Media launch of
the Asian
Restaurant and
Takeaway Awards
(ARTA)
A remarkable and
memorable
evening was held
on the 17th
October 2017
when the Asian
Restaurant and
Takeaway Awards
(ARTA) was
inaugurated in a
carefully
planned and
executed media
launch. The
launch was
unveiled from
the Crowne Plaza
hotel
overlooking the
waterfront in
the London
docklands.
The venue was
buzzing
throughout the
evening with
known media
personalities,
journalists,
restauranteurs
and
representatives
from the British
curry
industry.
It took an
amazing turn
when the
glamorous
Samantha
Simmonds from
BBC World News
started to host
the show.
Powered by
ChefOnline, the
media launch was
a major stepping
stone for one of
the greatest
curry awards
extravaganza in
recent
years!
This launch made
it possible for
ARTA to
celebrate the
achievements and
successes by
Britain’s
favourite Asian
eateries.
This launch will
mark the initial
stage of the
recognition of
successful Asian
restaurants and
takeaways to
national
recognition.
ARTA is set to
announce the
nation’s
favourite and
most coveted
South Asian
restaurants
& takeaways,
including the
Newcomer of the
Year Award, Chef
of the Year
Award and the
Champion of the
Champions
Award.
Next year on the
30th September
2018, ARTA will
recognise the
outstanding
contribution
that the
restaurants and
takeaways offer
to the nation.
The final awards
ceremony will be
hosted at the
Arora Ballroom -
02
Intercontinental
London. Winners
will be crowned
the Champion of
the Champions
Award and a
trophy worth a
staggering
£40,000.
Founder
of
ARTA
awards,
CEO
of
ChefOnline,
M
A
Munim
(Salik)
mentioned
to
the
audience,
“tens
of
thousands
of
people
will
be
heard
as
the
public
vote
for
their
favourite
restaurants
and
takeaways
in
their
respective
regions.
After
a
series
of
local
competitions
and
cook-offs,
the
top
10
best
Asian
eateries
will
emerge
from
each
of
the
15
regions
up
and
down
the
country.
We
will
all
convene
in
London
next
year,
where
expert
judges
and
proud
sponsors
will
declare
the
winners.”
BBC
World
News
presenter
Samantha
Simmonds,
hosting
the
launch,
expressed
her
hope
that
ARTA
would
help
strengthen
the
voice
of
British
curry
lovers.
Fundraising
Director
of
OXFAM
GB,
Tim
Hunter,
celebrity
cricket
star
David
Malcom
and
Managing
Director
of
Canary
Wharf
Mr
Howard
Dawber
were
among
the
dignitaries
who
also
attended
the
extravagant
launch
of
ARTA.
On behalf of
Canary Wharf
Group Howard
Dawber expressed
his strong
support to make
the awards
ceremony a
success, he
said,
''Canary
Wharf Group
will be with
ARTA all the
way''.
David
Malcolm
emphasised
the
importance
of
curry
in
the
contemporary
British
society
and
said
he
would
like
to
work
with
ARTA
in
the
coming
months.
Tim
Hunter
said
he
was
excited
to
be
part
of
the
inaugural
journey
of
ARTA
and
wished
the
success
of
the
project
on
behalf
of
OXFAM.
President of
Bangladesh
Caterers’
Association
Kamal Yaqub,
former president
of the same
organisation
Pasha Khondokar,
former president
of British
Bangladesh
Chamber of
Commerce Muquim
Ahmed, President
of London Bangla
Press Club Syed
Nahas Pasha,
Chief Executive
Officer of ATN
Bangla UK Hafiz
Alam Bakhs,
president of
British-Bangladeshi
Caterers’
Association
Yafor Ali,
General
Secretary of the
same
organisation
Shahnoor Khan
and ambassador
of ARTA
Mitu Chowdhury
were among
others who spoke
at the event as
guest speakers.
Mr Pasha
Khondokar
expressed his
delight by
saying that ARTA
is going to
operate
alongside many
other awards. He
wished the
success of ARTA
& said,
''ARTA is
breaking new
grounds''.
The president of
BCA Kamal Yaqub
promised his
cooperation with
ARTA.
Yafor Ali said
that ''ARTA
would do
what was
promised by
not
compromising
the
standards of
the
awards''.
Mr Muquim Ahmed,
in his speech,
remembered the
difficulties and
obstacles of the
curry industry
in the early
days and hoped
that ARTA would
run a strong
campaign in
overcoming those
obstacles.
Steering
committee
members M A
Munim (Salik),
Zakir Khan,
Razak Amin
(Shahed) and
Kadrul Islam
answered many of
the questions
from the
audience.
A video
presentation
elaborately
explained the
project to the
audience. In the
presentation,
organisers of
ARTA promise the
participants an
opportunity to
win a brand new
car for
nominating their
favourite South
Asian
restaurant.