The renowned Cinnamon Kitchen hosted the 2012 Diwali Banquet raising money for Action Against Hunger’s programmes around the world.
The top chef line-up includes Vivek Singh (Cinnamon Club), Abdul Yaseen (Cinnamon Kitchen), Sriram Aylur (Quilon), Shelina Permalloo (MasterChef winner 2012), Anjum Anand (food writer and broadcaster) and Sameer Taneja (Benares). The Host for the night was TV presenter Hardeep Singh Kohli
Shelina Permalloo (MasterChef winner 2012), Anjum Anand (food writer and broadcaster)
After being crowned the winner of Master Chef 2012 Shelina Permalloo has been catapulted into the culinary world. She wowed the audience and the judges with her creative Mauritian dishes, and is now embarking on her career combining her talent and passion as an up and coming chef.
Anjum Anand is regarded as the queen of healthy, contemporary Indian cookery. Her first six-part prime-time BBC2 series Indian Food Made Easy aired in 2007 to a fanfare of positive publicity. Anjum was described as ‘the Indian Nigella’ and a wonderful advocate for simple, colourful, low-fat Indian food.
Head Chef Abdul Yaseen of Cinnamon Kitchen finishes off canapés
Host Hardeep Singh Kohli has been involved in numerous series across BBC Radio. Last year he recorded the critically acclaimed Hardeep Singh Kohli’s Alternative Census for Radio 4 and has just finished broadcasting Great British Faith on BBC Radio 2. His first book Indian Takeaway was nominated for an Independent Book Award. In 2011 he co-authored Food of the Grand Trunk Road with Anirudh Arora head chef at Moti Mahal a culinary book and journey from Calcutta to the Punjab
Briefing of this year's chefs include Vivek Singh and Abdul Yaseen of Cinnamon Kitchen, Sriram Aylur of Quilon, 2012 Masterchef winner Shelina Permalloo and Executive Chef Sameer Taneja of Benares and food writer and broadcaster Anjum Anand.
is regarded as the queen of healthy, contemporary Indian cookery. Her first six-part prime-time BBC series Indian Food Made Easy aired in 2007 to a fanfare of positive publicity.
Anjum was voted Personality of the Year at the 2009 British Curry Awards and her first book Indian Every Day was published by Headline in 2003 and remains an Indian cookery ‘must have’. Adarsh launched a new range of authentic and traditional Indian sauces called The Spice Tailor, which are currently sold throughout the UK in Waitrose stores.
Sameer Taneja is Head Chef at Benares , where, as Atul Kochhar's right hand man, he serves Michelin starred modern Indian cuisine with a contemporary British twist.
He then worked at the prestigious Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur, before moving to the UK in 2003 to develop his career further. Sameer has worked at such notable establishments as the 3 Michelin starred Waterside Inn, Restaurant One-o-One, Brasserie Joël and Koffmann's, learning from notable culinary figures including Alain Roux and Pierre Koffmann. Sameer started in his role at Benares in April 2012.
Seabass by executive Chef Sameer Taneja of Benares
Vivek Singh tastes Sameer Taneja's sea bass
Sriram Aylur The Telegraph ranked him one of the top 5 chefs in India. In 1999, Sriram opened the Quilon Restaurant in Westminster which achieved a Michelin Star in 2008. The Quilon’s menu is an amalgamation of Ethnic and Progressive dishes for example – Black Cod, Asparagus and Mange Tout and Lobster butter pepper.
Sriram Aylur's two type Chicken Curry
Vivek Singh executive chef of the Cinnamon Club and Kitchen
Vivek Singh's Lam curry dish
2012 Masterchef winner Shelina Permalloo
The evening was complemented by the acclaimed tabla player Mitel Purohit with his band S-Funk