We just celebrated our fourth birthday, but TATTGOC is going through a slightly transitional period adjusting to a new status quo. Regular readers might have thought they were about to be fobbed off with a series of old posts hastily reframed as "Retrospective: TATTGOC Classics" or "The Tramp's Favourite Post Of The Past Four Years". But no, we're better than that. You're getting fobbed off with the mostly cut-and-pasted results of the British Curry Awards, which took place at Battersea Evolution (!) earlier this very week.

If you've ever played Marvel Vs Capcom 2, it's hard not to blurt "Berserker Farage"

Now in their eighth year, the British Curry Awards are organised by Mr Enam Ali (pictured above) and the 2012 installment was hosted by Jenny Bond and Rory Bremner. (We like to imagine that this meant all the nominees in each category were announced in the rat-a-tat yet dapper style of horseracing commentary legend Peter O'Sullevan, because Jenny Bond is awesome at that.) Among the hundreds of curry fans and nominees in attendance, there were quite a few personalities and celebs, including Chris Grayling MP, recent Harry And Paul guest star Nigel Farage and Dragons' Den dude Theo Paphitis. Other notable guests included Catchphrase legend Roy Walker and Highlander star/Mother India regular James Cosmo. JAMES COSMO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

A keen astronomer, Cosmo once reviewed Orion's Belt. "Three stars," he said

Prime Minister David "Dave" Cameron has long supported the awards, and while he could not appear in person, he did open the event with a video message. “It is often said that curry is Britain's national dish – and it’s easy to see why," he said. "It’s not just the flavours served up in the thousands of curry restaurants across the country, it is the welcome too. Those who work in the curry industry enliven Britain’s high streets, boost local economies and contribute to local communities.” And in all honesty, we find it hard to disagree. So after Scotland did so well in the recent Curry Capital 2012 competition, how did we fare in these awards? And when are they going to introduce a "punniest blog" category?


Best Restaurant Scotland Taj Indian, Prestwick
Best Restaurant North East Aagrah, Leeds
Best Spice Restaurant North West Indian Ocean, Ashton-under-Lyne
Best Spice Restaurant Midlands Itihaas, Birmingham
Best Newcomer Restaurant Midlands Five Rivers A La Carte, Walsall
Best Restaurant Wales Rasoi Indian Kitchen, Swansea
Best Restaurant South East Haweli, Twyford, Berkshire
Best Newcomer Restaurant South East Shampan 4 The Spinning Wheel, Westerham, Kent
Best Restaurant South West Spice Lodge, Cheltenham
Best Newcomer Restaurant South West The Mint Room, Bath
Best Restaurant Central London and City Bombay Palace, Paddington
Best Newcomer Restaurant Central London and City Chakra, Notting Hill
Best Restaurant London Suburbs Chak 89, Surrey
Best in Casual Dining The Chilli Pickle, Brighton

There was further success for Scotland when the Best Delivery Restaurant/Takeaway title was awarded to Mushtaqs in Hamilton, which is as fine a reason as any to use this excellent picture from their website:

A terrific image, certainly, but for a Hamilton curryhouse, one ripe for a "Bellahouston, we have a problem" gag

There was also a Special Recognition Achievement Award for Dipna Anan, noting her professional successes in the catering industry, the first time that this award has been bestowed upon a woman. So congratulations to all the winners, especially the Taj Indian and Mushtaqs for representing Scotland so well. And if the Casual Dining winner Chilli Pickle in Brighton sounds familiar, The Tramp discussed it in some detail within the review section of episode six of our excellent Keep Calm And Curry On podcast.

The British Curry Awards attracts around 270,000 public votes so is not to be sniffed at. And here at TATTGOC, we've been inspired to hold our own impromptu mini-awards – Best Background Music On A British Curry Award Winner's Website. Choosing just one victor from the crowded field was too difficult, so here are the top three, starting with the gold:

1. Haweli, Tyford – undoubtedly authentic and yet upbeat
2. Spice Lodge, Cheltenham – traditional but laidback, an invitation to linger
3. Five Rivers A La Carte, Walsall – contemporary but pleasingly spacey

And that's it for another week on TATTGOC. Next Thursday, we'll be casting an eye backwards to try and ascertain once and for all ... what is The Tramp's favourite post of the past four years?

SOME OTHER RECENT TATTGOC NEWS POSTS
Happy 4th Birthday To Us (Now With Added Births)
Curry Capital 2012 Result: The TATTGOC Breakdown 
Screen Queens Keen You Glean Cuisine Means In National Curry Week
Put Down That Yorkie And Prepare Thyself For National Curry Week
The Tramps Go "POP"
Our Curry Podcast Hits Double Figures Yet Maturity Remains Elusive
Let's Get Back To Helping Glasgow Reclaim The Curry Capital Title
Woo-Who! It's Edinburgh's Curry Tardis!
Edinburghers Recommend Their Favourite Curryhouse – Part Two
Edinburghers Recommend Their Favourite Curryhouse – Part One