Curry house spices up Christmas for families in need

The owner of an Indian restaurant has come up with a warm gesture to help families in need – by donating DIY curry kits to a food bank and soup kitchen.

DUDLEY PIC / DAVID HAMILTON PIC / EXPRESS AND STAR PIC 2/12/20 With DIY curry kits he has put together, director Aminur Rahman, at Le Raj restaurant, Lower Gornal..

Aminur Rahman, from Le Raj in Lower Gornal, has put together 50 make-your-own curry boxes which he has delivered to Dudley charity Heaven’s Kitchen.

In previous years, Aminur has cooked up hot meals for residents at care homes as a Christmas treat and this year had offered to deliver hot Indian meals for dozens of people attending the Salop Street-based soup kitchen.

But due to strict food hygiene rules, charity workers reluctantly had to decline his kind offer.

So instead, the generous businessman has given them curry packs which they will hand out to some families who have cooking facilities and use some of the ingredients themselves to cook a meal for others.

The boxes – which contain a packet of rice, naan bread, a tin of tomatoes, a tin of chickpeas and a sachet of spices – need meat and vegetables to be added to make a curry.

Aminur, who has run the Louise Street restaurant for 22 years, said: “I hope people will enjoy using these boxes and can put together a satisfying and tasty meal.

Aminur Rahman, of Le Raj restaurant, Lower Gornal serves up his DIY curry kits with help from regular customer John Homer

“I had asked the charity if I could supply hot meals from the restaurant but, unfortunately, they were unable to accept cooked fresh food.

“So, I’m trying to do the next best thing and give families a curry kit in a box which they can use to cook up their own Indian meal.

“I am always keen to support good causes locally and hope to put on a fundraising dinner for the mayor of Dudley’s charity in the future.”

Jeanette Jones, project manager at Heaven’s Kitchen, said: “I think it’s amazing we have been given the boxes. We were gutted when we couldn’t accept Aminur’s offer to bring in hot cooked food but what he is doing for us is so kind. I’m sure it will be very much appreciated.”

Heaven's Kitchen, which provides help for the homeless and vulnerable, provides a three-course meal every Monday evening and a cooked breakfast on Saturday mornings. It also offers practical, legal and emotional advice.