Masterchef 2017 winner Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed has joined one of London's most popular restaurants to mark 70 years of India and Pakistan's independence.
Ahmed has teamed up with Sameer Taneja, the Indian-raised executive chef at Covent Garden’s Talli Joe, to prepare a one-off feast of 10 dishes from across India and Pakistan to celebrate the strong cultural ties between the nations.
Originally an NHS doctor, Mahmood-Ahmed swapped her shifts with colleagues at Watford General Hospital to take part in Masterchef and was crowned the latest winner in May, with judges praising her fusion dishes inspired by traditional Pakistani cooking.
Mahmood-Ahmed, 29 told the Evening Standard: “India and Pakistan share a deeply intimate food culture. This meal celebrates the culinary heritage which binds these nations together and celebrates all we have achieved in gastronomy as a collective region, irrespective of geographically defined borders.”
The meal will be available over two sittings on Sunday September 17 for £45 including two welcome drinks.
