Brentford Gets it Masters in Curry

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Top Indian chefs appear at the Holiday Inn

The UK’s top Indian chefs including cookery writer and broadcaster, Monisha Bharadwaj, and top London chefs Manoj Vasaikar and Ranjeet Singh appeared at The Island Restaurant at the Holiday Inn London - Brentford Lock to take part in a Curry masterclass for the residents and businesses of Brentford. The event marked the launch of the restaurant's weekly curry evenings, which are due to start on Friday 30th March.

Monisha Bharadwaj kicked off proceedings by taking guests on a culinary journey through India (and the restaurant) identifying some of the key spices, key ingredients, while dispelling some common myths about Indian cuisine. He showed that recipes didn't require vast numbers of ingredients and that curries needn't be so hot they blow your head.

Monisha explained: "If you create any dish with too many hot spices, it detracts from the taste of the ingredients - which should never be the case." She continued: "Use of 'hotter' ingredients, such as chillis tend to dominate the south as they induce perspiration, which cools the body. In the north spices are used to create warmth within the body."

Following their spice tour, guests gathered around to watch award-winning chef, Ranjeet Singh create to two Indian regional specialities: from the coast of Kerela, he prepared 'Tawa', prawns marinated with chettinad masala, cooked on a flat griddle. Rounding off the demonstration, Ranjeet created a mouthwatering 'murg patiyala', chicken cooked in a clay oven and jellied with freshly made tomato pepper curry and finished off with double cream. Throughout the demonstration Monisha Bharadwaj provided insightful commentary and tips.

As an interesting note to the occasion Sommelier, Anthony Browning, led an innovative session demonstrating that wines are just as suitable an accompaniment to curry as lager. Selected wines were specifically divided into those most suitable for starters, main courses and desserts.

Commenting on the evening, Denzil Ratnam, general manager of the Holiday Inn London - Brentford Lock said, "This has been an extremely successful way to enable people to learn a little more about Indian cuisine; after all its not everyday you have a chance to meet three of the UK's top Indian chefs. What's more - the mouthwatering dishes prepared for the masterclass will be available to diners when we launch our weekly curry evenings on Friday 30th March."

March 30, 2007