Ongar chefs proved they were hot stuff at this year's regional Curry Chef Competition Award. Abdul Haque of Haques Empire, Ongar Road, Fyfield impressed judges and achieved third place.

Mr Haque cooked delicious dishes of king prawn delight in a sweet creamy coconut sauce, okra cooked with mild spices and nan bread stuffed with coconut.

Mr Haque said: "The competition went really well and the judges seem to enjoy what I cooked."

In this year's local round of the national curry chef competition, nine restaurants and 12 chefs competed.

Two chefs from Vojan restaurant in Epping Road, Ongar were among the chefs who entered.

Mumin Ali, proprietor said: "This is the first time we have entered into the competition and really enjoyed it."

The two chefs, Jamal Uddin and Forid Ali cooked dishes of chicken tikka dansack, special aubergine bhaji and vegetable rice, all popular choices on their menu.

A spokesman from the competition said: "All the judges said they found the standard overall was very high."

Published Tuesday August 13, 2002

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