The heat is on as a shortage of chefs hits Asian cuisine

This follows news that restaurateurs throughout the country are facing an unprecedented curry crisis and are struggling to find skilled chefs due to a tightening of immigration laws.

Event organiser Colin Burt said: “Because of the crisis, colleges need to address the skills shortage in Asian restaurants, and where better to begin than Bradford?

“The shortage in skilled chefs has prompted the launch of the Junior Curry Chef Competition. We’re keen to promote and encourage British-born chefs, both female and male, to develop the skills needed to fill the gap.”

Changing social values within the Asian communities has meant that aspirational young people are often no longer choosing to follow in their parents’ footsteps and go into the family catering business.

This has meant that one in four jobs for chefs is vacant. This red-hot issue has since been the subject of Parliamentary debate, with the cuisine worth a staggering £3.5bn to the UK economy.

Earlier this year, Bradford College launched the International Food Academy to address the skills shortage in the industry, with a range of innovative new courses that focus on specialist qualification in Asian and international cuisine.

Lecturer Colin Burt is the head chef at the International Food Academy, and with the backing of award-winning restaurants Omar Khan’s, Akbars, Nawaab, Mumtaz, Aagrah and Prashad, Bradford College has begun the search to find up-and-coming British talent to perfect the perfect pakoras and learn the secrets of brilliant baltis.

Competition entrants must be 18 or younger and will have 90 minutes to impress a panel of award-winning judges with their preparation, cooking and presentation of a curry dish of their choice.

“Because of the changes in immigration law, local restaurants are looking to employ non-Asian staff to plug the skills gap shortage,” says Colin.

Prashad’s Bobby Patel is embracing the idea of recruiting non-Asian staff into his kitchen’s restaurant.

“We’re not talking about getting a white face into the kitchen; we are talking about getting talent into the kitchen and finding those stars, irrespective of ethnicity,” he said.

“Taking part in a competitive environment demonstrates the commitment these young chefs have to learn the subtleties of Asian cuisine.

“I’m very proud to be part of this competition and expect to see some great talent.

“The Indian restaurant scene is changing and it’s great to be part of this exciting time.”

Full details on how to enter the competition can be found at www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/junior-curry-chef-2011