By Joe Fattorini
And the F Word’s top local restaurant is… Lasan! Yes, it’s fair to say there was cheering at Bibendum as Birmingham’s top Indian restaurant and long-time Bibendum customer, Lasan, won the F Word’s top local restaurant competition. Their Chicken Tandoori Masala, Masala Beef with curried pumpkin and the most amazing Puff Pastry Parcel stuffed with Carrot Pudding wowed Gordon Ramsey (another Bibendum customer) and saw off a very strong challenge from The Pheasant in Cambridgeshire.
Both restaurants were challenged with coming up with a three course menu using Pork, Beef and Chicken reared by Janet Street-Porter. But the two restaurants didn’t just have to impress Gordon. For this grand final, the F-Word restaurant was packed with food critics and experts. And those experts were seriously impressed with the Chicken Tandoori Masala with Mint Chutney from Aktar at Lasan, voting it a clear winner over The Pheasant’s brawn. But the Pheasant pulled back with a strong main course (despite a rogue bit of cling film) and the climax was nail-biting as the selected gathered diners seemed to prefer the Pheasant’s Tarte Tatin over Lasan’s adventurous carrot-filled parcels. But in the end the decision didn’t lie with the diners, it lay with Gordon.
“This has been a very tough decision,” he said the craggy-faced one as he mulled over what he’d tried. “The winner of the F Word’s Best Local Restaurant is… Lasan!”
Congratulations to Aktar and all the team. We’re absolutely delighted. Our only challenge now is to figure out what wines we’ll use to match the dishes. Saam Chenin Blanc with the Chicken Tandoori Masala…? Maybe Graham Beck Brut, always good with curry? Perhaps Tarquino Malbec with the beef, but then the puff pastry parcels… now there’s a challenge…
Tags: News, Restaurants
Now here is a curve ball, bringing together two of our favourite food and drink nations – India and Australia… how about Coopers Pale Ale with the curry? Refreshing hoppy beers always go well with spicy Indian food – come and try it in the spirits room and see what you think! Now I wonder if Lasan will bring some Chicken Tandoori Masala with them to really try the pairing!
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http://www.intoxicatingprose.com/2010/01/putting-words-to-f-word.html