Family chefs will battle to win Gordon Ramsay restaurant title

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who travelled the country searching for exceptional restaurants for his Channel 4 series, said the food at Prashad was the best vegetarian cuisine he had ever had.

The series has been split into eight restaurant categories, with a short-listed two from each category battling it out each week for a place in the final. The overall winner will be crowned Ramsay’s Best Restaurant.

Prashad in Horton Grange Road, Bradford, defeated multi award-winning London restaurant Brilliant in the Indian restaurant category.

During the programme, the chef told the Prashad team: “You have raised the bar in this competition” and described the food as “extraordinary”.

“I sent 30 diners to your restaurant and they loved it, then I sent in my secret cameramen and they loved it,” he said.

Prashad was established in 1992 by Mohan and Kaushy Patel, selling traditional Indian snacks and sweets.

It developed into an award-winning restaurant offering traditional Gujarati and Punjabi vegetarian cuisine with Mr and Mrs Patel working alongside oldest son Bobby Patel and his wife Minal.

Bobby Patel said: “Our success has mainly grown from word of mouth. To be nominated for Gordon Ramsay’s programme was fantastic, but to make the last 16 then win through to the semi-final was an amazing feat for a small northern restaurant.

“Gordon was so complimentary about the food and overall service, and although it was daunting to cook for 30 diners under his watchful eye, he was obviously impressed. I am so proud of Minal, Kaushy and the team.

“We’re all passionate about food and it’s rewarding to introduce new customers to the very best Indian vegetarian cuisine. Since the programme was broadcast, the restaurant has been packed every night, although none of our diners are quite as intimidating as Gordon!”

The semi-final of Ramsay’s Best Restaurants, in which Prashad is competing, will be screened on Channel 4 tomorrow at 9pm.