tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

Canterbury residents are going jalfrezi for the food of the east with the city and its surrounding villages boasting nine Indian restaurants.

A new survey reveals that people are making samosa of it with city centre restaurants Apeksha, Kashmir Tandoori (pictured right), The Ancient Raj, Tia Indian Cuisine, The Indian Brasserie at The Black Horse, Jalsha and Raj Venue, Sturry restaurant Spice Master and The Salma in Wingham.

The findings by Kent-based producer of spice mixes bitspicy.com show that three in five people in the county eat a curry at least once a week.

Madras is the most popular dish, followed by tikka masala and korma.
With just over 250 Indian restaurants in Kent, people are raita-way choosing Canterbury for their biryani, dhansak or madras.

Paul Babra, who founded the Canterbury Curry Club a decade ago, says the English have always had a long love affair with spicy servings.

“I have often been asked why the British like curry and why it is one of the most popular cuisines in this country and one of the biggest things is that people are attracted to is its simplicity,” he said.

“It’s not that there is a magic ingredient, it’s that it’s a simple combination of ingredients like ginger, garlic, onions and spices. People like it and here in Canterbury our curry nights have proved very successful

“Canterbury Curry Club is also having a stall at the Eurofair again and people look at the food we are cooking in front of them are inspired and confident by seeing us make it.

“We are also going to do events in countries like France and Belgium so the appeal is spreading outside the UK.”

Maidstone is home to the most curry restaurants in the county with 14 while Chatham comes in with 13 and Gillingham and Gravesend both have 12.

The Canterbury Curry Club will have a stall at the Eurofair in Dane John Gardens from September 23 - 25.