Owner
Amjad Bashir
|
Amjad Bashir was born in Lahore, the Punjabi capital famed for its good food. Career : Zouk is the second restaurant opened by Amjad, known to friends as 'Peter', building on the success of the popular Kebabeesh in Greengates, which he opened with Jehangir Durrani in 1979. But the former pupil of Thornton Grammar School did not set out to carve a career in the restaurant trade. He was eight when his family left Pakistan to move to England, where his father found empoyment in Bradford's textile mills. At first he worked in the wool industry, says Amjad. Then in the early 1960s he started his own business - a grocers in Oldham, the went into the fabrics trade. He began buying fabrics and selling them to the Asian community. Amjad decided to take a completely different path and pursue a career as a chemical engineer. He began a degree course in chemical engineering at Bradford University but realised it wasn't for him. He left and joined his parents' fabric business. Although he enjoyed dealing with customers, Amjad didn't settle. In 1978 he returned to Lahore to get married. While in the city he visited its bustling restaurants, and had a brainwave. He thought he would open an Asian restaurant in Bradford. He had always been interested in cooking. His mum is a very good cook, so was his dad, and they passed their skills to him. The following year Amjad opened Kebabeesh in Whetley Lane, running it with his father and uncle. It was very exciting. We were one of the first Asian restaurants in Bradford and it was a success from the day we opened. In 1986 the premises relocated to New Line, Greengates, where it has been ever since. Amjad, 54, has passed down his skills to his sons Tayub, 25, and Mudassar, 24, who are helping to run Zouk. It is very much a family business. says the amiable chef, who also has two daughters and two grandchildren. Latest project is a new Zouk on Oxford Road Manchester opening November 2008.
Awards : |
|
