Taj Mahal picks up four gold stars in British Curry Awards

Crawley’s top Indian restaurant is celebrating success once again after being given four gold stars for foodservice and quality of cuisine in the recent British Curry Awards.

Hosted by TV and radio star Chris Tarrant, a self-confessed curry lover since his student days, the Awards, now in their third year, recognise and reward the best curry restaurants in ten regions of the UK.

This year’s winners were chosen from a record number of more than 18,000 public nominations covering over 3,000 restaurants.

Taj Mahal is now ranked officially in the top 100 Indian restaurants in the UK and is one of just 24 so-rated throughout the whole of the South-east.
The biggest event in the curry calendar, held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, was attended by more than 1,100 restaurateurs, MPs, diplomats and celebrity guests.

“The tremendous contribution that the British spice industry makes to our country is clear for all to see – the 100,000 people it employs, the billions it contributes to our economy and then there’s the sheer enjoyment which the currently 10,000 curry restaurants provide.

“Whether you like a bhoona or a dopiaza, or whether you like a balti or whether, like some people, you look at the menu and you just panic and have the chicken tikka massala, we all have got our favourite curry and our favourite restaurant.

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DVD aids Taj Mahal’s bid for top honours in the British Curry Awards

Crawley’s top Indian restaurant is hoping to win national acclaim later this year when the British Curry Awards 2007 are announced at a gala dinner in London.
The restaurant has been nominated to move forward to the next stage of the awards by presenting a marketing pack to illustrate how it promotes itself.
First the first time, the restaurant has commissioned a DVD to help it in its quest for glory.
Directaction Films has masterminded and prepared a five-minute promotional DVD to punch home the keys strengths of Taj Mahal and to help it steal a march on entrants nationwide, as producer David Helps reports.
“We’ve focused on the aspects of the restaurant that make it such a great community hub, such as its work with large corporates and small businesses, charities and business networking groups.
The DVD features stunning shots of the interior, with subtle lighting effects and dramatic views across the 150-cover site, many showing exactly how busy the restaurant becomes on virtually every day of the week.

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New menu offers fresh delights

This week sees the launch of Taj Mahal’s long-awaited new menu, which boasts an even greater variety of dishes and wines as the restaurant’s head chef, Manohar Lal, puts some of his inspirational ideas into food.
“We are so excited about his creations, Taj Mahal’s manager Anil David comments excitedly. “Customers are telling us how much they enjoy the new dishes, which we have been piloting for a few weeks. Now we can officially unroll these delights to everyone.

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Royal recognition for Home-Start

The Home-Start charity, which is run throughout Crawley and Horsham, has been recognised by the Queen to mark the work of its volunteers who help families with young children.

The charity has won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service only nine years after it was set up in the area to aid stressed families.

Home-Start, which was launched to provide support, relief and build the confidence of young families, is one of Taj Mahal’s nominated charities.

“Each family is given a volunteer, who works with the family to ensure that children have a happy and secure childhood and that parents play the role in giving their children a good start in life and helping them to achieve their potential,” says Liz Roe, scheme manager of the area of Horsham and Crawley.

“We only have limited resources but we always ensure we use these in the best possible way, Liz Roe continued. But with this award we hope we will be recognised as a quality charity and therefore have the support of more volunteers and supporters.”

One mother stated that without guidance and weekly visits to her house from Home-Start, she would “still be lying in bed”.

The award for voluntary service, which started in 2002 to commemorate the Queen’s golden jubilee, recognises the vital role played by the hundreds of thousands of “unsung heroes”, who provide a “high quality service to benefit individuals within a community”.

“Home-Start are delighted to have received this award,” comments Liz, “which we feel finally recognises the help which we have given so many families over the past nine years.”

“We hope to ease families emotional and physical demands, perhaps of having twins or triplets, a child with a disability or the feeling of loneliness and depression. We can also offer light relief for mothers by simply occupying the children for a few hours.”

“Although we have received and earned such a prestigious award, our work will not stop and our continuing goal is to help more families. We are simply overwhelmed with families asking for our support.”

Taj Mahal’s proprietor Belayet Hussain adds, “As a family man with three young children, I am aware of the pressures that can build up within households. The Taj Mahal is therefore proud to have continued our involvement and supporting of Home-Start and feel this Royal Award proves Home-Start really is making a difference to hard pressed families throughout Crawley and Horsham.”

Sunday buffest special treat for Home-Start families
Families from Horsham and Crawley enjoyed a fine feast on 5 August when Taj Mahal hosted its Sunday buffet especially for them. The families are helped by Home-Start, one of the restaurant’s nominated charities and scheme manager for Horsham and Crawley Liz Roe came along to enjoy the day and meet the families once again.
Featured in our picture is Liz, with the Barnes-Reed family from Horsham – left to right, Willow, aged 4, sister Cleo, 7, and mum and dad Charlie and Arron. Out of shot is Ethan, aged 8.
Joining them were Tara and Brian Chatterton from Langley Green, with sons Callum, 4, and Nathan, 2.
Both families came to Home-Start desperate for support, and found it in abundance, they report.

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Time to take the screen test

“We all need solar film – we just haven’t realised it yet.” That’s the verdict of Kevin Walker, Managing Director of Solar Screen, which provides professional solar screening for commercial, retail, educational, residential and automotive applications.
Speaking at the Business Builder Club earlier this month, Kevin stressed the benefits that window film can bring. “Glare from strong sunshine falling on desks, walls and across PC monitors can produce headaches and eyestrain, While resulting heat build-up can lead to drowsiness, loss of concentration and mistakes.
“Solar Screen mirror films reduced glare by up to 80% and ultraviolet and infrared penetration by up to 99%,” he added. “It insulates day and night, all year round, saving on heating and air-conditioning costs.
The film also creates an invisible barrier against bricks, stones and other missiles, Kevin added, “protecting people and property night and day”.
The Aquarena Leisure Centre in Worthing fitted Solar Screen nearly three years, he reported, largely to protect their glazed areas from persistent vandalism. “They haven’t suffered a broken window since.”
For more information call 01444 480581 or visit www.solarscreen.co.uk

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Pamper yourself with a free facial

Soft, beautiful, youthful-looking skin is the prospect for women dining at the Taj Mahal over the coming months as the restaurant launches a free facial and pampering session promotion in association with Nutrimetics, specialists worldwide in skincare and cosmetic products.
“All our products contain Nutri-Rich oil, based on apricot kernel oil,” says Helen Reeves, Business Builder Club member and Executive Sales Leader for Nutrimetics, which distribute their ranges in 11 countries. “It’s an ingredient that has been shown to protect skin against the ravages of the environment and to promote soft, beautiful, youthful-looking skin.”
Every woman dining at the restaurant receives an attractively ribbon-wrapped parchment scroll when they arrive, which invites them to enjoy a facial and pampering session conducted by Helen.
“This is the first of a series of promotions we are running in the restaurant,” says Anil David, Taj Mahal’s Manager. “The idea has really caught on. We have given away many scrolls already.”
Maybe the next step is a makeover for men. Watch this space.