London: Looks like the Indian High Commission in Britain is taking a break from its dates with diplomacy. Curiously enough, it has a platter full on its hand. The High Commission has taken upon itself the task of bringing India’s food industry in Britain under a common umbrella of unity.
This move intends to transform India’s famed “curry restaurants”, eateries, big-time hotels and anything and everything that’s got to do with the business of food into a single entity. The aim is unify India’s food sector and turn it into a force to reckon with.
Britain today is dotted with countless joints that sell the taste of India right from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Most of the hotels and restaurants are based in the mega cities of London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Liverpool. There are a hundred other hotels in smaller cities.
The High Commission is now getting all Indian hotels, restaurants, eateries and food joints to rally round one common platform with the avowed intention of turning India’s food business into an organized and united sector.
As a first step, a meeting of all hotel and restaurant owners and others associated with the industry is being organized at the High Commission Hall at 5.30 pm on August 25. Those interested in the venture can contact the team via the email ID fs.cons@hcilondon.in, express their interest and register their names well in advance for the meet.
The prime agenda will be to assess the possibility of forming an association of Indian caterers.
India’s curry restaurants in Britain have been in business for the last two centuries and more and they have integrated with the food preferences of the British. Both the cultures have met, mingled and supped at these food joints. English palates have tasted and loved the spicy and tangy flavors of Indian food. There’s always a steady flow of peoples of all cultures into our restaurants.
The Hindustani Coffee House was the first Indian food venture which got going in Britain in 1810. Today, there are between 5,000 to 7,000 Indian restaurants in Britain. Not to be left behind, there’s even a restaurant-thattukada from God’s Own Country in London!
England today enjoys a wide spectrum of cultures and most of these were introduced to the land through the food served by migrating hordes. In fact, almost all the states of India have a representation in Britain, mainly through their respective food. Right now, nobody has an exact count of Indian restaurants in Britain. The High Commission’s next is to take a count. Cheers to curries! Long live Indian masalas!
