Chef at popular Maidenhead restaurant scoops national curry award

A popular Indian restaurant in Maidenhead is celebrating its chef who has scooped a prestigious national award.

Chef Jafor Solim Uddin at The Fat Buddha won the Best Chef category at this year's Curry Life Awards.

Staged by Britain’s renowned curry magazine, Curry Life, Jafor was recognised among the best at a glittering event at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square on Sunday (October 13).

Speaking after the ceremony, The Fat Buddha owner Shorif Ali said: "I've worked with many chefs over the years and Jafor is so dedicated.

“He's always got an idea for new dishes and has such a passion for cooking - he motivates us and keeps us all on our toes.”

Jafor has been wowing diners at The Fat Buddha for five years, working at the original Berkhamsted restaurant before moving to the sister restaurant on Bridge Street when it opened in 2020.

His father was also a chef, which developed Jafor's passion from an early age as he refined his skills by working in other restaurants.

Both Jafor and Shorif revisit The Fat Buddha menu every six months and adapt dishes depending on customer feedback.

They assess which dishes are popular and create new ideas and flavour combinations.

Jafor added: “Receiving this award is very motivating – not just for myself but for the rest of the team too.

“It shows that all the hard work we put in is recognised.”

More than 500 guests attended the Curry Life Awards on Sunday including British Asian entrepreneurs and curry industry professionals.

The Awards is an annual celebration of British curry houses - which have an annual turnover of over £4 billion - and recognises those who represent the ‘very best’ of the industry who have shown innovation and inspiration in their work.

Keynote speakers were Secretary of State for health and social care, Wes Streeting MP and Cobra Beer founder and former president of the CBI, Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE.

Speaking after the 15th annual Curry Life awards ceremony, Curry Life Media group editor, Syed Belal Ahmed, said: "A major aim of the awards has always been to highlight best practice going on across the country – so that everyone has the opportunity to learn from the best – something that has always been a driving principle behind Curry Life itself.

“Over the many years we have been staging the awards, we have seen major improvements in standards and quality being offered to customers, to the point where several restaurants are now in a position to challenge for accolades such as Michelin stars.”

The event was hosted by GB News presenter Camilla Tominey and sponsored by Cobra Beer, WorkPermitCloud, Unisoft and Hillside Travels.