Curry and comedy on the menu for Masterchef finalist

CURRIES have been known to leave some people’s stomachs feeling a bit funny, but comedian and chef Hardeep Singh Kohli is looking to inject a different blend of humour into his cooking when he comes to Birmingham next month.

“I think the curry scene in Birmingham is amazing,” said Hardeep, who was a finalist in Celebrity Masterchef 10 years ago.

“It’s great food in Birmingham, great pubs, lovely people. You know, no matter how good the food is and the wine is, an event is meaningless if the people are rubbish.

“I have never had a rubbish event in Birmingham, I’ve always had a really good time.”

Hardeep is presenting an evening of curry and comedy at the Botanical Gardens next month alongside Itihaas head chef Updesh Shrivastava, who is creating a four-course menu. A splash of whisky will also be on the menu as Hardeep adds a bit of his Glaswegian heritage into the evening.  

Born in London but brought up in Glasgow, Hardeep worked in restaurants from an early age. Later, when he was working in showbiz he would eat out several times a week – but his interest in cooking came from a simple motivation.

The 47-year old said: “I like eating and the easiest way to get food in my belly was to cook it.”

Hardeep says his signature dish is the slow roast pork belly he demonstrated on Celebrity Masterchef in 2006. 

Talking about his time on Masterchef, Hardeep said: “Greg [Wallace] and John [Torode] are nice guys, they’re very passionate about food. Greg still thinks I should have won.”

Hardeep was one of the three finalists in the running for the Celebrity Masterchef title but just missed out being crowned winner, despite entering the competition with more experience than the series winner, rugby player Matt Dawson. 

Nevertheless, Hardeep said starring on the show was “a dream come true.” 

“I understand people saying I was robbed, but it’s not the winning it’s the taking part”, he added.