When Iftikhar Hussain arrived in Bradford almost 30 years ago he was keen to get started in the kitchen.

"I couldn't wait," he says. "As a child growing up in Pakistan I was interested in cooking but I didn't get much chance to do any as my mum liked to make our meals and wasn't keen on the idea of me doing it. When I came here I wanted to show everyonewhat I could do."

And show them he did - earning himself an army of appreciative diners as he did so. His large fan-base in Bradford is largely due to him working at the same restaurant since he came to West Yorkshire.

"I learned everything I know here," he says, looking around the spacious, modern eaterie where he has more than made his mark. Iftikhar, 52, is head chef at Kebabeesh in New Line, Greengates.

He also credits his mum with inspiring him to cook well. "Although she didn't like me to cook, I learned a lot from watching her," he says.

A steady stream of regular customers are testament to the talented chef's reputation. With a team of chefs, he rustles up a wide range of dishes including korma, dopiaza, balti, karahi and jalfrezi, cooked using a variety of ingredients.

The team also cater for special functions - lunches, board meetings, weddings and dinner parties. "We are kept busy," says Iftikhar. "We work well together. We all have different tasks and when we work we come together like the fingers on one hand." He manages to stay calm under pressure. "I never get stressed or panic."

Iftikhar loves his craft - he enjoys the process of putting meals together. "The fact that you can create anything you want - the possibilities are endless. I like the freedom of being in the kitchen creating something different, something that you have not tasted before."

He adds: "I feel with cooking that I will never stop learning - I will be learning to the end of my life.

The menu is changed every other year. "We introduce new dishes, which customers are always keen to try."

Having worked for so long at Kebabeesh - which moved to Greengates from its original base in Whetley Lane 20 years ago - Iftikhar is well-known to many visitors to the restaurant. "When I walk into the restaurant from the kitchen, people stop me all the time. Sometimes people ask if they can come in the kitchen to watch us cooking."

At home in Bradford Moor Iftikhar lives with his wife and three teenage children.

The family eat mainly masala and balti-style dishes at home, occasionally having pizza or a Chinese meal. "I enjoy all types of food - I could not stick to one thing," he says.

Occasional visits to Pakistan - he hails from the Jhelum region of the Punjab - inspire him. "I am always on the lookout for new ideas. I read recipe books, and check out recipes on the internet too. I don't see cooking as just my profession - it is my hobby, my passion."

Iftikhar is happy at Kebabeesh. "I have been here for so long - I've had a lot of offers to go elsewhere but I've never been tempted."