Talented chef opens fine dining restaurant

The Gloucestershire town of Cheltenham has a new addition to its already high quality restaurant scene. Koloshi, which means water carrying vessel in Hindi, is the latest brainchild of Chef Azad Hussain, who was runner-up in the British Culinary Chef of the Year competition at the British Curry Awards.

Speaking at the time of the launch, Chef Azad said, “I want guests to experience the subtlety of flavour and balance so often overpowered in most British curry houses. Dining at Koloshi will a completely different experience to what the British usually expect of Indian cuisine. I let the flavours and ingredients speak for themselves.”

The 70-cover venue has undergone extensive renovation work to create a high quality establishment. Azad’s passion for authentic, yet modern Indian food and his insistence on using only top quality ingredients is underlined by the venture, which also draws on his regular travels to the subcontinent to research authentic flavours and hone his cooking skills and palate.

Further plans for Koloshi include a Cookery School, which is all set to launch in March 2012, and the development of allotments on the surrounding land to serve both the restaurant and the local community. Chef Azad says he would like to continue producing his own herbs and vegetables, as part of his food philosophy, which is to use the best of what is available in the local area. He concludes, “We are very excited about this new venture and we are looking forward to becoming part of the community here in Cheltenham”.