(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) Dhaka: The British Curry Festival, which showcases the United Kingdom's favourite curry dishes alongside the best of British regional cuisine, is underway at the InterContinental Dhaka's signature all day dining restaurant Elements as a buffet dinner.
The festival was inaugurated on October 20 at the hotel's Ruposhi Bangla Grand Ballroom with a gala dinner featuring mouthwatering dishes such as tomatoes and mozzarella bruschetta, onion bhaji, honey glazed mustard prawn tikka and oregano chicken tikka as appetizers.
In the main course, delectable naga fish balti, British chicken tikka masala, chicken biryani, shatkora mutton curry, shahi paneer, seasonal vegetable dhansak, lauki chana madras, plain naan and garlic caan and vegetable raita were served.
As cheery on top, strawberry cheese cake, gajor laddo, chocolate caramel cake, and fresh fruit cuts turned out to be perfect desserts.
The delicious items were prepared by Michelin Star Chef Dominic Chapman, as well as award-winning curry chefs from the UK Jamal Uddin Ahmed, Jafor Solim Uddin, Syed Zohurul Islam, Utpal Kumar Mondal, and Moloy Halder.
Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister and Md Mokammel Hossain, Secretary for Civil Aviation and Tourism were present at the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest and guest of honour respectively while Lord Karan Bilimoria, Member of the House of Lords, UK attended as the special guest.
Javed Patel, Deputy High Commissioner of the British High Commission in Dhaka, Syed Belal Ahmed and Syed Nahas Pasha, Editor and Chief Editor of Curry Life Magazine UK were also present on the occasion.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali
In his inaugural speech, Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, said,“Food is a vital component of tourism and, through us, the UK learned to love curry. Bangladeshis are now a huge part of the UK's curry industry. Eight out of 10 curry restaurants in the UK are owned by Bangladeshis. One of the main dishes of those restaurants Chicken Tikka Masala is now regarded as Britain's national food dish. The curry industry of the UK, led by Bangladeshis living there, changed the food culture among British people. The industry currently employs about 1 lac 50 thousand people and contributes more than GBP 4.5 billion pound to the national economy of the UK yearly.”
Lord Karan Bilimoria, Member of House of Lords, UK
“Through this festival, chefs from Britain and chefs from Bangladesh, while collaborating, will learn from each other. To overcome the crisis left by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is essential to collaborate. This festival supports and strengthens the ties between Bangladesh and the UK. Thanks to Bangladeshis living in the UK, curry has become a brand in the country. With an estimated 12,000 curry houses in Britain, it is a thriving industry composed mainly of chefs and restaurateurs of Bangladeshi origin,” said Lord Karan Bilimoria, Member of the House of Lords, UK.
Organised jointly by InterContinental Dhaka and Curry Life Magazine UK, the globe-trotting festival was held for the first time in Dhaka in 2001 at the then Sheraton Dhaka. Over the last two decades, the British Curry Festival has taken the British curry experience across Europe to Asia, showcasing chefs' talent on a global stage. Now it has returned to Dhaka after 12 years.
The delicious buffet dinner can be experienced at BDT 7500 per person till October 26. The full cohort of chefs will be present during the festival allowing diners to interact with them as well.
Buy One Get One offer is applicable on selected bank cards.
The title sponsor of the British Curry Festival 2022 in Dhaka is City Bank-American Express, Halda Valley is the co-sponsor and InterContinental Dhaka is the hospitality partner.