Derby curry house hoping for success at Midlands awards

By kelliott kelly elliott kelliott@derbytelegraph.co.uk

A RESTAURATEUR with more than 30 years' experience is hoping his family-run curry house will be named as one of the best in the Midlands.

Chunu Miah has run restaurants in Derbyshire since 1978 and his newest venture, Red Chilli, has now been short-listed in the Midlands Curry Awards.

The 54-year-old said he hopes his freshly prepared food and emphasis on customer service will win over the judges and help him beat businesses from cities such as Birmingham – known as the curry capital.

He said: "We didn't know the judge was here until after they had gone. Then they called up and said we'd been short-listed.

"I've been in the restaurant business all my life and it is nice to be recognised, especially now during the credit crunch when restaurants have to compete for business."

Mr Miah came to Derby from his home country of Bangladesh when he was 14.

He opened his first restaurant, Kohinoor, in London Road, Derby, in 1978.

A string of other successful businesses followed – the Rajah Tandoori, in Ashbourne, the Derbyshire Tandoori, in Allestree, the Ganges Brasserie, in Belper, and the Shabuj Bagan Tandoori, in Osmaston Road, Derby.

It was at the Shabuj Bagan Tandoori Mr Miah first tasted award success, with the business named Best Indian Restaurant by Derby City Council in 2001.

Unfortunately, the restaurant had to be demolished back in 2005 to make way for the new Westfield shopping centre development.

But last year Mr Miah opened his new venture, Red Chilli, in Burton Road, Littleover, and said it has already proved a hit with diners.

The restaurant's chicken Jalali, a creamy highly spiced dish of medium heat made with peppers and tomatoes, is especially popular.

Mr Miah said: "I'm very pleased to be short-listed for this award – we will soon be celebrating the first anniversary of opening Red Chilli so the news is particularly welcome."

The Midlands Curry Awards take place at St John's Hotel, in Solihull, on November 1 and are an offshoot of the British Curry Awards, which have been running for five years.

An award will be given to the best restaurant in each of the 10 areas represented, which include Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Jubada Alam is helping to organise the awards and said: "The British Curry Awards have been running for a while now but because the Midlands has such a healthy supply of Indian restaurants it was decided to hold a separate awards ceremony here.

"The response has been overwhelming."