Mark Poynton, Chef Patron of Michelin starred restaurant Alimentum in Cambridge, has been appointed resident chef of this year’s Taste of Britain Curry Festival 2015 in Chennai, India.
The annual nine-day food festival, organised by Curry Life Magazine and endorsed by Prime Minister David Cameron, will showcase not only our finest homegrown cuisine but also UK versions of India’s traditional dish, helping to promote the British curry industry both in the UK and India.
From 6- 14 March, Mark will showcase his award-winning food at Focaccia restaurant in the five star luxury hotel, Hyatt Regency Chennai. In his first trip to India, Mark will be offering the Best of British: concocting up a gourmet dream, he will demonstrate the unique, cutting-edge gastronomy that has earned him his Michelin star and three AA Rosettes in the UK.
Mark Poynton said: “I’m really looking forward to showcasing high quality British food in India using a menu of fresh, original dishes full of vibrant flavours.
“I am a very big fan of curry and what really excites me even more is that I will be with a team of some the best curry chefs from the UK. I am really looking forward to working alongside them and flying the flag for British cuisine in India. Hopefully we will get a chance to try some of the local dishes too.”
Mark will be producing some of his ‘Best of British’ signature dishes including:
Cod rolled in onion ash, onion salad, red lentils
Roast breast of duck, charred and puréed broccoli, peanut and lime, crispy black rice
Breast of chicken, butternut squash pickle, puree and roast, creamed cabbage jus gras
Pumpkin risotto, watercress, pumpkin seed and blue cheese salad
A number of the UK’s leading curry chefs will also be flying to India to cook in another of the Hyatt Regency’s restaurants as they take the curry back to its ‘spiritual’ home for the ten day festival. They will be serving up high street favourites such as Chicken Tikka Masala, Balti, Jalfrezi and Madras (formerly the name of the city of Chennai), which firmly remains at the top of the menus at Indian restaurants.
About Mark Poynton
Mark is one of the UK’s leading chefs and is Chef Patron of the award-winning Alimentum restaurant in Cambridge. Within a year of arriving at Alimentum and taking the head chef position, the restaurant gained three AA rosettes. In October 2012 the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in the 2013 guide. Mark was shortlisted for The Craft Guild of Chefs ‘Restaurant Chef of the Year’ award 2013. In April 2014, Mark appeared on BBC Two’s Great British Menu representing the central region and reaching the Friday final. Then in July 2014, Alimentum was voted number 10 in Square Meal Lifestyle’s Top 50 restaurants outside London.
About Taste of Britain Curry Festival
Trade publication Curry Life Magazine is responsible for organising the festival showcasing the cuisine of some of the UK’s top curry chefs. The festival has visited various countries in Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia in partnership with many leading hotel groups and airlines.
For further information, contact: Syed Belal Ahmed, Curry Life
+447956 439458 or sbelal@btinternet.com