Mike Penning attended the final of the Tiffin Cup in London to support Hemel finalist ‘Bengal Spice’.

Bengal Spice was one of 14 finalists to take part in the inaugural final of the ‘Tiffin Cup’. The final took the format of a “cook-in” at the House of Commons on Tuesday 16th May.

The competition is run by a group of Members of Parliament from all parties headed by Leicester East MP, Keith Vaz. Each MP can nominate one restaurant from their constituency. Mike Penning nominated ‘Bengal Spice’ which was chosen as a result of a competition held on his website.

Mike Penning said:

“I am exceptionally proud that the Bengal Spice won through to the national final. They did fantastically well to pass all the taste tests to get as far as they did. I think the competition has been a great success and I am looking forward to next year’s competition.”

The competition is held in aid of the Roko Cancer Appeal – which aims to create India’s first mobile breast cancer unit – and TB Alert which fights TB in both the UK and India.

Keith Vaz, who visited ‘Bengal Spice’ in Waterhouse Street during the semi-finals, said:

“I am delighted to host the first Tiffin Cup grand final, which will feature 14 of the best South Asian restaurants Britain has to offer.

"I am sure this will be a fun-packed evening that will highlight how far South Asian cuisine has developed in this country, while also supporting two very worthy causes.”

The event was attended by celebrity cooks, Lloyd Grossman and Ainsley Harriott as well as Nina Wadia from TV show ‘Goodness Gracious Me!’

Unfortunately ‘Bengal Spice’ didn’t win the competition which was won by the ‘Taj Mahal’ of Haverfordwest, nominated by Stephen Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire.

The prize was a year’s supply of Cobra beer and the 2006 Tiffin Cup.

Photo: Mike with Tanvir Ullah at Bengal Spice.