A Take on History: How Brits Came to Love Indian Cuisine

Although Chinese cuisine have recently been taking ground as one of the most loved ethnic cuisine in Britain, British beer-and-curry weekends are not going anywhere. Britons’ love affair with curry is dug way too deep into the roots of history for it to be displaced in a snap. No doubt, Indian curry is the comfort food of millions of Brits, and its popularity goes back almost four hundred years ago.

When Queen Elizabeth I Said Yes

At the dawn of the 17^th century, London merchants decided it would be a worthy undertaking to cross the Indian Ocean to see if they can trade with an exotic land called India. They formed a joint-stock company called the East India Company, the sole purpose of which was to establish trade with the East Indies. They filed a petition to Queen Elizabeth I for permission to set sail, and on 1600 the petition was granted and a royal charter was bestowed upon it. 

Amidst wars against Portuguese and Spanish forces, the company hadmanaged to become the most powerful and dominating trading corporation in India. This further strengthened Britain as a world power. Soon after, British people settled in India and intermarried with Indian women. Indian seamen, known as langars, also boarded British ships and landed in London. By 1810 there were an estimated 1400 langarson English land, and more Indians entered the country in the following years.

Brit’s Spicy Tastes 

It was not long before Brits took an interest in Indian cuisine. Curry powder was particularly popular even back then, leading to the publication of recipes and commercial production of curry powder in 1780. The Coffee House in Norris Street, Haymarket, Londonwas the first English restaurant to have offered curry on a menu in 1773. 

The first ever establishment that offered solely Indian food, however, was the Hindostanee Coffee House at Portman Square, London which opened in 1809. Owned by Dean Mahomet, the restaurant sought to provide “for the entertainment of Indian gentlemen, where they may enjoy the Hoakha, with real Chilm tobacco, and Indian dishes”. 

Since then, the love for Indian cuisine spread across the country, becoming one of the fastest growing food and drinkindustry sector. This exponential growth was partlytriggered in 1984 by Pat Chapman’s The Curry Club and Good Curry Guide, which publicised the cuisine and caused supermarkets to stock curry ingredients and chilled meals. Other publications also taught how to recreate curries at home. Asian cateringLondon, particularly Indian and Chinese catering, also boomed around this time. 

Indian Cuisine Today

Bangladesh is entered the catering industry around 1970, and since then dominated the industry of Indian wedding catering London. They own approximately 65 to 75% of the more than 9000 Indian restaurants in the country.

Chicken tikka masala is now often cited as the nation’s most favourite ethnic dish, even called by the then foreign secretary Robin Cook as “a true British national dish”. With the popularity of Indian foods, Bangladeshis will remain as top Asian caterers London.

Colonial relations play a huge role in Britain’s love for curry, and the dish will continue to represent a rich historical era when Britain dominated the world’s economic and political affairs.

The Clay Oven: Outdoor Catering at Its Finest

The Clay Oven has been raising the bar on Indian fine dining in London and beyond since 1983. Our award-winning chefs create authentic menus that flawlessly complement any special occasion, and use the finest, freshest ingredients to prepare delicious and exquisitely-presented spreads. This dedication to quality in flavour and presentation has allowed us to enjoy the distinction of offering the best Indian outdoor catering in London.

The Clay Oven catering specialists have expertise in traditional and modern dishes from across the globe. Our outdoor catering services in London are renowned for the variety and quality of our Indian, Asian and European menu choices, and the Clay Oven restaurant in Ealing has a dish for any preference or dietary requirement.

Unbeatable Indian outdoor catering

We enjoy taking diners on a culinary journey exploring fine Indian cuisine. In addition to serving people in our fully licensed restaurant in Ealing, we welcome the opportunity to cater your outdoor event. At the Clay Oven we take genuine pride in offering a first-class variety of food and beverage choices for whatever occasion you desire.

We specialise in events off all types, including:

v  Weddings

v  Corporate luncheons

v  Private parties

From simple yet elegant executive coffee breaks to luxurious receptions and weddings, you are guaranteed the highest quality of catering services.  All menus are customised to match your requirements. Several vegetarian and non-vegetarian menu choices are available to create the perfect culinary experience for your guests.

For events taking place outside London, the Clay Oven can cater at external venues across the UK. If you need anything else to make the celebration complete, from customised menus to specially selected décor, lighting, and music, please do not hesitate to ask.

Outdoor catering in London

As experienced event professionals, we cater to all cultures and religious celebrations with impeccable service, which includes the promise that only the best will be served at your table. When you contact us to cater your outdoor event, rest assured that we will listen to your needs, interpret them to your complete satisfaction, and create a menu that is both varied and perfectly presented.

Our banquet suite facility in Wembley is equipped with luxurious suites that are the perfect setting for all celebrations, from intimate private gatherings to large weddings and conferences. Exotically-appointed yet modernised banquet suites can provide you with the optimum event setting.

Whether you are a big corporation needing outdoor catering in London to celebrate company milestones or a happy couple wanting to make your wedding day extra-special, the Clay Oven team has the experience, talent, and creativity to make your event an occasion you will remember with pride.

Indian fine dining in Ealing        

For clients who prefer to celebrate indoors, the Clay Oven is an ideal venue. You can be confident of impeccable service and cheerful, helpful staff. If you’re looking for an authentic, enjoyable, and affordable taste experience, you’ll love our restaurant and its menu, even if you’re unfamiliar with Indian and Asian cuisine. Call us today!

A Take on History: How Brits Came to Love Indian Cuisine

Although Chinese cuisine have recently been taking ground as one of the most loved ethnic cuisine in Britain, British beer-and-curry weekends are not going anywhere. Britons’ love affair with curry is dug way too deep into the roots of history for it to be displaced in a snap. No doubt, Indian curry is the comfort food of millions of Brits, and its popularity goes back almost four hundred years ago.

When Queen Elizabeth I Said Yes

At the dawn of the 17^th century, London merchants decided it would be a worthy undertaking to cross the Indian Ocean to see if they can trade with an exotic land called India. They formed a joint-stock company called the East India Company, the sole purpose of which was to establish trade with the East Indies. They filed a petition to Queen Elizabeth I for permission to set sail, and on 1600 the petition was granted and a royal charter was bestowed upon it. 

Amidst wars against Portuguese and Spanish forces, the company hadmanaged to become the most powerful and dominating trading corporation in India. This further strengthened Britain as a world power. Soon after, British people settled in India and intermarried with Indian women. Indian seamen, known as langars, also boarded British ships and landed in London. By 1810 there were an estimated 1400 langarson English land, and more Indians entered the country in the following years.

Brit’s Spicy Tastes 

It was not long before Brits took an interest in Indian cuisine. Curry powder was particularly popular even back then, leading to the publication of recipes and commercial production of curry powder in 1780. The Coffee House in Norris Street, Haymarket, Londonwas the first English restaurant to have offered curry on a menu in 1773. 

The first ever establishment that offered solely Indian food, however, was the Hindostanee Coffee House at Portman Square, London which opened in 1809. Owned by Dean Mahomet, the restaurant sought to provide “for the entertainment of Indian gentlemen, where they may enjoy the Hoakha, with real Chilm tobacco, and Indian dishes”. 

Since then, the love for Indian cuisine spread across the country, becoming one of the fastest growing food and drinkindustry sector. This exponential growth was partlytriggered in 1984 by Pat Chapman’s The Curry Club and Good Curry Guide, which publicised the cuisine and caused supermarkets to stock curry ingredients and chilled meals. Other publications also taught how to recreate curries at home. Asian cateringLondon, particularly Indian and Chinese catering, also boomed around this time. 

Indian Cuisine Today

Bangladesh is entered the catering industry around 1970, and since then dominated the industry of Indian wedding catering London. They own approximately 65 to 75% of the more than 9000 Indian restaurants in the country.

Chicken tikka masala is now often cited as the nation’s most favourite ethnic dish, even called by the then foreign secretary Robin Cook as “a true British national dish”. With the popularity of Indian foods, Bangladeshis will remain as top Asian caterers London.

Colonial relations play a huge role in Britain’s love for curry, and the dish will continue to represent a rich historical era when Britain dominated the world’s economic and political affairs.

7 Ways to Spot a Clean Restaurant

Last year we’ve heard of an Asian restaurant in central London shut down due to extraordinary filth. In case you’re wondering how bad it was, health inspectors found mice inside food bags and cockroaches on the kitchen floors of Malaysia Kopi Tiam. It must have been terrible news for those who ate in this diner, and it won’t be a surprise if any of them made a trip to the nearest doctor. 

None of us want to eat or even set foot on a mice-infested diner, whether it’s indoor or outdoor catering London. So to help youknow if you’re in good hands, here are seven ways to tell if the restaurant is clean or not:

Check out the bathroom. This is the most basic principle in Restaurant Cleanliness 101: if the bathroom is filthy and lacks basic hand-washing necessities,chances are the owners or managers don’t think much of basic hygiene. Check if the bathroom has soap, hand air dryer or paper towels, and hot water. Also observe if the floor and wall tiles are clean.

Check out the kitchen.Kitchen staff should be wearing hair nets, caps, and gloves at all times inside the kitchen. 

Peek at the back door. Sometimes back doors are left open and you can sneak a little peek to the condition inside. Trash bins and dumpsters should be neat and covered, and if they’re not, odds are the kitchen and other hidden areas of the place look like that too.

Observe waiters and food runners. These people are the ones who handle and deliver your food, so their hygiene should be top priority. Check if they have clean clothes, well-kempt hair, neat and trimmed finger nails, and if they are in perfect shape (no sneezing or coughing). Any restaurant in Ealing that prioritizes cleanliness will keep its front men presentable at all times. 

Scrutinise the menu and silverware. It’s basic to check if the cutleries don’t smell of soap or food or have remains of food, grime, and grease. Also check if the menus are not smeared with grease or caked in food.

Watch how staffshandle silverware. If workers grab cutleries by the part you put inside your mouth that should tell you that they are not properly trained on basic food serving sanitation. It’s also better if the silverware is wrapped so there will be no cross-contamination. 

Make a food temperature check. It goes without saying that fresh meals are served hot, except of course if you ordered a medium-rare steak. If your meal is not hot, and if the menu does not specifically say that food is to be served in room temperature, it may mean that the time interval between when the plate was made and served is too long. 

Whether it’s Western or Indian catering Ealing, make sure to size up the place first before taking your first bite. As the saying goes, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Wedding Catering Ideas

A wedding is a very special event in one’s life. The reception that follows is where the celebration continues, and where many memorable moments take place. Though it’s not a requirement to spend a huge amount of money on your reception, it is important is that you get the kind of reception you want and ensure a comfortable, memorable experience for you and your guests. Here are some wedding catering ideas 

Tented wedding reception 

Wedding receptions, especially outdoor receptions, are held in the garden or lawn of a sprawling private property that can accommodate anywhere between 50-250 guests. If you have a small party, your caterer can set up in the kitchen of the venue. For larger receptions, one option you might want to look into is a caterer’s tent. Usually, it is set up right next to the wedding marquee. A generator may be required the meet the demands of professional catering. The caterer may also provide the furniture, table linens, cutlery, and crockery. The selection of items used would depend on the host’s budget and preference. 

Spring wedding catering 

Spring represents rebirth, beginnings, and everything green and thriving. It’s a romantic season that opens up many possibilities for infusing creativity into your wedding reception planning. Build a menu based on the mood of the season and highlight fresh seasonal produce. A mix salad would be perfect as an appetizer. Traditionally, asparagus is used in spring weddings. You can use it in many ways—as a side dish, as an ingredient in soup, or cooked and prepared as an appetizer. 

Summer wedding catering 

Summer weddings are widely popular. The pleasant weather and the availability of a variety of food may just be some of the reasons why a lot of people love to have summer weddings. When it comes to menu, the possibilities are endless—you can go for barbecues, surf and turf, classic summer fare, or even exotic dishes if you want. Grilled meats and vegetables are a hit as well as refreshing salads. Ice cream and other frozen desserts would win your guests over as well as a never-ending supply of cool drinks. 

Winter wedding catering 

Summer weddings may be popular, but there is ample opportunity to make a winter wedding as romantic and magical. You can apply this to the choice of venue and scenery, décor, as well as the menu. The chilly weather is perfect for hot, hearty soups to warm your guests, and bright, zesty salads that remind one of summer. Winter is also perfect for classic pairings and hearty roast meats like pork, beef, or turkey paired with side dishes like creamy mashed potatoes and roasted seasonal vegetables. You may continue the classic pairing with desserts like bread pudding.  

Asian wedding catering 

If you’re having an Asian-themed wedding, it’s a given that your menu would also be Asian-inspired. Asian weddings have become popular in recent years, as well as Asian cuisine in the catering industry. In the UK in particular, Asian catering London is trending, and Asian wedding caterers London are aplenty. Asian caterers London specialise in providing a wide range of dishes and cuisines representing different regions in Asia. Popular choices are traditional and modern dishes from India, China, Japan, and Southeast Asian nations. Your guests would appreciate the diversity and availability of food that’s different from what they usually have.  

Outdoor Catering London, Halal Caterers London, Indian Caterers London, Restaurant in Ealing

Outdoor venues for special events like weddings and intimate gatherings are in-demand especially during the spring, summer, and autumn seasons. If you’re planning an event and you’re partial to an outdoor venue, here are the pros and cons you need to consider before reserving that gorgeous venue you’ve been keeping your eye on for the longest time. 

Pros

• Atmosphere

Some of the most breathtaking events have take place outdoors. Surrounded by nature, wide open spaces, and blue skies or starry skies for a backdrop—what more can you ask for? If you’re the kind of person who loves being outdoors, an outdoor venue is perfect for you. Also, an outdoor setting feels more casual than an indoor setting. The natural beauty of the outdoors and the wide space that’s available lends a feeling of freedom and inspires one to relax and enjoy the moment.

• Room for creativity

There are infinitely more options available to you when you choose an outdoor venue, and not just when it comes to the décor, scenery, and theme. You definitely have room to be more creative and add activities or details that would likely engage and entertain your guests, plus provide them with an overall unique, fun, and memorable experience. When it comes to food, you have to consider what’s best suited to outdoor catering. The Clay Oven specialises in outdoor catering London. We also have options like Halal caterers London and Indian caterers London. Visit out restaurant in Ealing to know more about our outdoor catering options.   

• Less is more

The golden rule of less is more not only applies to person style, but also in setting up the outdoor venue of your event. If your venue is already naturally breathtaking, you may need minimal décor. 

• Better photos

For daytime outdoor events, you’ll easily get lots of natural light which is great for photos. You also have the surrounding beautiful natural scenery as your backdrop, which makes for magical, romantic photos.

Cons

• Weather

One huge disadvantage in an outdoor venue concerns the weather. Even though you’ve done your research, consulted weather reports, and planned your event to take place during a season of relatively milder, pleasant weather, you still need to have a back-up plan just in case the weather decides to be unpredictable and literally rain on your event. No one is able to control the weather so it’s better to be safe ad have a contingency plan for the comfort of you and your guests. Make arrangements to access a nearby indoor venue, or have tents ready to be set up in case it looks like rain. Be prepared, though, for extra costs of making arrangements for a back-up plan. It might come in handy and you’ll have yourself to thank if it does. 

• Uncomfortable guests

As if the unpredictability of weather isn’t enough of a major letdown, you’d also have to deal with how comfortable your guests will be during your event. If your reception or event is held at the height of summer, your guests would definitely be affected by the overwhelming heat and humidity, and sometimes, the appearance of pesky bugs and mosquitoes. To know how to plan for this, put yourself in your guests’ shoes for a moment and imagine yourself dealing with these potential causes of discomfort. What would you expect to be there in the venue that would solve the problem and provide you comfort?

Tips for a successful Asian wedding catering

Asian cuisine is one of the most popular food styles making waves in the wedding industry. The sheer abundance of Asian wedding caterers in London alone can attest to that. Particularly in the UK, Indian wedding catering London is currently trending. The success of the most special day of your life—your wedding day, also depends on your wedding caterer. If you’ve decided to serve Asian cuisine on your wedding reception, you need to find the best Asian wedding caterers London.

Consider your budget. The first thing you need to consider is looking for the best local caterer that can meet your needs with the budget you have allotted for your wedding catering.

Indian wedding catering London is trending right now. You can take advantage of this trend for the fact that Indian food is rich in spices and affords many health benefits. Another reason to choose Indian wedding catering is because it’s one of the most palatable exotic cuisines out there that many people are not yet familiar with but are curious to try out. This is an opportunity to share something new, different, and pleasing with the people you love on your wedding day. It has the potential to turn into an amazing dining experience you and your guests will never forget.

Food should be arranged as part of a whole ensemble. Catering a wedding should not just be about the food. It’s also about the theme, ambiance and décor. Dining and weddings are both shared sensory experiences. Food becomes more attractive, inviting, and memorable if the ambiance and décor serves to elevate it and tie everything together into a cohesive theme. Choose a caterer that’s not only able to deliver the best-tasting food, but also knows how to present it. We eat with our eyes first, so the visual look and presentation is a vital part of the dining experience.

Choose a wide variety of food and drink. Depending on which Asian regional cuisine you choose for your wedding catering, you need to know that each type of regional cuisine comes with its own set of dietary rules and restrictions. For example, some may prohibit alcohol, or specific types of meat like pork. Some may be purely vegetarian. It’s important to think of your guests’ needs and take their own dietary restrictions into consideration as well. That’s why it is most advantageous to hire a wedding caterer that serves a wide array of foods providing options for everyone regardless of having dietary restrictions or not. Indian cuisine in particular, has many options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. You may even include a few American or European foods in addition to your predominantly Asian menu. Or, you can choose to customize menus that fuse both Eastern and Western influences. 

If you’re looking for the best Asian wedding caterers London, call The Clay Oven to schedule a food tasting. You can have your Asian wedding catering service customised as to how you prefer it to ensure the best experiences and memories on your wedding day.