The much-awaited Bradford Curry Awards is back with its fourth edition on 10 July. More than 200 establishments competed for the coveted title to be the Best of the Best 2023, with around 30 making it to the finals, in nine categories, ranging from best restaurant, eatery, caterer and best marketing.
Each day, we hope to introduce you to a finalist, so you can find out more about their food and their journey as a finalist. We introduce to our finalist, MyLahore, competing for the Best Restaurant category.
The category, will look into an all-round experience of the restaurant, including food, ambience, presentation, and experience
Mr Ishfaq Farooq, one of the men behind MyLahore says, “The concept goes back much before 2002. It was about the whole British Asian journey. The whole concept for MyLahore was how British Asians grew in this country. Our parents came in this country in the 60s, they worked in textiles, warehouses and taxis. They slowly opened their own restaurants. From there, the rest is history.
“It’s all about the British Asian story, how we grew, the kind of food we had. So MyLahore is all about fusion food. It’s not just about your typical Asian dishes. It’s about pastas and lasagnas and such dishes with an Asian twist. It’s not traditional Italian or continental, there is an Asian twist to it.
Image: MyLahore website
“Focusing on fusion food is what makes MyLahore different. When we grew up, we used to have shepherd’s pie. We used to have lasagnas, pastas in the schools. But their flavour was different, they were quite bland. With Asian people, they need a bit more spices and an aroma to it, that’s what we introduced.
“The idea was to introduce something for everybody. If you go to a typical curry outlet, you expect only curries, but here you come with your partner, your partner can have a curry and you go for a chicken lasagna or a panini.
“This is our unique selling point”.
Image: MyLahore website
Looking back 21 years, Ishfaq tells us that he has had the opportunity to serve Prince William and Princess Kate who visited MyLahore and has had the honour of serving multiple dignitaries.
MyLahore played a huge part in helping the vulnerable during the Covid pandemic.
Ishfaq says, “When the pandemic hit, we were very active, we supplied hot meals to the vulnerable. There were so many children who relied on hot meals, so we provided them with it.
“We faced a lot of challenges ourselves too, yet we were giving out food. We weren’t making money; we were in fact losing money because we were giving out free food to the needy. But that didn’t stop us from doing what we do.
“MyLahore is not just a food business. We had the opportunity to do good, give back and help the community, so we used it.
“It was a challenge, but with the blessings of Almighty, we pulled through”.
Listing out his speciality dishes, that everyone should try at MyLahore, Ishfaq quips, “The Special mixed grill, it is marinated with Asian spices, and it is cooked specially on a grill with charcoal. There’s a combination of all desi spices in one”.
Asked what the title ‘Best Restaurant’ at Bradford Curry Award means for MyLahore, Ishfaq says, “It means a lot, it’s such a high standard that restaurants keep in Bradford, so being nominated itself is a great achievement. It’s a great honour for us and our team”.
Will MyLahore win hearts of both judges and people through their desi fusion food? Let’s wait till 10 July for the suspense to be revealed.
Watch this space for more updates on the Bradford Curry Awards.
