Wokingham

“Variety is the spice of life!” That’s the message from Wokingham District Council’s chairman Cllr Iain Brown after he sampled more than 20 traditional and contemporary Indian dishes, at the launch of Miah's Restaurants’ charity food fiesta on Monday February 6.

Jamshed Miah and his family own three Indian restaurants in the Wokingham area, and like to cook up a feast for charity. At the Tankerton House restaurant on Basingstoke Road on Monday, Jamshed Miah produced a banquet for the chairman and his guests, to launch February’s food fiesta – a fixed price special menu which includes a £2.50 donation per person, per meal to Sebastian’s Action Trust, the chairman’s charity.

It is traditional that the Wokingham chairman supports a charity during his term in office. Sebastian’s Action Trust is a local charity formed in memory of Sebastian Gates, who tragically died of cancer on Christmas Eve 2003 at the age of nine. His wish was to provide a holiday home in the countryside where children suffering from life-threatening illnesses could go to spend precious time with their families or just for a break to relieve their stress.

Dining guests at Miah’s Restaurants every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday this month – except for Valentine’s Day on February 14 – can ask for the Food Fiesta menu. This includes popadoms with a selection of chutneys and a choice of six starters, followed by a choice of six traditional and contemporary curries, and a choice of breads, vegetable side dishes and rice dishes. The meal concludes with coffee and chocolate. For every person dining, Miah’s will donate £2.50 towards Sebastian’s holiday house. Pre-booking is necessary - visit www.miahs.co.uk or call one of the restaurants taking part, which are:

* Pangbourne Tandoori, Reading Road, Pangbourne (0118) 984 3731
* Tankerton House, Basingstoke Road, Reading (0118) 988 8394
* Garden of Gulab, 130-134 Wokingham Road, Reading (0118) 966 7979

Jamshed Miah says he delights in cooking for other people. “It was my absolute pleasure to cook for the chairman of Wokingham District Council and his guests from Sebastian's Action Trust,” he said. “I look forward to seeing staff and councillors from Wokingham District Council enjoying my food during February and hopefully beyond!”

Wokingham Cllr Iain Brown said: “I would like to thank the Miah’s restaurants for their support of the civic charity throughout the month of February. I hope that many people will come along and sample the wonderful food whilst raising money for such a worthwhile cause.”

Wokingham District Council