Cooking for a dinner party is enough to make most people nervous. But imagine being invited to cook for 700 guests, including hundreds of MPs and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Head Chef and Northampton business owner, Tipu Rahman, stayed cool when the heat was turned up. He was invited to cook at Gono Bhaban, the stately residence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed. The after-budget banquet took place on July 22 in the capital city, Dhaka.
Mr Rahman delighted diners with his award-winning mango chicken. With the help of 15 other chefs working under his instruction, he prepared dozens of dishes, many of which were fish. Seafood is a favourite in Bangladesh, Tipu’s homeland. He first learned to cook there with his mother before training in Leicester to be a chef.
“I chose the menu and was informed of any special dietary requirements,” said Tipu. “Everyone enjoyed the meal and the Prime Minister said she would be calling on me again to cook for other formal occasions.”
Vice Principal Abdus Shahid, MP of the Bangladeshi Government sent a special letter of thanks after the event.
“Tipu is well known,” confirmed business partner, Naz Islam. “He is like the Gordon Ramsay of Bangladesh, that’s why he was chosen. He’s never nervous at these functions because he is used to them. On this occasion Indian Cobra Beer sponsored him and paid for the journey.”
Together, Naz and Tipu own and run Tamarind Restaurant on Wellingborough Road. The talented chef is a bit of a celebrity in the UK, too. He won International Indian Chef of the Year 2009 and has already cooked for many famous names. The Bangladesh national cricket team have eaten at the Tamarind and in August the Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, was spotted dining there.
Tipu confessed, “I’ve cooked for him before in Bangladesh about three years ago and he said he was going to come to our restaurant when he was in Northampton. David ‘tweeted’ afterwards that he’d had a great lunch - cooked by star chef Tipu Rahman.”
So next time you visit the Tamarind, take a camera - you never know who you might be sitting next to!
70 by Christine Barton
“When I first heard about The Seafood Café my first thought was, at last a restaurant that specialises in fish dishes right here in Northampton!”
The Hillery’s get all their fish delivered daily from one of the best fresh fish suppliers in the south of England, Billingsgate fish market in London.
My partner and I went along on a Thursday evening so we were surprised to find the restaurant buzzing with a lively atmosphere! Clearly, the new venue is already gaining popularity!
The menu was all so delicious we decided to have a small taster of several of the dishes. For starters we tried the scallops which were cooked perfectly and the potted crab, salmon, rocket and pink grapefruit were an excellent mix of flavours.
Then it was on to the main course! We tried the lobster Thermidore (when available from the specials blackboard) this was excellent and very fresh. I would also recommend the cod in beer batter made from their own special recipe!
We finished our meal with a selection of fine cheeses which was a delicious end to a great evening.
Other starters on the menu included smoked mackerel pate with toast and watercress, scallops and chorizo with rocket lemon and olive oil and homemade fish cakes and the main dish line up had everything from sea bass, mackerel and haddock to scampi and the fresh fish specials of the day.
If fish doesn’t float your boat the Café even offers steak dishes all sourced from Northamptonshire farms, along with pastas and risottos.
They also boast a whole host of fine wines, quality lagers, local ales and a children’s menu is available The Seafood Café certainly brings a taste of the coast to Northampton and is a must for fish lovers and foodies everywhere.
With outstanding service, a top chef and a great atmosphere you can see why this unique restaurant is fast-becoming one of the most popular eateries in Northampton!
Opening Times
Monday: Closed - Tuesday: 12 noon – 3pm & 5.30pm – 10pm Wednesday: 12 noon – 3pm & 5.30pm – 10pm Thursday: 12 noon – 3pm & 5.30pm – 10pm Friday: 12 noon (all day) 10pm - Saturday: 12 noon (all day) 10pm Sunday: 12 noon – 4pm
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Husband and wife team Tim and Emma Hillery have brought a taste of the ocean to Northampton as they have recently opened the town’s only speciality seafood restaurant! Neon magazine editor Janice Ogle went along to The Seafood Café on St Giles Street to check it out!
A Taste of the Sea…
“When I first heard about The Seafood Café my first thought was, at last a restaurant that specialises in fish dishes right here in Northampton!”
www.theseafoodcafe.com 47-49 St Giles Street, Northampton Tel: 01604 627989
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