Profile
CYRUS RUSTOM TODIWALA MBE
Cyrus Todiwala is Proprietor and Executive Chef of Café Spice Namaste restaurant group, renowned for their innovative and fresh approach to Indian cuisine. He is highly acclaimed for his unique style and widely acknowledged as the most creative chef working in Indian food today. To match the groundbreaking food, the restaurants deliberately set out to be bold and unique in design and thus established their own instantly recognisable branding. Café Spice Namaste is the only Indian restaurant to be awarded the Investors in People Standard and a National Training award.
Cyrus was born and brought up in Bombay. He graduated from Bombay's Catering College and trained as a chef with the famous Taj Group in India. He left India for Europe where he developed his hallmark style of blending traditional techniques and flavourings with more unexpected ingredients. He is a keen environmentalist and cooks with organic products whenever possible. Since 1992, he has received countless awards for the consistently high standards in his cuisine these include; Best Indian Chef in the UK, Culinary Honour of Merit Award from the World Master Chef's Society and the BIB Gourmand Award from the Michelin Guide.
Café Spice Namaste
An innovative, fresh approach to Indian cuisine
For the ultimate in Indian dining Café Spice offers a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere with extraordinary mouth-watering dishes.
Café Spice offers an alternative to the traditional perception of Indian dining. The extensive menu incorporates the best of India with specialities and influences from all over the East, and often with a European twist. Rare, unusual meats feature on the menu and this is updated regularly with new exciting dishes. All dishes use only the freshest of ingredients cooked with natural herbs and spices.
The restaurant is airy and incorporates two large dining rooms separated by a central bar and reception area with décor in rich, spicy colours to give a contemporary feel that reflects the vibrancy in the food.
Executive Chef and co-owner, Cyrus Todiwala MBE, creatively combines traditional techniques and flavourings with exciting, unusual ingredients to create delicious dishes such as Wild Boar Vindaloo in yoghurt and Venison Tikka Aflatoon. Cyrus' work has had a huge impact on Indian and ethnic cuisine, his recognition as a pioneer of Indian food has led to him working with Lloyd Grossman on developing a new menu for the NHS.
Café Spice has extended their products to include a wide range of award winning chutneys, sauces and pickles, all made freshly on the premises with the finest ingredients. For an unusual gift choose from the selection of chutney and pickle gift packs, all beautifully packaged and available in vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties. As well as their chutney and pickle range, Café Spice has introduced sandwiches, baguettes and wraps to their range, all of which can be delivered directly to office or home.
Café Spice Namaste: 16 Prescott St, E1 and at 247 Lavender Hill, Battersea, SW11
For further information on Café Spice, Cyrus Todiwalla and the extended range of snacks and pickles please contact Anji @ Above PR on (T) 020 7355 4888 or email anji@abovepr.com
His recognition as a pioneer of Indian food has led to Cyrus regularly contributing to a number of key television programmes including; BBC Food and Drink, BBC UK Today, Carlton Food Network, Channel 4's Big Breakfast and BBC World Service as well as regular slots on radio programmes such as Radio 4, 5 Live and Talk Radio.
Cyrus is committed to investing in the development of skills and opportunities amongst his staff. He is a valued Ambassador for Investors in People and a great supporter of The Standard &endash; the tried and tested flexible framework that helps organisations succeed and compete through improved people performance. Cyrus has also been a member of the National Advisory Council for Education and Training Targets since 1999. Along with Loyd Grossman, Cyrus is developing a new menu for the NHS.
In August 2000 Cyrus was awarded MBE in recognition of his extensive knowledge, skill, commitment and expertise to the restaurant and catering industry.
For further information on Cyrus Todiwala or Café Spice Namaste please contact Anji at Above PR (T) 020 7355 4888 or email anji@abovepr.com
Curriculum Vitae
CYRUS RUSTOM TODIWALA MBE
CONTACT DETAILS
Address: Café Spice Namaste
16 Prescot Street
London E1 8AZ
Tel: 020 7488 9242
Fax: 020 7488 9339
EMPLOYMENT
Café Spice Namaste
An expanding restaurant group serving Indian and Pan-Asian Cuisine.
Proprietor and Executive Chef 1995-
Responsible for the day to day operations of the business including staff training, management and development of business strategy. As Executive Chef, also in charge of the menu, devising of recipes and preparation of cuisine. The organisation has grown from an eighteen staff establishment opened in 1995 to a three restaurant enterprise now employing forty six persons.
Achievements include:
Café Spice (Namaste) is the only Indian Restaurant to be awarded Investors in People and a National Training Award and was on the final shortlist for the Millennium Training Awards. Devised an inclusive training programme which includes improvement of customer skills, staff management skills and investment in NVQ training in hygiene, health and safety. Another part of training is the development of English language skills, enabling staff to access further education through the ability to understand and speak English.
BIB Gourmand Award, Michelin Guide &endash; one of the only Indian Restaurant to receive this award.
Culinary Honour of Merit Award, World Master Chefs Society Guide - only Indian Chef to receive this award.
Winner of Best Indian Restaurant in UK 1996.
Winner of London Docklands Good Food Award 1997.
BIBA Health & Hygiene Award 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001.
