Birmingham's most highly-decorated chef, Aktar Islam, known for his two Michelin Star meals at Opheem, has also earned accolades for his affordable, freezer-friendly curries. His Aktar at Home delivery service, launched during the 2020 lockdowns, has scooped nine Great Taste Awards this summer, proving that gourmet quality can be accessible to all.
Aktar at Home: Fine Dining at Home
While Opheem's full tasting menu costs £195 per person, Aktar at Home offers a set box of dishes from £45, serving two to four people. Larger boxes, with eight dishes, two portions of rice, and fluffy naans, start at £80. These meals are blast frozen, allowing diners to enjoy them over three months.
The chef, who grew up working in his father's restaurant on Stratford Road, has risen to the pinnacle of gastronomy, but he remains a champion of affordable, everyday Indian food. He often praises 50p samosas and local independent eateries on national platforms.
Great Taste Awards Recognition
The Great Taste Awards, organized by the Guild of Fine Food, are highly prestigious. Just 2% of 15,000 entries receive the top three-star rating, described as 'exquisite.' Aktar's Beef Keralan Curry achieved this honor, with judges calling it "a masterclass in heritage cooking."
Seven other dishes received two-star ratings for being 'outstanding': Murgh Makhni, Chicken Jalfrezi, Chicken Madras, Gosht Sagwala, Dhaba Gosht, Rogan Josh, and Prawn Pathia. The Gobhi Mattar earned a one-star award.
Convenience and Quality
Most dishes can be cooked on the hob in minutes, while oven-finished meals take less than 20 minutes. Aktar at Home emphasizes that no heavy oils, ghee, or additives are used, and traditional cooking methods ensure an authentic Indian home-cooking experience. Ingredients come from the same suppliers used at Opheem.
Community Impact
Proceeds from Aktar at Home support local charities, with hundreds of meals donated weekly. The chef also recruits staff from inner-city communities, providing employment opportunities in areas with high unemployment.
John Farrand, managing director at the Guild of Fine Food, said: "Food security is becoming an increasingly pressing issue across the globe, so it feels more pertinent now than at any other time in our thirty-year history to be supporting and promoting independent producers and retailers."
He added: "Our directory of award recipients is a rich source of data, guiding people from all walks of life to make informed decisions about their food and drink choices. Great Taste is all about celebrating craftmanship and dedication to well-sourced local ingredients and traditional, often simple production methods which is more important now than ever."
