Award-winning launch

Chef Jabbar Shahed received an award at the opening of a Staffordshire restaurant.

Jabbar, brother of Ruby Fusion owner Abdul Shahed, was presented with the award as best Bangladeshi gourmet chef in North Staffordshire by psychic and broadcaster Mystic Ed at the opening of the restaurant in Wolverhampton Road, Stafford.

It was officially opened by Stafford Mayor Councillor Brian Price as guests enjoyed a four-course dinner and were entertained by a singer. 

Mr Shahed also owns the Stafford Balti, Millbank which he has run for 13 years. The opening event was organised by the Eastern Restaurant Alliance which has hundreds of members in the Midlands. Mr Shahid spent £40,000 on refurbishing the former Aqua Balti. He says 

it will specialise in modern contemporary Indian fusion food. The restaurant is the latest addition to a growing number of eateries in the county town.

A new Frankie and Bennys restaurant is soon to open at The Hough, Lichfield Road, The grade two listed building was originally part of the former GEC works site.

It was used by business clients and originally had 11 bedrooms and maids’ quarters. It was also used for celebratory dinners and special functions. A Pizza Hut restaurant is also being built at the £11 million development Hough Retail park.

A new Indian restaurnant Panache is also to be created at a cost of £300,000 at the former Crispins Tavern in Stone Road.

lThe picture at the opening of Ruby Fusion on August 26 shows, from left, Mystic Ed, mayoress of Stafford Ann Price, Andrew Brookes, secretary of Eastern Restaurant Alliance, mayor of Stafford Councillor Brian Price and Abdul Shahed, restaurant owner, Stafford