STAFF from a restaurant in Northampton which won a Parliamentary competition to crown the nation’s top curry house visited Downing Street to celebrate their success.
Saffron, in Castilian Street, fought off competition from across the UK to win the coveted Tiffin Cup last year, following a cook-off held in the kitchens of Bellamy’s restaurant in Westminster.
Staff were invited to 10 Downing Street to be officially presented with the coveted trophy by Northampton South MP David Mackintosh.
Saffron owner Naz Islam said: “Winning the Tiffin Cup has been incredible and raised our profile immeasurably.
“We have been on an amazing journey throughout the competition, going head-to-head with some of the best restaurants in the country. Cooking in the House of Commons was amazing and to have been invited to Number 10 is the icing on the cake.
“It is a huge honour for us all and we are extremely grateful to David Mackintosh, who nominated us for the award, for helping to make it happen.”
Saffron was the first Northamptonshire restaurant to make it through to the national finals of the Tiffin Cup.
Executive chef Bodrul Islam prepared a stunning dish of ginger and lime seabass with curried lentils and pilau rice for the guest judges, who included TV chef and Strictly Come Dancing star Ainsley Harriott and House of Commons Speaker John Bercow MP.
David Mackintosh said: “I was delighted when Saffron were named winners of the Tiffin Cup. It’s a huge achievement for Naz and his team and also excellent news for Northampton.”
The Tiffin Cup is awarded every year by the Tiffin Club of MPs, formed in 2006 by former MP John Barrett, Michael Fabricant MP and Keith Vaz MP.
The aim is not only to applaud the quality of South Asian food in Britain but also to raise much-needed money for charity. The competition last year was in aid of World Vision and Water Aid.
