Owner, Chef Cyrus Rustom Todiwala MBE

Parsee, born in Bombay and father was the first Indian employee of the Automobile Association and later became the Chief of Road Service, Western India. Education : Graduated from Bombay’s Basant Kumar Somani Polytechnic in Hotel Administration & Food Technology and trained at Taj Hotels. Career : 1984-1989 Executive Chef at Fort Aguada Beach Resort, The Aguada Hermitage and the Taj Holiday Village. Appointed Wild Life Warden for Goa and became founder member of conservation of endangered species designing and constructing recuperating tanks for dolphins, turtles and dugongs. In 1989 he went into his first restaurant venture as a working partner in The Place whilst designing and equipping kitchens and learning about Thai and Singapore cuisine. Came to London in 1991 as Executive Chef then Director of Namaste then opened Café Spice Namaste with wife Pervin and then added The Parsee in Highgate and Cafe T at Asia House. Has received countless awards including being noticed by Fay Maschler of Evening Standard in 1992 "Goan and Not To Be Forgotten", Best Indian Chef in UK in 1995 & 1996 and is one of the pioneers of Indian food in UK appearing regularly on television and radio. In 1995 went into partnership with Michael Gottlieb of Smollenskys to open Cafe Spice NamasteAwarded MBE in 2000 for services to catering industry and jointly set up the Asian & Oriental School of Catering. Two sons. Cafe Spice Namaste is the only Indian restaurant to be awarded the Investors in People Standard and National Traing Award. Has been a member of the National Advisory Council for Education and Training Targets since 1999 and helped develop new menus for NHS. Books : Cafe Spice Namaste Cookbook - 2005 India, part of the International Cuisine series. Personal : Married to wife Pervin - General Manager of Cafe Spice Namaste and a chef in her own right - and has two boys. Proudest Moment : Receiving a Catey - recognition by the industry itself within mainstream as well. Awards : Finalist in the Time Out Indian Restaurant of the Year 1995 & 1996 ; Carlton Restaurant of the Year ; Bestin Britain (BIBA) Top 30 every year since 1997 ; BIBA Restaurant Personality of the Year 2004 & 2005. Ambition : "To be successful some day"! - this is from the man who Harpers & Queens called a "Chef of Genius" and Time Out "If there is a God, the canteen in heaven will be run by Cyrus Todiwala". Trends for the future : Regional, specialisation, back to basics, sustainable resources. Most important gadget/item : A heatproof Rubbermaid spatula. Fellow of Restaurant Hall of Fame (FRHF) Achievements : * Investors in People and a National Training Award * BIB Gourmand Award Michelin Guide * Culinary Honour of Merit Award, World Master Chefs Society Guide. * Winner of Best Indian Restaurant in UK 1996 * Winner of London Docklands Good Food Award 1997 * Founder director of the Asian & Oriental School of Catering * Member of the panel for the NHS Better Hospital Food Programme * Member of British Hospitality Association steering committee looking at "Tourism Means Business" * Member of the Restaurant Association Education and Training Committee * Member of the steering and advisory committee of the Thames Valley University * Member of the steering committee of a National TAG Council * 1999 appointed member of National Advisory Council for Education and Training Targets * Committee member "Hospitality & Leisure" * TV appearances BBC, BBC Food & Drink, Network Southeast, BBC MOney Matter, Channel 4 Big Breakfast, Carlton Food Network, BBC World Service, Channel East and Network East. * Awarded MBE in August 2000 by the Queen