Winchester restaurants scoop national awards 

Palm Pan Asia and Gandhi restaurants win at Asian Restaurant Awards

Two Winchester restaurants, The Palm Pan Asia and Gandhi Indian Restaurant, scooped top accolades at the Asian Restaurant Awards, at a glittering awards ceremony held at the Manchester Hilton, on Monday 5th March.

Palm Pan Asian won Pan Asian Restaurant of the Year, whilst Gandhi was named Best Asian Restaurant – South of England.

Organised by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), which represents the country's 30,000 ethnic restaurants, the awards were open to Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese restaurants and takeaways.

The full list of nationwide winners can be seen at www.acfederation.org/category/news/

Both winning Winchester venues, located on the High Street, are part of the small family-owned Palm Restaurant group, are managed by restaurateur Fahim Meah. Other eateries in the group are Goa Balti in Everleigh near Marlborough, Palm Indian Restaurant in Froxfield near Marlborough (the flagship)and Shapla Restaurant in Alresford.  A seventh member of the group in Deane near Basingstoke (provisionally named The Palm Brasserie) set to bring international cuisine with an Asian twist, is due to open June.

“It was thrilling to win one award – to come away with two such prestigious accolades were fantastic achievements for our hard-working, talented teams,” said Fahim Meah adding, “Votes from our loyal customers were key to getting us on the shortlist – from there it was down to the chefs and front of house teams to prove their worth – which they accomplished with great aplomb.”

The Awards' judging notes for Palm Pan Asia reported: “An impressive pan-Asian gourmet experience, building on classic Thai dishes, is complimented by an adventurous South-East Asian menu of interesting taste combinations, expertly rendered.”

Of its neighbouring Gandhi Indian Restaurant, which first opened its doors in Winchester 30 years ago, a judge wrote: “The menu featuring such delights as wood pigeon, beef ox cheeks and spice crusted venison sets it apart from its rivals in the city. This is some of the best fine Indian dining I've encountered away from the Michelin-starred gourmet restaurants in London.”

Executive Head chef and Manager Ruhul Chowdhury (Gandhi) and Head Chef Amnart Ubonrat (Palm Pan Asia) have also been nominated for the Asian & Oriental Chefs Awards being hosted by ACF at the House of Lords on 13th March.

The Palm Group's restaurants also hope to feature in the ACF's eighth Asian Curry Awards, taking place at London's Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair on 18th November. Curry lovers can nominate for their favourites at www.asiancurryawards.co.uk

ENDS

Editors' Notes:

The Awards are organised by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF) a joint initiative of the Federation of Bangladeshi Caterers UK, the Chinese Takeaway Association UK and the Malaysian Restaurant Association.

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Media Contact:  George Shaw, Avocado Media T 01892 750851 

M: 07860 695555 geo@avocadomedia.co.uk @AvocadoPR

Gandhi Indian Restaurant

163 - 164 High Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9BA T: 01962 863940

W: www.gandhirestaurant.com

Palm Pan Asia                                                                                                         

166-167 High Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9BA T: 01962 864040

www.palmpanasia.co.uk