Latest news with #curryhouse
The Guardian
13-07-2025
- The Guardian
The moment I knew: we hiked into the wilderness on Friday and emerged as a couple on Sunday
At the end of 2019 I was 15 months into a contract working in Fiji. The project was coming to an end and I was ready to head back to the UK when Stef showed up and changed everything. Working in international development, especially in more remote locations, means those in the sector tend to gravitate towards each other. Whenever a new crop of personnel show up, everyone gets together. It was Stef's third night on the island when we all descended on a local curry house in Suva to welcome her and the other volunteers. I arrived straight from work in a rather fetching sulu (Fijian sarong) and sandals. I was seated next to Stef and sparks flew instantly. She was clearly super bright, very funny and matched me in stacking away large quantities of chicken tikka butter masala (it's a thing and it's very good). We made plans to meet the following day and quickly began spending a lot of time together. We discovered we both loved hiking – which is excellent in Fiji – and not long after I met Stef, a group hike was planned. First though, I was off to a remote island for a week. After seven days out of phone range on a far-flung island, I arrived at the designated meeting point by plane, with a bucket of fresh lobster I'd been gifted, only to discover that everyone but Stef had pulled out. Knowing I was uncontactable she'd decided to take a five-hour bus odyssey across the main island, navigating two breakdowns and four transfers just to make sure I wasn't left in the lurch. She even showed up with leftover chicken palau. Being British I'm not always able to pick up on the subtle cues of romance, but being an Australian Stef isn't backwards in coming forward. The effort she'd made to come and meet me, when everyone else had not, was a sign of affection even I could read. Everything about the trek flowed easily and we hardly stopped chatting the whole weekend. While watching the stars together that first night I had the distinct impression this was it. That time together made it clear our connection was much more than just an aid-world fling. We'd hiked into the wilderness on Friday and emerged as a couple on Sunday. By New Year's Eve I'd told her how I felt. As Covid shuttered borders and nixed contracts, a few weeks later we were both sent back to our home countries. We were separated for nearly nine months. Our pandemic experiences were wildly different; Stef was working three jobs in outbreak response in New South Wales, while in the UK my main responsibility became drinking my way through the wine purchased for my sister's Covid-cancelled wedding. We spent hours on the phone, and as borders reopened, it was a no-brainer that we would find a way to be together again. By the end of the year we were reunited in Papua New Guinea and spent the next two and half years in Port Moresby. Last year we got married in the UK and thought we'd try our hand at a 'settled' life in Melbourne, but it wasn't long before our feet were itching. We've recently relocated to the Republic of the Congo where, if everything goes to plan, we'll spend the next couple of years continuing to affirm our love for each other, Test-match cricket and local curries. Do you have a romantic realisation you'd like to share? From quiet domestic scenes to dramatic revelations, Guardian Australia wants to hear about the moment you knew you were in love. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Fire-hit Shababs restaurant reopens in Birmingham
A curry house has reopened days after a staff member jumped from a window to escape flames. Shababs owner Zafar Hussain hailed the moment as "mission accomplished" after the Birmingham restaurant's top floor was gutted by a large blaze last Sunday. A separate downstairs kitchen has enabled the site to partially reopen. Mr Hussain said he did not want to lose his regular customers and added he wanted to honour bookings made by people going to Edgbaston to watch test match cricket next week. Costs are likely to total about £200,000, which will eventually be claimed back through insurers, he said. Well-known historian and regular customer Carl Chinn was among the first through the door on what Mr Hussain added was a "fairly busy night" despite reduced capacity."It was an emotional one," Mr Hussain said. "Everyone gave us a tap on the back to say we had done so well." Earlier this week, the 40-year-old told the BBC a lifetime of work by his family had been "burnt to a crisp in ten minutes". The fire was started by an oil fryer that had been left on in an upstairs kitchen and made worse by the use of the wrong fire extinguisher. "A lot of people thought 'that's it, Shababs is forever gone'," Mr Hussain added. "It's just a relief that we are back open again." It is hoped the entire restaurant will be open to diners from next week after staff "got their skates on" in a bid not to lose regulars. Well wishers from as far as Australia have sent words of support and Mr Hussain said the community's response had been "phenomenal". "It was important to me and vital that I reopened the restaurant for my family's sake," he added."My brother and father didn't have it in them to go [and see] the damage, they were just heartbroken. "For me to get it open and get punters in there was a mission accomplished." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Popular curry house at town's oldest pub wins gold award for championing healthy food
A Blackburn restaurant is celebrating winning the council's 'Gold Recipe 4 Health' award. The curry house which opened in Blackburn's oldest pub has been honoured for 'championing healthier dishes'. A spokesperson said: 'It is the ideal opportunity to showcase our brand new chicken mango avocado salad which we just launched. 'It is a vibrant mix of creamy avocado, refreshing mango, crisp veggies and fresh lettuce, tossed in a signature citrus honey dressing made in-house. Topped with grilled chicken, crunchy papri and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. 'Going healthier doesn't mean sacrificing flavour.' READ MORE: Meet the chef behind menu at dog-friendly, family-run pub listed in Michelin Guide MyLahore opened in 2022 in what was the old Red Lion Hotel, Whitebirk Road. The site was renovated both inside and out with exterior landscaping helping to free up parking for the 130-seater restaurant.
