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TV star Hardeep Singh Kohli takes on top Leicester chefs in curry cook-off

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Journalist and TV presenter Hardeep Singh Kohli is putting his Indian cookery skills to the test against the country's best restaurants and takeaways, city by city.

He is confident of his culinary abilities – but reckons Leicester's eateries could be his biggest competition.

Indian Takeaway – an evening of comedy, cooking and curry – is coming to Curve theatre on December 1.

It will see the presenter ordering a takeaway – with the restaurant and dish chosen by the audience – live on stage at the start of the show.

While waiting for the order to arrive, Hardeep will cook his own version.

Speaking to the Mercury ahead of the show, he said: "The thing about Leicester is that it has some amazing Indian food so it's going to be difficult to live up to.

"There aren't that many cities that have different sorts of Indian food – Punjabi, Gujarati – like Leicester does.

"I'd say Leicester is the place I'm most worried about. Maybe Birmingham as well. I won't be able to pull the wool over people's eyes."

Hardeep, a regular host on Channel 5 current affairs show The Wright Stuff, is no stranger to cooking, having been a runner-up in the first series of Celebrity Masterchef.

His first book, Indian Takeaway, was nominated for an Independent Book Award and he has written about food for Olive, Observer Food Monthly, The Spectator, The Times and The Sunday Times. "I just love eating," he said.

"Food is a lovely way of bringing people together.

"I'm looking forward to bringing the show to Leicester. Curve is an amazing venue and my last show there was amazing, just electric. It's probably the best live gig I've done."

Earlier this month, Britain's best-known Indian chef, Madhur Jaffrey, sang the city's praises on BBC show Saturday Kitchen.

She told host James Martin she would "go straight to Leicester" for the most authentic Indian curry in the UK.

We asked staff at some of the city's Indian restaurants and takeaways to pinpoint what makes the city so special when it comes to Indian food – and for their opinion on how Hardeep will fare.

Shaf Islam, manager of Chutney Ivy, in the cultural Quarter, said: "Considering Leicester has the most Indian restaurants outside of Birmingham and London, he will have a job to match the standards we are providing.

"Leicester's diverse culture and competition makes the cuisine so special."

Bobby Singh, waiter at Shimla Pinks, in London Road, said: "He is a good chef but I'm not sure he can match Leicester's high standards.

"Our chefs have 15 to 20 years' experience in restaurants."

Pam Kooner, manager at Mem-Saab, in Highcross shopping centre, said: "We have a multi-cultural society here, even within the Indian society, with people coming from all areas of India. This is why the quality of food is so high.

"He will find it hard to live up to the quality of those dishes around Leicester."

Indian Takeaway is on at Curve on Saturday, December 1.

For tickets, call the box office on 0116 242 3560 or visit:

www.curveonline.co.uk

TV star Hardeep Singh Kohli takes on  top Leicester  chefs in curry cook-off


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