A Fyfield restaurant has proved it has the ingredients for success after two of its cooks were awarded prizes in a district wide competition to find the 'hottest' curry chef.

Abdul Haque and Ayub Miah from the Haque Empire restaurant in Ongar Road are full of the spice of life after 'cumin' second and third in the hotly contested competition organised by the district council.

Mr Haque, who finished in second place with his King Prawn Delight, opened the restaurant in Fyfield only two years ago and is very proud of the quality of his cuisine.

He said: "The food here is fantastic, we have very good chefs. Last year we finished third in this competition and this year we have improved and taken second and third place."

The demanding task of judging the eastern delicacies fell upon a selfless trio made up of Ongar District Councillor, Cllr Derek Jacobs, and two officers from the council who all toured the district's curry houses in search of winner.

Cllr Jacobs said: "I wasn't the experienced curry eater among the group. Originally they invited the chairman of the council but he's not a curry eater so I was asked to step in."

Cllr Jacobs was chosen because he is the council's portfolio holder for environmental protection and all chefs entering the competition had to satisfy the standards set by Environmental Services before being judged on taste and presentation.

The chefs from the Haque Empire were pipped to first place by Khalis Miah, the chef from the Elachi restaurant in Epping High Street.

Mr Miah will now be going forward to represent the district in the regional heats and could end up in the national finals which will be held at the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC Arena in Birmingham.

Published Friday, August 1, 2003

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