Abdul Latif (restaurateur)

Abdul Latif
Born 15 December 1954
Sylhet, East Bengal
(now Bangladesh)
Died 20 January 2008 (aged 53)
Newcastle, England
Spouse(s) Neawarun Latif

Culinary career

Cooking style Bangladeshi/Indian cuisine
Website
www.therupali.co.uk

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

Early life

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

Career

Latif's first job on Tyneside was the role of waiter in a restaurant owned by a relative, which was in Whitley Bay.[5] In 1977, Latif established his restaurant, the Rupali, in the city centre of Newcastle. The restaurant was later renamed Curry Capital.[6]

Latif had a keen eye for publicity stunts. He offered free curry for five years to all service men and women who had served in Iraq[7] and free curry for life to rugby star Jonny Wilkinson and football manager Graeme Souness.[8]

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, England to Sydney, Australia. The delivery was made by motorcycle courier and aircraft and took four days.[9] 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.”[6]

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.[6] 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.[6] On 2 March 2008, a well-attended memorial event was held at Newcastle Civic Centre.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Obituaries: Abdul Latif". The Telegraph. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  2. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/owners-hot-method-of-currying-favour-led-to-restaurants-renown/2008/02/05/1202090415636.html?page=fullpage
  3. ↑ Tobbell, Kayleigh (31 July 2004). "Lord of Harpole". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  4. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1576383/Abdul-Latif.html
  5. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1576383/Abdul-Latif.html
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "From curry hell to model citizen". The Northern Echo. 21 January 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  7. ↑ "Hot offer tempts the troops". BBC News. 17 April 2003. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  8. ↑ Douglas, Andrew (20 January 2008). "Restauranteur dies from heart attack". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  9. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/owners-hot-method-of-currying-favour-led-to-restaurants-renown/2008/02/05/1202090415636.html?page=fullpage
  10. ↑ "The New Lord". Retrieved 24 January 2008.

External links