Curry: The Story of Britain’s Favourite Dish

In 1810, an enterprising Indian called Sake Deen Mahomed opened the Hindostanee Coffee House in London, laying the foundation of a unique British institution - the curry house. The curry industry has grown rapidly over the years. There are over 8,500 Indian restaurants in Britain today and London claims to be the curry capital of the world. While chicken tikka masala has been has been officially recognised as a British dish, Britons eat their way through 200 million poppadums and 50,000 tons of rice a year. The industry has an annual turnover of over GBP2.5 billion and employs over 56,000 workers. The taste for Indian food is continually evolving. Indian restaurants have broken the Michelin barrier and have made their mark among other coveted London restaurants. The popularity of curry continues to soar and its future looks bright. The book traces the genesis and evolution of the curry industry, and pays tribute to those who put ‘curry’ on the British map and made it a universal favourite