Benares’s Dheeraj Singh Kaira named National Curry Chef of UK Curry Champion 2026
The UK Curry Championships, which determined the National Curry Chef of the Year, took place at Central Bedfordshire College in Dunstable on 28th May.
The overall winner Dheeraj Singh Kaira, Senior Sous Chef at the Michelin starred Benares, in Mayfair was awarded a silver medal last year.
His winning menu was inspired by the “bold yet comforting flavours” of West Bengal and the royal kitchens of Rajasthan – Prawn Sorshe – Fresh prawns poached in butter with yellow and black mustard seeds, puffed rice jhalmuri, peanuts, mint, coriander, cumin, garlic and rock salt, dutch chilli and chilli oil, along with a chaat-like Pomelo salad adding a freshness, creating a balance of texture and
flavour that celebrates Bengal’s culture of warmth, conversation, and togetherness. Rajasthani Safed Maas – Scottish lamb loin, complemented by a delicate poppy seed and cashew sauce inspired by the royal kitchens of the state. Fresh spring onions, chives and baby radish, paired with pearl millet khichdi and a smooth corn purée. The dish “brings together royal elegance and rustic comfort” in a deeply rooted tribute to Rajasthan.
Hosted by Asian hospitality group, UK Curry Connect showcases the best of British curry culture, providing a platform for chefs to demonstate their culinary skills and showcasing the best of British curry culture and providing a platform for chefs to demostrate their culinary skills at one of the UK’s largest live culinary competitions.
Shah F. Athar, COO of UK Curry Connect, who has been building the competition and its reputation over recent years, said: “This year was very competitive and closely run. The judges certainly had their work cut out. The weather was hot and the kitchen even hotter with chefs on their best sizzling form, battling it out for coveted first prize. ”
Competing chefs had one hour to cook two vegetarian or seafood starter, followed by two lamb-based main courses.
The competing chefs were: Rohan Wadke – Cameron House Hotel; Dheeraj Kaira – Benares; Manikantan Sree Rajhan – The Belfry Hotel; Praveen Singh Rawat – Essence at The Pantiles by Atul Kochhar; Jit Sunar – Mount Gurkha Village; Arup Dasgupta – Euphoria by Arup Visakh Pradeep Kumar – Get Golfing; Shabu Natarajan – Kinara; Shiv Kapoor – Kiranil; Vikas Negi; Saskar Shawnim; Steven Heap; Nigar Parvin; and Layla Hamid.
The full list of winners :
Gold Medal: Dheeraj Singh Kaira (Champion), Rohan Wadke, Manikantan Sree Rajhan
Silver Medal: Shabu Natarajan, Saskar Shawnim, Shiv Kapoor, Visakh Pradeep Kumar
Bronze Medal: Praveen Singh Rawat, Arup Dasgupta, Steven Heap, Jit Sunar, Vikas Negi, Nigar
Parvin, Layla Hamid.
There were further side categories:
Vegetarian Main Course: Rohan Wadke, Cameron House Hotel – Best In Class
Street Food: James Murray, HM Royal Navy – Best In Class
Dessert: Praveen Singh Rawat, Essence at The Pantiles by Atul Kochhar – Best In Class
Entries are already being open for 2027 with Shah also to enable Team UKCC to compete in international competitions such as the upcoming Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg.
http://www.ukcurrychampionships.co.uk
Author: George Shaw
Former BBC journalist and founder and CEO of an award-winning London advertising and PR company for 20 years, providing restaurant consultancy services. Spent a decade as the director of communications of the Asian Catering Federation in the UK and lead judge for its various restaurant and chef awards programmes. Now returned to journalism, specialising in food and travel and currently the Editor-in-Chief for Taste London, Taste Asia, the Good Curry Guide and CEO of International Culinary Guides.