Abdul Latif (restaurateur)

Abdul Latif, FRSA[1] (Bengali: আব্দুল লতিফ; 15 December 1954 – 20 January 2008) was a Bangladeshi-born British restaurateur and curry chef in Newcastle upon-Tyne who became famous nationwide because of his regular appearances in Viz magazine.[2] He was well known for his dish "Curry Hell" introduced in 1987[3] – a curry reputedly so hot (Latif claimed it was "the world's hottest")[4] that it was offered for free to patrons of his Newcastle restaurant who could finish the entire meal.[5] The dish contained four times the amount of chilli found in a typical vindaloo.[1]

Abdul Latif
Born(1954-12-15)15 December 1954
Sylhet District, East Bengal, Pakistan (now Bangladesh)
Died20 January 2008(2008-01-20) (aged 53)
Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England
SpouseNeawarun Latif
Culinary career
Cooking styleBangladeshi/Indian cuisine
Current restaurant(s)
  • Rupali
Previous restaurant(s)
  • Curry Capital (formerly Rupali)
Award(s) won
Websitewww.therupali.co.uk

Early life

Latif was born near the city of Sylhet, Sylhet District, East Bengal, Pakistan (now Bangladesh).[6] In 1969, he arrived in the United Kingdom and settled in Manchester; a racist incident one night persuaded Latif to move north to Newcastle. He was married to Neawarun, with whom he had four daughters and two sons.[1]

Career

Latif's first job on Tyneside was as a waiter in a restaurant owned by a relative in Whitley Bay.[1] In 1977, Latif established his restaurant, the Rupali, in the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. The restaurant was later renamed Curry Capital.[7]

Latif offered free curry for five years to all service men and women who had served in Iraq,[8] and free curry for life to rugby star Jonny Wilkinson and football manager Graeme Souness.[9]

In 2004, his restaurant was also listed in Guinness World Records, for the world's longest-distance curry delivery – when he delivered frozen vegetable biryani and peshwari naan bread from Newcastle to Sydney, Australia.[7] The delivery was made by motorcycle courier and aircraft and took four days.[3] He featured regularly in the cult adult comic Viz, providing the staff with free curries and relishing the publicity, despite their portrayal of him as a "curry mentalist".[7]

Latif purchased the deed to the honorary title of the Lord of Harpole for £5,000 in 1994, and proudly branded himself as Britain's first Bangladeshi Lord of the Manor.[7] He ran a website called The New Lord, where he offered souvenir merchandise, seasonal messages to his fans, publicity services and a motivational DVD.[10] In 2003, he was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts for "his efforts to make a difference in society".[1]

Death

On 20 January 2008, Latif died of a heart attack at his home in Newcastle's Gosforth area.[11]

An early day motion in Parliament proposed by Tim Farron Liberal Democrat MP was tabled on 24 January 2008 to offer condolences to his family and to celebrate "his enormous contribution to the City of Newcastle, the Liberal Democrats and Viz magazine."[12]

On 2 March 2008, a well-attended memorial event was held at Newcastle Civic Centre.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Obituaries: Abdul Latif". The Telegraph. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  2. "Currying favour". Architects’ Journal. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  3. Stephens, Tony (6 February 2008). "Owner's hot method of currying favour led to restaurant's renown". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  4. "Heated row over hottest curry". Metro. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  5. Tobbell, Kayleigh (31 July 2004). "Lord of Harpole". Evening Chronicle. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  6. "Abdul Latif". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  7. "From curry hell to model citizen". BBC News. 21 January 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  8. "Hot offer tempts the troops". BBC News. 17 April 2003. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  9. Douglas, Andrew (20 January 2008). "Restauranteur dies from heart attack". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  10. "The New Lord". Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  11. "'Curry Hell' restaurant boss dies". BBC News. 21 January 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  12. "ABDUL LATIF - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament". edm.parliament.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
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