A THURROCK-based chef was recently acclaimed the best Indian chef in Essex.

Humayun Rashid, a chef at Kushi, who have restaurants across Essex including several in Thurrock, won 'Best Indian Chef in Essex' at the recent Asian and Oriental Chef Awards.

A cook-off contest between eight finalists took place at the Pillars Restaurant in Ealing, West London, with the finalists being whittled down from hundreds of national public nominations.

Humayun Rashid who is based at Kushi in Grays was recognised for his skills with the accolade of best Inadian chef in Essex.

The Asian and Oriental hospitality sector employs more than 100,00 people and contributes more than £5 billion to the UK economy.

Asian Catering Federation (ACF) chairman Yawar Khan, who organised the awards, said: "The pandemic has been devastating for the hospitality industry, but more forward-thinking chefs used their enforced lockdown to considerable effect, experimenting with different ingredients and taste fusions.

"The results have greatly impressed the judges."

The ACF awards are open to professional chefs working in Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese restaurants and takeaways.