British Prime Minister David Cameron is being shown around the kitchen as he arrives at the British Curry Awards ceremony at Battersea Park in London on Monday
Describing Indian food in the UK as a "Great British Industry", Prime Minister David Cameron has offered his support to the country's curry houses as they attempt to boost recruitment of skilled chefs from Asia.
As he enjoyed some spicy Indian food, referred to as "curry" in Britain, at the annual British Curry Awards in London this week, Cameron said, "The curry industry has been contributing, achieving and rising and that is the spirit we need more than ever in this country today".
"From the bottom of my heart, let me say thank you for everything you give to our country... I wish this Great British Industry every possible success in the years to come," he said at the event dubbed as the "Curry Oscars" in London on Monday night.
"Like any industry this one faces its own specific challenges and I know that there have been questions on immigration and getting chefs with the necessary experience. So let me promise you this - we will work through this together. We'll continue to help you get the skilled Asian chefs you need," he added to applause from leading restaurateurs and chefs gathered at the gala.
Around 236,000 public nominations were received this year via mobile app, email and post from across the UK and the winners were selected by a panel of judges in different categories for "Spice Restaurants".
Benaras, headed by Michelin-starred Indian-born British chef Atul Kochhar, bagged the award in the central London category, with curry houses from Leicester, Bristol and Kent among some of the others making the cut this year.
"Curry may have been born in India but now British curry has truly a place in the hearts and stomachs of people throughout the land. When we started the British Curry Awards in 2005 we were criticised for calling curry 'British'," said Enam Ali, founder of the awards.
"I am happy to take the blame for the changes in perception that have taken place since then because today British curry dishes such as Tikka Masala have an identity all of their own and are known and admired throughout the world," he said.
"Tonight we thought it would be a good idea to go back to our roots by including on the menu the dish that started it all for many of us - curry and chips - as a tribute to our masterful forefathers who invented the British curry and whom we salute," he added.
Each year, the British Curry Awards also presents a "Special Recognition Award" to an influential culinary personality, with past winners including Kochhar and international Indian culinary expert Madhur Jaffrey.
This year, the award was presented to Mohammed Aslam of the Aagrah Group of restaurants spread across the north of the UK.