FOOD+DRINK
KEN T’S TA M AR I N D & E V E REST INN WIN A T T H E
ASI A N C U R R Y AW AR D S
T A M A R IN D
EVEREST INN
Tamarind Indian restaurant in Kemsing, near
Sevenoaks in Kent, has been named as the Asian
Restaurant of the Year with Everest Inn, Ashford
scooping the Best Nepalese Restaurant Award at
this year’s Asian Curry Awards.
Over 700 VIP guests attended the Asian hospitality
sector’s most prestigious event, held at the Grosvenor
House in London’s Mayfair, where this year’s Guest
of Honour at the Awards, London Mayor Sadiq
Khan praised the Asian restaurateurs contribution
to our society, saying: “By bringing the best of Asian
culinary traditions to these shores, these restaurant
owners have expanded not only the choice of food
available to the British public, but our very identity
as an open, inclusive and multicultural nation.”
The Asian Curry Awards judges who visited the
Tamarind restaurant in October, commented
on the “exceptionally friendly service, and warm,
lively ambience.”
Receiving his award Tamarind owner Suna Meah,
said: “This is the best moment in my 30-year career
in the hospitality business.”
FRESH N EW S T A R T F O R
H I STOR I C C O UN T R Y PUB
Meah now plans to add a short, seasonally changing,
fine dining menu using more local produce including
Chart Farm venison and celebrated the win with a
VIP celebratory party, attended by insideKENT’s
Anna Lockyer, to thank local customers from the
lovely villages of Kemsing, Otley and Seal, who
voted for them.
Jeeb Pandey, owner of Everest Inn, commented:
“We are delighted with our award that recognises
our efforts to bring outstanding Nepalese cuisine to
Kent and beyond.”
THE MAIDSTONE DISTILLERY
SET T O O P EN EA RL Y 202 0
The Queens Head in the
picturesque village of Boughton,
nr Faversham, has a new look –
and new faces behind the bar.
Husband and wife team Reuben
and Kate Love have taken over
the historic Shepherd Neame
pub, which was built in 1590 and
has recently undergone a
£100,000 refurbishment project.
With the Shepherd Neame
brewery just three miles away in
Faversham, the Queens Head
naturally serves distinctive
Kentish cask ales in peak
condition. Open Tuesday -
Sunday, It also offers a selection
of local and international lagers
along with a carefully selected
wine list and range of premium spirits, with food available every day.
It is a welcome return to Shepherd Neame for the couple, as they previously
worked for the company for 20 years, managing pubs across Kent including
the Royal Oak, Dartford; Early Bird, Grove Green; and Crown Inn, Chislehurst.
Reuben said: “We enjoyed working with Shepherd Neame in the past and
are really pleased to be back with them again. We have lots of plans for the
coming months, but our primary aim is to ensure that our pub is at the heart
of the local community, and everyone feels welcome here. We love what we
do, and we are really excited about this new challenge.”
Husband and wife team, Darren and Sam Graves are set to return Maidstone
to it’s renown distilling roots, with the opening of new distillery in the heart
of Kent. Following a six-figure investment, and featuring a 450-litre bespoke
copper still designed by master distiller Gerard Evans, the distillery will produce
artisan spirits of the highest quality; gin, vodka, liqueurs and eventually whisky;
as well as offering distillery tours and make-your-own gin experiences using
mini copper stills. There will also be a premium bar and shop.
The new business has sought to involve the local community and drinks
enthusiasts at an early stage and currently offers Founding Memberships and
unique member events. With three completely different spirits available at
launch, Darren and Sam are story-tellers as well as distillers and each spirit
will have its only special story and inspiration, a celebration of history, people
and landscape.
Leading the project Darren Graves, a father of three, who served in the Army,
and has a proven track record of running local businesses said: “We want to
give Maidstone its spirit back.”
www.themaidstonedistillery.com
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