The Tiffin Cup is an annual British competition run by the Tiffin Club to find the best South Asian restaurant in the United Kingdom. Nominees are selected by their constituency and then put forward by their local MPs. One restaurant from every region is then shortlisted and invited to participate in the Grand Final cook-off event held in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, as judged by MPs and guest celebrities, with the proceeds going to a selected charity.
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History of Tiffin
The name tiffin is given to the containers that transported light meals. The tiffins, or tiffinboxes are made up of three porcelain round trays with handles and lids in which lunches are delivered to workers. They are delivered through a complex network of Dabbawallahs, who set off with the dishes after the men have left for work. This practice is still in use in India today.
The word tiffin is also used to refer to taking a little light snack, including a cup of tea. It probably came into use when it became more popular to have a full meal in the evening rather than mid-afternoon, thus requiring a lighter meal at around midday that needed a name.
Past Winners
2006 - Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant, Preseli Pembrokeshire
2007 - Bekash, Romford
2008 - Mint and Mustard, Cardiff North
2009 - Tamasha, Bromley and Chislehurst
Ongoing Competition
2013 - The competition included Ainsley Harriet as the chair of a panel of judges.
Notable mention to the Bilash Balti in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, which was the first restaurant in the Fylde to win the Best in the North West category.
2010 - A record 74 nominations were received by the Tiffin Club! The Launch of the Newby Teas Tiffin Cup 2010 was on Tuesday 14 September 2010.
In 2010, the competition was in aid of World Vision.
2006
B. Raj Tandoori, Banff and Buchan
The Mirch Masala, Tooting
Royal Al Faisal, Birmingham
Taj Mahal, Pembrokeshire
Pan Ahar, Blyth Valley
Aagrah Shipley, Shipley
Bombay Dreams, Brent South
Queen Spice, South Queensferry
Sukhi's Indian Cuisine, Darwen
The Royal Bengal, Lowestoft
Bombay Spice, North London
The Tandoori Parlour, Castle Point
Bengal Spice, Hemel Hempstead
2007
Queens Spice, Edinburgh West
Maharaja, Castle Point
Passage to India, Stroud
Tower Tandoori, North Southwark and Bermondsey
Taste of India, Surrey Heath
Bekash, Romford
Shimla Spice, Shipley
4,500 miles from Delhi, Nottingham South
Moonlight Tandoori, Banff and Buchan
The Gulshan, Wolverhampton South East
Shahi Quila, Blackburn
2008
The Chilli Raj, St Albans
Chilli Chutney, Streatham
The Third Place, Shrewsbury
Mint and Mustard, Cardiff
The Royal Spice, Peterborough
Bombay Blues, London
Spice Lodge, Cheltenham
The Spice Bazaar, South West England
Azad Manzil Restaurant, North West England
Pan Ahar Restaurant, Havering
2009
Kareem's, Vale of Clwyd
Tamasha, Bromley and Chislehurst
Jalsagor, Herefordshire
Saffron, Leeds North East
Haweli Indian, Maidenhead
Lawthorn Farm Indian, Central Ayrshire
Shajan, Ribble Valley
Planet Poppadom, Great Yarmouth
Godalming Tandoori, South West Surrey
The Spice Bazaar, Totnes