of life and this shows that my team and I are better at making it than the rest!”

Last year Itihaas was judged the top South Asian restaurant in Scotland by Spice Times magazine and was one of four finalists in the Indian category of the 2011 Scottish Restaurant Awards.

Eric Pickles, UK Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, guest speaker at the London event at which awards were presented to regional winners, said: “Curry may not have been born in Britain but it has found a home here. With over 12,000 establishments turning over £4.3 billion each year it’s not difficult to see that British curry is a great success story.”

The BCA awards, which featured ‘Bollywood’ entertainment, were hosted by Tasmin Lucia Khan, of ITV’s Daybreak.

As featured in this weeks Midlothian Advertiser.

Restaurateur Matin Khan has made an arresting pledge to put smiles on young faces this Christmas.

Earlier this week, the boss of award-winning Dalkeith curry house Itihaas was on the run, expecting the long arm of the law to catch up with him at any second.

He told the Advertiser: “I don’t know if you have heard, but I have got myself into a bit of trouble and will have to answer for my crimes on Wednesday when I will be arrested by Lothian and Borders Police and taken to a secret location. You may ask ‘shouldn’t we just leave him there?’ but I think I have a lot more to give to society.”

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has told Matin that it will bail him on Friday, but only if he manages to raise £2000 for the children’s charity, which helps children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses.To help buy Matin’s freedom, visit www.just giving.com/MatinKhan.

Online donations will be entered into a draw to win a meal.

I don’t know if you have heard but I have got myself into a bit of trouble and will have to answer for my crimes on Wednesday 7th December when I will be arrested by Lothian and Borders Police and taken to a secret location in Edinburgh.

I know you may ask yourself “shouldn’t we just leave him there” but I think I have a lot more to give to society.

Make-A-Wish have told me that if I raise over £2000 they will release me on bail at 4.30pm that day.

All the bail money / donations are of course going to a wonderful charity, Make-A-Wish who grant truly magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses in Scotland.

For anyone who donates online I will put their name in a Prize draw to win a meal for two at ITIHAAS Restaurant. Dalkeith

Please dig deep and help me raise enough bail money to buy my freedom. Please visit www.justgiving.com/Matin-Khan – thank you and please pass this link on to friends and family!

Matin Khan is featured in this week’s Midlothian Advertiser on his favourite place in Midlothian, the National Mining Museum Scotland in Newtongrange. Be sure to pick up a copy!

Itihaas Director Matin Khan has been honoured by Midlothian and East Lothan Chamber of Commerce as a ‘Local Hero.’

The award was presented for his extensive work in the community. Itihaas sponsors many local sports clubs and social organisations, and Matin has raised substantial amounts for charity.

His certificate was handed over at the Chamber’s annual Enterprise Exhibition and Awards ceremony at the Roslin Institute by Jo Robinson, Editor of the Midlothian Advertiser and East Lothian News, and Arthur Johnston, Chairman of The Business Partnership.

“We regard the award as a badge of honour,” said Matin. “It shows the importance which Itihaas attaches to its role in community life in and around Midlothian and East Lothian.

“Our reputation for serving the finest Asian food attracts customers from far afield but local people are the basis of our business and we try to play an active part in many aspects of their lives.”

The Dalkeith restaurant, opened less than four years ago, is one of only six establishments in Scotland among 100 shortlisted in the 2011 British Curry Awards. The others are in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Renfrewshire.

It is the latest distinction for Itihaas, voted best South Asian restaurant in Scotland in 2010 in awards run by Spice Times magazine and one of four finalists in the Indian category of this year’s Scottish Restaurant Awards.

Some 2,700 restaurants were entered for the British Curry Awards from a record 68,000 public nominations. Nine regional winners will be selected from the shortlist and announced at the Battersea Evolution, London, on 28 November at an event hosted by celebrity chef James Martin and attended by more than 1,500 guests. It will be the biggest night of the year for almost 100,000 people involved in the industry.

Awards’ organiser Enam Ali MBE said: “This is the seventh year of the British Curry Awards and the standards get higher every year. To reach the shortlist is a tremendous achievement. Interest in the competition has been greater than ever, underlining the tremendous support for Britain’s favourite food.”

Matin Khan, Bangladeshi-born Director of the restaurant on Dalkeith’s Eskbank Road, commented: “My team are proud to have been listed as one of the best curry restaurants in the whole of Britain and one of only a very select number in Scotland.

“Our menus are built around traditional Indian and Bangladeshi dishes, using the freshest ingredients and authentic spices. Curries come in an amazing array of flavours and textures, and we consistently try to get our customers’ taste buds buzzing!”

Mr Khan recently opened another Midlothian restaurant, Radhuni, in Loanhead’s Clerk Street.