Well the first four days have all gone rather well we understand as you can see by visiting Twitter #Obsession16 and now we have day five ahead of us with Chef Aktar Islam taking the helm at Northcote.
Chef Aktar IslamBirmingham born Aktar Islam is one of the leading figures of modern Indian cuisine in the UK. Since opening his flagship restaurant Lasan in 2002 aged just 22, the self-taught chef has acquired numerous accolades, and a national profile from appearances on TV shows such as Gordon Ramsay’s F Word (where Lasan won the show’s Best Local Restaurant competition) and Great British Menu.
Islam got something of a head start in the industry with a grandfather and father who both owned and ran restaurants. By the age of 13, he was already working in the family business after learning the fundamentals of authentic Indian food at his mother’s side from an early age.
Birmingham’s restaurant scene is especially well known for two things: curry and fine dining. Usually, you’d have to go to the world famous Balti Triangle south of the city to find the former and the centre to find the latter. But you’ll find both tucked away down a side street in the historic Jewellery Quarter in the form of the sleek and modern Lasan. Just as the minimalist interior is a million miles from the flock wallpaper cliché of the British curry house, so the food shatters preconceptions of what Indian food can be. Dishes such as the signature Elaichi beef are beautifully presented, use the finest British produce and are lighter and healthier than you could dare hope for.
For more detailed information about Chef Aktar Islam see the Northcote website profile here.
We wish everyone attending obsession 16 this evening especially Chef Aktar and brigade a very special evening and once again we look forward to following proceedings on Twitter.
We are also very much looking forward to joining Obsession 16 on Friday 5th February