THIS year has seen Tamarind, one of Northampton’s most successful restaurants, celebrating its 12th anniversary in some style.
To mark the occasion, award-winning chef Tipu Rahman invited guests to join him at his restaurant to enjoy dinner and a look back over 12 successful years.
The Tamarind menu is packed with healthy regional Asian food, reflecting the diversity of the cuisine of the region – while Tipu continues to devote a great deal of time to promoting quality food, through his involvement with the Bangladeshi Caterers Association (BCA) and close links with the Bangladesh High Commission.
Last year, he brought the prestigious Curry Chef Awards, organised by the BCA, to Northampton when the finalists battled it out for the title in the kitchens at Northampton College.
Recent years have seen Tipu collect a number of awards, including International Chef of the Year and BCA Caterer of the Year, as well as having an entry in the Guinness World Record book for the tallest poppadom tower. He used 1,275 poppadoms to create a 5ft 8in tower.
The restaurant has employed almost 200 different people since it launched, but three members of the team have remained there since day one. Restaurant manager Aklakur Rana, tandoori chef Abdul Matin and chef Abdul Ahad have remained a constant part of the team.
Tipu said: “When I established Tamarind I wanted to give people a restaurant they’d enjoy time and time again. The support of my wife, three sons and daughter has helped me enjoy 12 very special years. I have created memories and gained friends that will last a lifetime.”