City announces National Samosa Week

The foodie scene in the city has been getting quite a lot of attention and the latest exciting new venture to join in the fun is National Samosa Week.

The press launch took place earlier this week at Chutney Ivy in the heart of the cultural quarter. Founded by the Leicester Curry Awards and supported by Daewoo and Anand International and Bond Adams Solictors, the event was hosted by co-owner of the multi-award winning restaurant, Shaf Islam.

He took guests on a cultural journey and then invited them to make their own savoury versions and was also selling the tasty bites for a reasonable £1. Meanwhile, BBC Radio Leicester’s Helen McCarthy reported live from the launch and along with Leicester Mercury’s journalist Becky Jones, attempted to create their own perfect street food snack. Meanwhile, PR Events Director, Priti Raichura also tried her hand at stuffing, sealing and frying a samosa.

Romail Gulzar, founder of the Leicester Curry Awards and National Samosa Week said: “The idea is to create an awareness about South Asian food and culture and Leicester is the perfect place to kick-start it due to our impressive curry scene. We’ll be running the event annually during the second week of April and hope it will catch on nationally.”

This year’s campaign will help to raise funds for two local charities Leicestershire Action for Mental Health project (LAMP) and Care of Police Survivors (COPS).

CEO of LAMP Sue Langley said: “We’re delighted to be associated with National Samosa Week. It gives us a great opportunity to spread awareness about mental health and the work we do and I can’t wait to meet up with friends and tuck into some homemade samosas now I know how to make them.”

The press event managed to raise £310 and local businesses are already pledging their support and planning to celebrate the official National Samosa Week from 9-13 April.

Chutney Ivy will be hosting a pop-up samosa shop on Monday 9 April between 11-3pm and Leicestershire Police’s Headquarters will be promoting and selling the savoury snacks on the same day. Meanwhile Everest Dine, runner-up in the Best Fine Dining category in the Leicester Curry Awards last year is planning an event on Wednesday 11 April. St Philip’s Centre will also be supporting on Thursday 12 April from 5-7pm.

Rev Dr Tom Wilson, Director at St Philip’s Centre said: “We are delighted to be part of National Samosa Week. As part of our work enabling people to learn how to live well together, we bring people from all walks of life and faith and belief perspectives together and often the first step in engaging is to eat food together. What better food to eat than a samosa? We are really looking forward to our event on 12 April where we plan to have lots of samosas, lots of laughter and renew and deepen friendships across the city”

A full list of events, will be published on www.nationalsamosaweek.com.