Queen invites Indian restaurant owner to Buckingham Palace

LONDON: Raj Rana, who switched from a career in the jewellery trade to start the award-winning 'Itihaas' Indian restaurant in Birmingham, has been invited by Queen Elizabeth at a reception at the Palace on Tuesday.
    
Rana, managing director of the restaurant, has been nominated by his contemporaries for his contribution to advancing Britain's Indian restaurant industry worth 3.2 billion pounds.
 
'Itihaas' was the winner of the 2007-08 Cobra Good Curry Awards for the best UK restaurant and the best in the Midlands.
 
The Queen's reception has been organised to recognize the contribution made by leading industry players to Britain's hospitality world. Rana will join 350 other guests from across the country at the reception.
 
To mark the occasion, 'Itihaas' has created a dish fit for the monarch -- the Imperial Khumb Malai. The dish is said to be a marriage of flavours from the east and west.
 
It comprises fresh young quails marinated in lemon and smoked garlic with a light mushroom and coconut curried sauce and accompanied by homemade Pont Neuf chips.
 
"An invitation to Buckingham Palace is not something you receive everyday. At first, I was convinced it was a hoax or may be sent in error, but soon realised it was for real. I feel truly honoured to have been invited, especially having been a part of the hospitality trade for only a few years," Rana said.
 
The 'Itihaas' restaurant seeks to interpret India's rich cuisine combined with its historical colonial past and royal service, set in a traditional yet relaxed atmosphere.