L to R: Back: Teddy Chen, Thomas Chan and Yawar Khan of the ACF, Sharif Uddin and Samantha Simmonds.  Front: Aayan Uddin.

Sharif Uddin, who owns the Essex-based chain of Kushi curry houses and co-owns DUSK fine dining restaurant in Brentwood, has received a special Local Community Hero award, at a ceremony at the House of Lords, on 7th September.

Uddin received the personal accolade at an event organised by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), hosted by Lord Sheikh and presented by BBC News anchor Samantha Simmonds.

During the ceremony, two of Kushi's chefs, Kamrul Hoque and Humayun Rashid were also presented with Asian & Oriental Chef awards, following a live cookoff event in London in June.

The House of Lords presentation came a week after Uddin's restaurants received two prestigious accolades at the Asian Restaurant Awards, held in Manchester.  DUSK was named Best Fusion Restaurant and Kushi won Best Restaurant Group.

During the pandemic Sharif's restaurants donated more than 15,000 meals to NHS frontline staff, keyworks, the elderly and vulnerable.

Sharif Uddin (37), has particular reason to be thankful to the NHS, having spent 3 years in hospital, shortly after opening his Gidea Park venue in 2016, needing 28 operations for complex ulcerative colitis issues.

Prior to becoming dangerously ill, Uddin took a BSc in Computer Engineering at Essex University, then studied for a Master's degree in International Business at Southbank.  After 5 years in banking, he launched a transport company.

His ambition then was to create the UK's largest chain of Indian restaurants, with a venue in every major town and city in Britain, with business partner Shakil Islam.   The first Kushis, in Canvey and Romford, were launched in 2016.

“It's important to help out the less fortunate – and we work closely with local schools, hosting many fundraising dinners for PTFAs, as I'm a fundamental believer in the power of education,” said Sharif.

Although Uddin's ambitious plans for a nationwide restaurant chain were thwarted by his illness, it didn't stop him and Shakil  from investing more than £1 million in opening DUSK - the fine dining world cuisine restaurant and shisha bar, led by renowned molecular gastronomic head chef, Stephen Gomes, in July 2019.

Presenting the Community Hero Award, ACF Chairman Yawar Khan said: “Many of our country's restaurants still managed to do great works of charity, despite their businesses being devastated by the lockdown – but Sharif Uddin stands out and thoroughly deserves this award for such perseverance, resilience, innovation and generosity in the face of such personal adversity.” 

For those interested in holding a charity dinner with Kushi visit: www.kushirestaurant.co.uk/charity

The House of Lords event was also used to launch the Asian Curry Awards, which will be held at The Grosvenor House in London on 21st November.  Spice loving members of the public can vote for their favourite restaurants via: Asian Curry Awards 2021 Nomination Form – Asian Curry Award

DUSK, Ongar Road, Brentwood Essex CM15 9SS

enquiries@duskbrentwood.co.uk www.duskbrentwood.co.uk                                             

T: 01277 424 987  

Editors' Notes:

A unique venue, DUSK provides a multi–purpose hospitality destination, offering diners a selection of world cuisines, with a choice of fine, casual and private dining experiences with live music and entertainment in the popular alfresco shisha and cigar lounge.

With three discrete dining areas each with its own menu, the restaurant, which caters for up to 400 customers, was transformed with an investment of almost £1million by restaurateurs Sharif Uddin and Shakil Islam in 2019.

Stephen Gomes is a Welsh executive chef and TV television personality, originally from Mumbai, he is renowned for his molecular gastronomy. He is a fourth-generation chef, His father, James Gomes, worked at India's first five-star beach hotel there, before working in, USA and UK, as an executive chef in hotels and restaurants. Stephen's grandfather served as a chef on board a battleship during World War II.  His great grandfather was Head Chef at the Eastern Shipping Company during the Raj.

His accolades include two AA Rosettes; Chef of the Year - Craft Guild of Chef's Awards, Wales's representative on BBC2's Great British Menu, Chef of the Year Award - UK Craft Guild of Chef's award; Goldstar Welsh Curry Chef of the Year - Welsh Curry Awards; Goldstar English Curry Chef of the Year - English Curry Awards ; 'Best UK Indian Chef' - Cobra Good Curry Guide, Outstanding Asian and Oriental Chef of the Year.  In 2019 DUSK won the LUXlife award for Best Fine Dining Shisha Experience.

The restaurants do not serve alcohol, although customers are welcome to bring their own drinks, with no charge for corkage. 

Kushi offers free home delivery within a 4-mile radius. Takeaways not ready for collection within 20 minutes from Sunday to Thursday, are free, excluding tandooris.  No artificial food colourings are used. The many vegan dishes offered, reflect the plant-based origin of most Indian cooking.  There are also healthy grilled, protein-rich meat dishes available.

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