Mayor of Northampton throws reception to mark town centre restaurant's Tiffin Cup triumph

Staff from Saffron were treated to an audience with the Mayor of Northampton to celebrate being named the best curry house in Britain.

Mayor of Northampton, Councillor Christopher Malpas, invited Saffron owner Naz Islam and his team, including award-winning chef Bodrul Islam, down to the Guildhall to officially congratulate the team on their win in this year’s Tiffin Cup.

The competition is an annual parliamentary search for the nation’s best South Asian cuisine, culminating in a cook-off at the House of Commons.

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Saffron, in Castilian Street, fought off competition from across the UK to win the coveted trophy.

Naz Islam said: “It’s been a whirlwind few days and the highlight of my career so far. To have has so much support from my home town has been truly humbling and it has been a real honour and a privilege to share our success with the Mayor.

“We hope this competition will put Northampton on the culinary map and attract new customers not only to Saffron but also to other restaurants in the town centre as well. Northampton is a superb place to eat out and when people get here they will be spoilt for choice.”

Executive chef Bodrul Islam prepared a stunning dish of ginger and lime seabass with curried lentils and pilau rice for the guest judges, who included TV chef and Strictly Come Dancing star Ainsley Harriott and House of Commons Speaker John Bercow MP.

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Saffron was initially nominated for the Tiffin Cup by David Mackintosh, Conservative MP for Northampton South before judges selected a shortlist to make it through to the final.

Mayor of Northampton, Councillor Christopher Malpas, said: “I am thrilled for Naz and his team and this is recognition of the hard he and his team put in to making Saffron one of the finest restaurants around.

“Winning the award is a real coup for Northampton. We have a lot to be proud of in the town and this is yet another reason to celebrate our vibrant town centre.”

The Tiffin Cup is awarded every year by the Tiffin Club of MPs, formed in 2006 by former MP John Barrett, Michael Fabricant MP and Keith Vaz MP.

The aim is not only to applaud the quality of South Asian food in Britain but also to raise much-needed money for charity. This year the competition is in aid of World Vision and Water Aid.