He's more used to serving up the fruits of the sea.

But celebrity chef Rick Stein couldn't resist the lure of a fine curry for his latest TV series and inevitable book spin-off that celebrate his favourite recipes.

And so, of course, he turned to Bradford for inspiration and a top tasting meal.

His tastebuds took him to the Karachi Restaurant in Neal Street - reputedly the city's oldest curry house.

There, with film crew in tow, Rick tucked into the house speciality, a lamb and spinach Karahi curry.

Restaurant owner Mumrez Khan, pictured, allowed the television crew to film in the dining room and the kitchen before they all tucked into a sumptuous lunch, with the favoured recipe likely to star in the Rick Stein's Food Heroes series and book.

Now Mr Khan has received a letter from the Cornwall-based chef, thanking him for the "lovely lunch and for taking so much time out of your busy day to help us".

The letter, praises the "excellent recipe" and goes on to say: "We will be including it in the book to accompany the series and I feel sure it is going to be very popular."

The restaurant opened in 1953, and walking though the door is like stepping back in time, with the decor remaining virtually unchanged.

Already extremely popular, the owner has been warned to expect to be run off his feet when the series is aired.

"I am pleased and proud," said Mr Khan, who admitted he did not know how Rick Stein had come to hear about the restaurant. "They interviewed me and it was marvellous.

"A lot of restaurants won't give away recipes but I didn't mind because we have customers coming from miles away and they will have a chance to go and make the food themselves.

"Rick Stein picked the dish from the menu himself but it is one of my favourites. We can cater for about 80 people but he said we will be very busy when the book comes out!"

A spokesperson for the BBC said the series would probably be screened in August and runs for ten weeks.

The book is expected to be published in September.

Rick Stein, who is still travelling the country filming for the series, said he thought the Karachi Restaurant was amazing.

"I loved it and it will be featured in the book," he said. "The series is about people who go out of their way to provide or locate the best food and those people in my life whose enthusiasm for food, whether by writing about it or cooking it, has deeply influenced me.

"The book to go with the series is not just about fish, but contains my favourite recipes, everything from wild mushrooms and devilled kidneys on hot buttered toast to roast chicken with tarragon."

Other recipes in the book include crisp Chinese roast belly pork with steamed rice, pigeon with peas, rhubarb crumble and sour dough bread.