An Indian restaurant set on a golf course has won a major award in the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTA) for the third time. The Grand Sultan in Port Talbot was one of three Welsh businesses that received accolades during the industry awards.
Elaichi in Camarthen won Regional Chef of the Year: Wales and Kalimirch in Barry took Takeaway of the Year: Wales in the awards which recognise for the high calibre of food and service provided. Other Welsh eateries to make the shortlist were The Mint Room, Barry and Duchess of Delhi in Cardiff.
The ARTA Awards shine a spotlight on the UK's top Asian restaurants, chefs and takeaways and is the largest celebration of Britain's Asian culinary industry. The restaurants which are put forward for the awards - for which there were 2400 nominations - are nominated by restaurant goers. The winning restaurants are awarded based on three key elements: quality of food, service and value for money. The food hygiene rating and reviews from sites such as TripAdvisor and Google are also considered.
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This win for The Grand Sultan, which is set on the outskirts of Port Talbot within the Lakeside Golf course in Margam, isn't its first. It was previously named Restaurant of the Year: Wales at the ARTAs in 2019 and won the Best Chef title in 2020. In 2021, it also took home the gong for Best Restaurant in Wales at the Asian Curry Awards and was Welsh runner up at the British Curry Awards, an award it previously won.
Indian restaurant Elaichi in Camarthen was also awarded Regional Chef of The Year for Wales while Kalimirch, an Indian takeaway in the heart of Barry, was recognised as being Wales' Takeaway of the Year.
Speaking of this win, the takeaway - which was up against Tiffin Rasoi in Barry, Tamarind Express in Newport and Shaan Tandoori Takeaway in Ammanford - took to its Instagram to announce the news.
Posting a picture of the trophy to its Instagram stories, Kalimirch wrote: "We've only gone and won 1st place for the best asian takeaway in Wales region. Huge thank you to everyone who's voted. We are all so grateful for you all."
Alongside these Welsh winners, the grand award of National Champion of Champions went to Ruby in Hertford, while My Delhi Indian Streetery in Newcastle upon Tyne won the National Chef of The Year 2022. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to renowned British restauranteur and entrepreneur Mr Muquim Ahmed, who is otherwise known as the 'King of Brick Lane'.
The restaurants who made it through the first phase of judging were invited to participate in a cook-off competition. They were then judged on the flavour, appearance, texture, hygiene and aroma of the dishes created.
The judging panel for the awards consisted of executive chef and multi-award winning celebrity chef Chand Rahman, former Mayor of Corby Mohammed Mujibur Rahman and Cambridger Regional College's senior chef lecturer Graham Taylor.
Speaking about the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards 2022, the founder, Salik Mohammed Munim, said: “The ARTA Awards 2022 are a celebration and recognition of Britain’s vibrant Asian restaurants, takeaways, and chefs. Since the inception of ARTA, we have clearly seen the phenomenal quality of entrants, and the bar set by each, and every nominee has been increasing each year.
"I am truly blown away by the standards set by the competition and having been privy to exceptional quality and service extended by the nominees, I can confidently assert that Asian culinary industry in Britain is in safe hands. Every nominee and winner should be proud of their work."
This awards ceremony follows a string of others similar to this in which the best of the culinary industry is celebrated. Just last week, winners for the AA Hospitality Awards and The Golden Chopsticks Awards were unveiled with Lokky's being crowned Best in Wales at the GCA's and a number of Welsh businesses, such as The Grove in Narberh and Gem 42 in Newport being recognised at the AA's.
For more information on the ARTA Awards, see the website.
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