Dec 18 2008
London Has the Best Indian Food?
WONG:
Better quality meat, fish and vegetables could very well put London ahead of any Indian city when it comes to high end Indian food.
World renowned London-based Michelin star Indian chef, Atul Kochhar said
Indian needed to reform and reorganise its farming industry, so consumers and
caterers had reliable access to fresh produce.
STORY:
Watch out – be warned! Chefs in India could lose their cutting edge in preparing top quality Indian food to chefs in London.
Atul Kochhar is one of the few Michelin star Indian chefs. He warns that if India’s farming industry is not reorganised – London will become the center of Indian cuisine in terms of quality.
[Atul Kochhar, Owner, Benares Restaurant]:
“It’s not because of lack of good skill, or lack of good spices. It’s purely because of lack of excellent ingredients. India doesn’t have excellent ingredients in terms of fish, meat or vegetables.”
Kochhar is the head chef and owner of Benares – a high-end Indian restaurant in the exclusive Mayfair area of central London.
Back in 2001 Kochhar became the first Indian chef to be awarded the highly coveted Michelin star. Kochhar is looking to return to India and open up restaurants. His biggest worry however is getting a regular supply fresh food.
[Atul Kochhar, Owner, Benares Restaurant]:
“How will get the best produce India has to the restaurants and to the tables of my guests. The lamb farming has to be niche. The goat farming has to be niche. The vegetable farming has to be amazingly good. All those things are there, but there is no organized effort.”
London is home to five Michelin star Indian chefs, New York has one. And there is no reason why more Indian chefs or restaurants in this city will be awarded Michelin stars in the near future given that the reputation of high end Indian food is growing.
[Atul Kochhar, Owner, Benares Restaurant]:
“There are more people traveling to India right now. there are more people conducing business with indians. they are trying to understand the culture and cuisine better now. hence the recognition.”
Kochhar says the corner curry house which churns unique English scorchers such as ‘chicken tikka masala’, or ‘balti chicken’ – are on the decline.
[Atul Kochhar, Owner, Benares Restaurant]:
“It was never an authentic cuisine. I call that British Indian food – because that’s how brutish people liked it. That’s why they were cooking it and thats why it went on for so long.”
The curry house will always be part of the British landscape. But with changing tastes – its high end and expensive Indian food that is on the rise.
Duration : 0:1:56
SO WHAT!!!!!!!! …
SO WHAT!!!!!!!! Just because he says it, doesn’t mean its true. LOL, and his restaraunt takes away the whole purpose of indian food. Abunedance, hospitality, amazing thrilling tastes. At BENARES (not even an indian name) they serve tiny amounts and put fancy decoration on the plates. Doesn’t make the food any better lol
Well in some ways …
Well in some ways it maybe true,in the sense that in the diaspora there is a creation called ‘india food’in reality it doesnt exsist its as much a creation as india.
i don’t reaally …
i don’t reaally like indian food, but thai has to be my favourite
I can’t afford to …
I can’t afford to eat in London. The prices are laughable. I wonder who are these people who can afford to eat in London.
london best indian …
london best indian food? The food here is NOTHING like tropical Indian food. The food is flat and sucks. India and other tropical nations have the best indian food. This is a totally dumb story.
British food sucks. …
British food sucks. You have no choice but to go to Asian restaurants for edibles. Those oily, tasteless fried s and fake-organic trash are gustatory murderers.
chinese propaganda. …
chinese propaganda. ing chinks
Dude 1 : Hey bro …
Dude 1 : Hey bro that Indian food was the bomb let’s do lunch.
dude 2: Naw man I still have the curry squirts from the last time I had Indian my is bleeding
AAAhhhhhhh…shit . …
AAAhhhhhhh…shit ..im an indian and i am unable to get fresh ingredients for my daily life..can some brits come and help me to get them so that i can wipe my ….
well said..i agree …
well said..i agree with you…
Brits, Brits… We …
Brits, Brits… We love ya on this side O’ the pond… but. Could we refrain from using the word in a thread dedicated to superior Asian cuisine..? lol.
India Has the best …
India Has the best indian food…lolz cant beat the original.
Page last updated …
Page last updated at 12:24 GMT, Tuesday, 14 October 2008 13:24 UK
India has more people suffering hunger – a figure above 200 million – than any other country in the world, it says.
India has more people suffering hunger – a figure above 200 million – than any other country in the world, it says.
London again eh, …
London again eh, completely sidestepping the fact that Bradford and Birmingham both all over London for Asian cuisine.
India would …
India would probably have a lot of fresh ingredients if Monsanto would get the frick out. Take their freemasonic out of India and restore the land back to the farmers, amonst other things. They knew what they were doing. My the best in London. Theives. Get Monsanto Out!!!
That’s not a big …
That’s not a big surprise.
absolute crap. …
absolute crap. westerners define “quality ingredients” based on their germaphobe standards.
london definately …
london definately has alot of choice when it comes to indian food. Indian restaruant around almost every corner
Probably is. Most …
Probably is. Most London Indian food resembles such things.
up my arse….
up my arse….
yeah dude the …
yeah dude the glasgow restaurant near oxford circus….classic fodder….
this guy is a …
this guy is a ripp-off merchant …i hope all his endevours fail….miserably….
0:37 looks like a …
0:37 looks like a dehydrated turd
It’s true. I stayed …
It’s true. I stayed in London, came back to the States and found my taste ruined! It was so good all I can do is reminisce. I guess it’s because of the high population of Indians due to colonization.
i think real indian …
i think real indian food gives only in india
atul kocher is a just cook like others may be bad! than others, he makes his food like western style may be he can presents his recipies in europan way but taste is another story. and fresh vegetables and meat u can find every where in india(in india u can get only fresh meat i have never seen frozen meat there) i dont believe in this video its fake ,lie in end i can say(desi bandri valeti chikkan marey mundeo)