NOMINATIONS have now opened for the third annual Bradford Curry Awards which are celebrating the district’s ‘best of the best’ as well as introducing a brand new category.

Event director and founder Fatima Patel said the event gave all the district’s curry houses and chefs an opportunity to showcase what has given the city its curry capital crown for the past few years.

She said: “Curry has been at the heart of Bradford’s heritage and culture and the past two years have been an excellent get-together and celebration of the whole industry. This year takes it up a notch as we will be working with the Telegraph & Argus to join us in celebrating the core fabric of Bradford’s rich food offering.

“It’s also fantastic that we will be able to create platforms to profile others who are talented and perhaps want to enter the industry, but just need a little encouragement with our ‘Best Home Cook’ category. This year is really going to be our best ceremony yet.”

Steve Lowe, head of advertising with the Telegraph & Argus and sales director of the T&A’s digital arm, LOCALiQ, added: “Curry is at the heart of Bradford just like the T&A and it is great to celebrate another great Bradford export. “We expect huge competition to be crowned the best in the district.

“With supplements planned to promote the finalists and award winners, those that enter this year will enjoy great branding exposure to a huge local audience, we are really excited to be working with Fatima to bring the best awards ceremony in April.”

Nominations are now live for the public to nominate their favourite curry providers in nine categories, plus a brand new category to vote for the Best Home Cook.

This award is an initiative by Bradford Curry Awards to encourage more women to become professional chefs, with females accounting for less than 20 per cent of the UK industry.

Entrants for this category must send in their recipes by end of February. The best recipes will be shortlisted and the sender invited to cook in front of a panel of judges. The top five will be judged by a TV celebrity and the winner announced at the event.

The winner will also win the coveted BCA trophy, plus £500 cash and a free cooking course at Bradford College.

Ms Patel, who is also editor of Bradford-based Asian Sunday, added: “There’s little doubt Bradford is the undisputed king of curry having won Britain’s Curry Capital award six years in a row and is still the current title holder.”

“This year will also see Bradford’s regional newspapers Asian Sunday and Telegraph & Argus come together for the first time along with LOCALiQ.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Bradford Hotel on April 20 and as well as a celebrity guest, will consist of networking with street food, a host of inspirational speakers, comedy and a three-course meal.

The public has until February 29 to send in nominations by visiting https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/bcanominate/ or the website: www.bradfordcurryawards.co.uk. There will also be coupons in the T&A.

For tickets or sponsorship enquires contact fatima@bradfordcurryawards.co.uk or steve.lowe@localiq.co.uk