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Swedish chef wins UK curry prize

Published: 30 Nov 10 07:57 CET | Print version
Updated: 30 Nov 10 14:17 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/30508/20101130/

Mohammed Razaul Karim, the head chef and owner of the prize-winning Indian Garden in Stockholm, has gained international recognition for the quality of his curries.

Karim heads to London on Tuesday to receive his Curry Life Award of Excellence Prize, the Dagens Nyheter (DN) daily reported.

Bangladesh-born Karim moved to Sweden from London in the mid-1990s after having learned his trade at his cousin's restaurant and he makes regular visits to the UK to keep abreast of what's new on the curry front, the newspaper reported.

It seems that the feeling is mutual, at least when it concerns Indian Garden's spicy fare, with one customer who was in London at the time, putting in a dinner order at his favourite Stockholm eatery.

”It was a British customer who lives in Stockholm, but was in the UK at the time. He had a friend who he asked to come by and pick up some food for him, when he was on his way to London," Hassan Mian at Indian Garden told The Local on Tuesday.

Indian Garden is located in the Södermalm area of central Stockholm and it is not the first time that its cuisine has been recognised. DN awarded the restaurant a Golden Dragon for the best restaurant in Stockholm, in 2004.

"It was like winning the Nobel Prize. The day after, there was a long queue outside on the street. Since then, it has been fully booked every day," Karim told DN.

The award gave Karim both an appetite and the possibility for expansion and a sister restaurant has been open closer to Medborgarplatsen. Furthermore, there are plans to open a New Indian Garden - a fine dining concept with around 200 places.

But the restaurant where he made his name is not for sale, Karim told the newspaper.

"I will never move. I am 'born' in these premises," he told DN.

Peter Vinthagen Simpson
news@thelocal.se
+46 8 656 6513

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09:00 November 30, 2010 by mac_007
Swedish Indian chef.............Bangladesh-born Karim moved to Sweden from London....................how funny editing
09:20 November 30, 2010 by JulieLou40
Comment removed by The Local for breach of our terms.
09:38 November 30, 2010 by Ranjit T Edward
Bangladesh was a part of Pre-independent India. That was in 1947. I doubt, this gentleman being born before that. Nevertheless, I think what the article is saying is that it was a chef specialised in India food! Seems like they got all mixed in the 'curry' preparation. Makes sense though, as lots of Indian curry houses in the UK are run by Bangladeshis!

Well done Karim!!
09:42 November 30, 2010 by Rick Methven
The term Indian cuisine nowadays refers to food from the Indian sub continent so it could be dishes originating from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh
09:53 November 30, 2010 by bolababu
If Karim moved to Sweden from London in the nineties, he most probably naturalized and is now a Swedish citizen. I could deduct that from just reading the article so if you haven't had coffee this morning, please endeavor to do so and then read the article again.
10:11 November 30, 2010 by Åskar
And Indian Garden is truly one of the best curry-houses in Stockholm. From a selfish point of view I am not happy with this write-up as it will be even harder to get a seat now.

@Rick Methven

I doubt there is one Indian restaurant in Stockholm managed by someone with roots in The Republic of India. Most of them are from Bangla Desh, with some from Kashmir and one notable Pakistani.
10:37 November 30, 2010 by Rishonim
Indian food gives me gas and nightmares of biblical proportions;-)))
15:16 November 30, 2010 by Akhilesh
Indian garden doesnt tastes like Indian in any way....you cannot order dishes like butter chicken, they do not have Tandoor(Indian grill which uses coal)....their nan doesnt tastes one bit like a nan we get in India....seems like Prize was given by Bangladeshi or was purchasd
15:50 November 30, 2010 by Swedesmith
Judging by the picture, they use the freshest ingredients for their poultry dishes.
16:12 November 30, 2010 by stillwatersrd
I like green Thai curries best.
16:38 November 30, 2010 by asian123
he should name his restaurent as bangladeshi restaurent.

most indian restaurents are not run by indians. so they should name their country name because they dont like india thats why they are divided from india and had a war 3 or 4 times.
18:11 November 30, 2010 by paul56
Man Man, who cares where he comes from or how bad the editing is!! the bottom line is that like most of us on here he came here as an immigrant and has followed his dream to a success!! well done to him he has inspired me i dont know about anyone else??
18:54 November 30, 2010 by maxfrombd
well said paul56.

so funny that ppl are arguing about Bangladesh-India and bla bla bla instead of acknowledging a reward a Swedish citizen (where ever he is from). of course most of the indian dishes all over the world are fusion with indian spices and local taste. Chines restaurants do the same everywhere. you should remember, the best food from one country can be treated the worse in another country. all swedish ppl should be thankful to these bangladeshi restaurants which are helping you to taste indian spices/ flavors, coz indian ppl can not represent their food outside of their country.

congratulate Rezaul karim, keep up good work. Just dont be blamed for misusing ur achievement and for using immigrant ppl with low payment.
21:27 November 30, 2010 by Kaethar
Well done! :)
23:22 November 30, 2010 by Muhammad Yousuf Soomro
congratulate Rezaul karim
11:30 December 1, 2010 by Åskar
@Akhilesh, "... their nan doesnt tastes one bit like a nan we get in India"

What you mean to say is "... their nan doesn't taste one bit like my mother's".
17:03 December 1, 2010 by mRana
Its not a problem with his Born and its not a problem that a Indian restaurant was run by a Bangladeshi . Its just a matter that he won the prize , though h is not a Indian . All the Indian can take it as shame but .. as a emigrant like us ; he is just a example to follow . Well done Mr Karim .WE ARE VERY HAPPY .Congratulation !!!!!!!!!!!
00:24 December 5, 2010 by RealFact
Who selected him as best ? and there are lots of Indian Restaurents in Sweden. Indian Cooks are coocking more best foods in Sweden. My question is will the selection committee from london have invited to all Indian Restaurent's cook of Sweden to attend in the selection process. Whats are the criteria to select only him to give the award. This is simply a game of money. For the journalists............will this question is not came to all of your minds ... or all of your mouth is full of ..his food......that you ve forget the question, i ve raised here?????????????
16:55 July 5, 2011 by tallink
fast a fall he never been england before sweden, so how he get knowlge of indian food before he came in sweden!!! he is a big lair.hes first visit in uk 2003 or 2004 one of those year.the one who selected him in uk he is hes cousins and all are only desplay for him self future winnig in sweden to make sure 2012 winning price.uk price is making by hes cousin who live in uk and had havely good relasion with those committee,.this is cheating only nothing ells!!!money made money but he forget this is sweden not bangladesh.
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