A CHEF in Craven Arms has cooked up success in a county culinary competition.

In MasterChef style, Shukria Raza of Massala in Craven Arms was awarded the title of Shropshire Council’s Curry Chef of the Year 2015.

The competition was held at Derwen College in Gobowen, a residential college for students with learning difficulties and disabilities

Not only was it the first time the final had been won by a female, it was the first time a female had even reached the final, despite her takeaway Massala making the final last year.

Mrs. Raza, who had to overcome a bad cut to her finger sustained halfway through the hour long competition, accepted her award and thanked her family saying:

“I always come up with new recipes for my husband and my children, which sometimes don’t always work,” she said.

Criteria for entering the competition states that a food hygiene rating of three or above must be met

“At Massala we always strive to keep a high standard in quality of ingredients, hygiene standards and health and safety,” Mrs Raza added.

I only work part-time in the kitchen so my husband again deserves a lot of credit for keeping these standards so high.”

The chefs all had to produce a main curry dish, a side dish and rice to compliment, all in just one hour. All dishes were then tasted by the judging panel, checking for both taste and nutritional value.

The winning dish was a Lamb Karai served on the bone with a Chana Pilau rice and a spicy Saag Aloo side with fresh home grown spinach.