Ayr Spice - Now run by STV Chef and Chef to the Stars-Mafiz Ali

Mafiz Ali became famous overnight when he won a chef of the year award and one for exceptional hygiene at Westminster in the year 1998. Newly crowned, he was commissioned by the then prime minister, John Major to provide a banquet for the latter´s 50th. Birthday, the success of which caused his food to be exported to the USA, Japan and even Australia, creating what must surely be an almost unique takeaway business!

At about the same time he entered the Guinness Book of Records with the world´s largest curry (4.5 tons of chicken korma), which was subsequently eaten at a huge charity event. He has also supplied food to numerous celebrities from the world of TV and the record industry and made no fewer than 69 TV appearances himself. The most recent of these were on STV on April 5th and 7th 2011.

He has also contributed to many publications including leading newspapers of the national press, and is still the principal judge and organiser of the national curry awards he instituted in 1998, although the present recession has pushed them into abeyance for lack of financial sponsorship money. He has settled in Minishant to escape from the stress of city life in London.