Tommy Miah’s International Indian Chef of the Year Competition & Award celebrates the very best of restaurant businesses worldwide. The competition honours professional and amateur chefs worldwide and those businesses that have proven themselves as the leaders and exemplars in the competitive curry industry.
The Beginnings
The competition was founded in 1991- as Tommy Miah's International Indian Chef of the Year Competition- to recognise the excellence of chefs in the trade and to promote innovation and quality in Asian cuisine.
The inaugural competition was launched at the House of Commons by Edwina Currie MP and, in the intervening years, it has established itself as the leading award programme in the curry industry.
The competition was truly global from its inception- with free entry open worldwide to men and women, amateur or professional, regardless of nationality or ethnic origin. This worldwide access to the competition has meant that finalists have come from many countries and from many differing backgrounds.
The competition has showcased skilful chefs, who have proved the excellence of their ideas- and practical skills- by cooking their ideal four dish meal (two meat/fish/poultry, and two vegetarian) under the scrutiny of expert judges.
These expert judges for the competition have included food trade experts, writers, and consumers such as:
- Sir Tom Farmer, founder of Kwik Fit
- Rt Hon Alex Salmond MP
- Audrey Baxter from Baxters
- Nigel Terry from Brakes
- Richard Shepherd from Langans
Many previous winners of the competition have achieved outstanding success in their field- including the first winner in 1991, Enam Ali, who runs the successful British Curry Awards and is also the editor of Spice Magazine
2017 & Beyond
The 2017 competition introduced an expanded set of award categories which will enable us to recognise the excellent work being done in all areas of the curry and hospitality industry.
The additional awards categories in the competition include:
• Restaurant of the Year (Region)
• Restaurant of the Year (International)
• Regional chef Award
• Best restaurant design Award
The International Indian Chef of the Year Competition & Awards will conclude with a ceremony on Sunday, 29th September at the Burlington Hotel, Burlington Arcade, Birmingham, B2 4JQ.