National Curry Week 2023

From 2nd to 8th October 2023, it is time to celebrate the 25th National Curry Week! Whether you head out to a local restaurant or cook up a storm at home, pass the poppadom and enjoy some delicious food that is second to naan!

A Staple of the High Street

It has been said that curry is the national dish of Great Britain. Since the 70s, curry houses and restaurants dedicated to this Indian cuisine have become a staple of the high street, with millions of curries consumed each week. The love affair with this versatile offering shows no signs of slowing.

National Curry Week was founded by the late Peter Grove; a prominent journalist who loved curry. His vision was driving awareness and encouraging appreciation of the Indian restaurant industry. The first National Curry Week took place in October 1998.

To this day, the three core objectives of National Curry Week honour Peter’s vision:

Appreciate, enjoy and spread awareness of the nation’s favourite cuisine

Celebrate and support the Indian restaurant industry

Raise money for poverty-focused food charities

Curry Tit Bits

• The origin of the word ‘curry’ comes from ‘kari’, which is the Tamil word for ‘spiced sauce’.
• The earliest known curry was made in Mesopotamia in around 1700BC.
• Spices used in curry can help combat heart attacks and strokes. They can extend blood coagulation times, preventing harmful blood clots.
• Over 70,000 people are employed in over 9,000 Indian curry restaurants throughout the UK. There are more Indian restaurants in London than there are in Bombay and Delhi combined.

Essence by Atul Kochhar

The Pantiles is delighted to be welcoming twice Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar and his newest restaurant Essence to The Pantiles later this year. The pioneering restaurateur, who hails from East India, will be taking over the former Woods unit. Atul, who appears regularly on TV, is credited with changing the way people perceive and enjoy Indian food in the UK.

Atul earned his first Michelin star at Tamarind – one of the first Indian restaurants in the world to receive the accolade – which it holds to this day.

We’re excited to experience a variety of Indian cuisine, including curry, when Essence opens! Refer to our social media pages and website for further updates.

Kirthon

Kirthon, located at 60 The Pantiles, is the perfect venue to satiate curry cravings this week. With innovative menus using the highest quality ingredients, their menus are overbrimming with traditional Indian food, served in a contemporary setting.

Chef’s Recommendations at Kirthon include:

Sylheti Murgh: chicken pieces cooked with sliced ginger, lemon, green chillies.

Rahul Lamb: Boneless pieces of spring lamb flavoured with cardamon and cloves in a yoghurt gravy, garnished with crispy brown onions and coriander.

Goan Fish Curry: Fish cooked in coconut milk with red chillies and garnished with coriander.

Green Chicken Korma: Chicken cooked with mint, coriander, green chilli, coconut powder and cashew nuts with whole garam masala. Sweet and hot!

Jaipur: Blended with subtle touches of Jaipuri masala and cooked with friend mushrooms, green pepper, cashew nuts and sweet chilli sauce.

The Kirthon restaurant is open for dining from 6pm to 11pm, Sunday to Thursday and 5.30pm to 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Homecooked Curry

If you like the idea of making your own curry this week, head to The Pantiles to stock up on all you need to make a mouth-watering dish.

Oliver Greens has a selection of fresh and local vegetables, along with herbs and spices, that can be added to any curry meal.

And Trevor Mottram’s cookware shop is a haven of heavenly delights for curry cooks. From pans to pepper grinders and aprons to tableware, making a curry in a hurry is a cinch!

To find out more about The Pantiles’ food stores, eateries, cafes and bars, click here.