Tikka to ride as Llanidloes chef flies curries to MALAYSIA - with video and pictures
Now that's what you call a takeaway. Curries made in Mid Wales have been flown out 6,000 miles to Malaysia via Heathrow Airport to feed a group of hungry businessmen and engineers who specifically wanted the restaurant's food.
New executive chef at Raj Mahal in Llanidloes, Mofur Miah, has catered for people all over the world, and has fed the likes of the Spice Girls, Liberty X and many other celebrities during his 30-year career.
Mr Miah has prepared 12 meals for a group of businessmen and aeronautical engineers working in Malaysia, and began his journey with the cargo of food when he boarded a private helicopter at St Idloes Golf Club yesterday.
From there he moved onto Leicestershire, down to Heathrow Airport, and went on an overnight flight to Malaysia to deliver his dishes.
Mr Miah was an award-winning chef at Eye of the Tiger in Bournemouth, which would cater for top performers at the Bournemouth International Centre.
He only began working at the Llanidloes Curry Restaurant two weeks ago, and is now putting Llanidloes on the map by flying his famous curries to the other side of the world.
He said: "I've spent a long time working for these people, it isn't the biggest thing I've done.
"I've been all over the world, and with these meals there will be a lot of interesting chicken dishes.
"It is nice to be going from this small Welsh town and delivering the curries, it is unique."
Mr Miah is the chief executive chef on board a VC10 aircraft, which is used for Indian Weddings and is based in Lutterworth.
The people he is catering for are engineers of the aircraft, who have asked for curries to be flown out along with tools and spares.
He added: "I understand that Malaysia has its own twist on Indian Cuisine but British people are accustomed to British Indian food.
"We will be working overnight preparing the meals and in accordance with rules, the food will need to be chilled and packed in dry ice so that is keeps during such a long, long distance."
Mr Miah was part of a high flying idea in 2014, which saw him launching an Indian Restaurant on a plane.
The eatery was on an old Vickers VC10 plan, parked at the Bruntingthorpe Airfield in Lutterworth.
The idea came from Mr Miah and Pilot Mustafa Azim Aolad and chef Mofuh Miah, who wanted to create a unique venue to serve up curries.
The plane seated 110 diners, but wasn't planned to take off, but for diners to enjoy the airport view as they eat their curries.
Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies helped arrange the landing of the helicopter at St Idloes Golf Club, and County Councillor Gareth Morgan believes it is fantastic for Llanidloes.
He said: "It is fascinating for Llanidloes to have this happening.
"The Raj Mahal has been taken over with new chefs and the food is outstanding.
"It is a unique thing to happen here, and I hope the new people at the restaurant are very successful."
