Owner, Chef Ali Hussein

Career : After gaining experience in some of Scotland's top Indian restaurants, he worked as a chef at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. Mr Hussein started his own takeaway in East Boldon, but missed the restaurant atmosphere and moved to Café Bangla. He then started as a chef at East Boldon's Café Bangla restaurant and takeaway in 2003. And after picking up a cluster of awards and receiving rave reviews from the region's press, he decided he wanted a bigger stake in the restaurant and bought his bosses out. He made the restaurant one of the most highly-regarded in the region, and, as proof of his talent, he has won South Tyneside's Curry Chef of the Year title.