Maidenhead caterer beats 'tough' competition to scoop national curry award

A Maidenhead resident has been named Caterer of the Year at an awards celebrating the best curry houses and chefs nationwide.

Shilpam Bidasaria won the title for her home-based catering service Desi Flavorz at the 13th English Curry Awards at the Walsall FC Poundland Bescot Stadium on Monday, December 2.

Hundreds of businesses and individuals were nominated for more than 30 awards honouring the best South Asian eateries and the talented people behind them.

Those rewarded included chefs, restaurants, managers, takeaways, teams and curry schools – many renowned in the industry – and Shilpam said her award ‘came as a surprise’.

She was among ten finalists nominated for their catering prowess and received her accolade by DJ and presenter Tommy Sandhu at the ceremony organised by Oceanic Consulting.

Shilpam told the Advertiser: “It’s really great. Many big caterers were there, and my work and food were recognised as the best and it gave us more confidence to do even better.

“The competition was tough because the other finalists were quite big. I wasn’t expecting it.”

Shilpam launched Desi Flavorz in 2017, specialising in Indian vegetarian food, and continued to provide free meals to charities after the pandemic.

The St Mark’s Crescent resident scooped national recognition at the SHE Awards 2023 for her ‘outstanding culinary skills’ and says these two award wins in two years ‘means a lot’.

“It makes a big difference because when I won the SHE Awards, although I’m a small business, many people came to know about me and after that I was approached for three wedding catering jobs and they loved the food,” she added.

“I hope these kinds of awards give us more recognition.”

A spokesperson for the 13th English Curry Awards 2024 said this year’s finalists represent the ‘crème de la crème of the English curry industry’.

With more than 400 guests in attendance on Monday, the ceremony saw the nation’s ‘curry connoisseurs’ gather to recognise the achievements of the curry sector, they said, adding:

“It was another memorable event that honoured the dedication and hard work of the nominees and celebrates the rich tapestry of flavours that the curry industry brings to the English culinary landscape.

“The Awards provide a platform to applaud the exceptional efforts of those who have made significant contributions to the curry sector and continue to elevate the nation’s love for curry.

“We would like to congratulate all of our winners & highly commended recipients on their incredible accomplishments.”