Tastebuds were treated to a range of delectable dishes earlier today, at the launch of National Thali Week in Leicester.
The national initiative launched at Leicester’s Mohanthal Restaurant earlier today (Tuesday, December 17), with guests sampling a range of dishes and learning more about this popular South Asian cuisine.
Picture credit: Pukaar News
The launch took place ahead of National Thali Week, which will take place for the first time between January 6 and 12 2025.
Punjabi, Gujarati and Kathiawadi thalis were all on offer today, with guests sampling a range of sweet, savoury and spicy foods.
The event was hosted by Pukaar Group, the Leicester based organisation behind National Samosa Week, the Leicestershire Curry Awards, and most recently, England Curry Capital. Leicester was crowned the winner earlier this year, prompting founder Romail Gulzar to highlight the city’s offering further.
“Chai have a national week and eight years ago we launched National Samosa Week. I thought to myself, why not celebrate thali, something which is very traditional to our culture,” he said.
“Being England’s Curry Capital, Leicester is the perfect place to launch this. We are very proud and want to make as much noise as possible about it.”
“We are spoilt for choice when it comes to curry and this will put us on the map even further,” added Priti Raichura, director of the Leicestershire Curry Awards.
Picture credit: Pukaar News
Shaf Islam, owner of Leicester’s Chutney Ivy restaurant, praised National Thali Week as an initiative.
“I’m surprised something like that has not been celebrated before. What a great idea – another way to celebrate the great cuisine and all the variety of cuisine which comes from the Indian sub- continent,” he said. “Leicester – being the curry capital, is the perfect place to celebrate this.”
Warrant Officer, Balbir Singh Flora of the RAF also backed the initiative.
“National Thali Week is a brilliant little initiative because everyone’s struggling at the moment, so anything to get people eating out and supporting local businesses can only be a good thing,” he said.
As for thali, he is a huge fan.
“It’s good for people to try different varieties – with a tali you get lots of different choices and you can form an opinion on what you like and what you’re going to have in the future,” he told Pukaar News.
Picture credit: Pukaar News
“So it’s a good way of exploring different flavours and expanding your palette. There’s a whole balance of flavours, textures and stuff.”
Gabby Miller, founder of Cool as Leicester, said: “With Leicester now officially England’s Curry Capital it’s fantastic to further celebrate the rich south Asian cuisine in the city with the launch of National Thali Week. We have some incredible thalis on offer in Leicester, both meat and for vegetarians, lunchtime specials and larger evening sharing plates. Celebrate them all this January.”
For updates on National Thali Week, follow @NationalThaliWeek on Instagram.
