Press release from the Asian Curry Awards

The local eateries with go up against the best Asian restaurants and takeaways from around Scotland after more than 10,000 people voted online for their favourite venues, with 70 businesses making the shortlist.

Hosted by BBC News anchor Samantha Simmonds, the gala dinner and awards ceremony will take place at The Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh on September 18.

The awards, being held for the seventh time, are organised by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF).

ACF chairman Yawar Khan said: “We are seeing some remarkable creativity by pioneering restaurateurs and chefs, adapting to challenging trading conditions and more sophisticated customer preferences, showcasing Scotland’s world-leading produce, especially its seafood, game, neeps and tatties.”

Scotland’s hottest spot for curry is in Midlothian, according to the organisers of one of the UK’s top speciality food awards.

Itihaas in Dalkeith was voted the Best South Asian Restaurant in Scotland in the UK’s Asian Curry Awards at a function attended by more than 1,000 guests at Grosvenor House in London’s Park Lane.

Billed as the biggest event in the UK’s Asian catering calendar, it covers the Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Japanese, Nepalese and pan-Asian catering sectors as well as Bangladeshi and Indian cuisine. Awards are made on a regional basis.

“Things have been hotting up for us for the past few years,” said Itihaas Director Matin Khan who received the trophy. “This is another confirmation that we have a successful formula which combines mouth-watering food with premium customer service.”

He added: “Our whole team work tirelessly to maintain the highest standards, using the best authentic spices to produce not only curries but a wide range of other value-for-money Indian and Bangladeshi dishes.”

Runners-up in Scotland’s South Asian category were restaurants in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dunfermline.

The following night Mr Khan attended a black tie dinner at the Battersea Evolution, London, after Itihaas was listed in Britain’s “Hot 100” in the 2012 British Curry Awards.
Last December he was named best Bangladeshi chef in Scotland and in 2010 Itihaas, on Dalkeith’s Eskbank Road, was voted the country’s top Bangladeshi restaurant. Itihaas also won the Best Customer Service category in the 2012 Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce Awards.

This year Itihaas has been refurbished and had new lighting installed, giving the restaurant an even more intimate atmosphere.

Guests at the Grosvenor House event included Vince Cable, UK Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons Tom Brake MP, and the High Commissioners of Malaysia, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

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17-19 Eskbank Road, Dalkieth, EH22 1HD | 0131 663 9800
Monday – Thursday || 12pm-2pm || 5pm-10:30pm
Friday – Sunday || 12pm-2pm || 4:30pm-10:30pm
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17-19 Eskbank Road, Dalkieth, EH22 1HD
0131 663 9800

Monday – Thursday || 12pm-2pm || 5pm-10:30pm
Friday – Sunday || 12pm-2pm || 4:30pm-10:30pm
Closed Tuesday

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