][1]These days, Indian restaurants are an essential part of any high street and curries are hailed as one of the UK’s national dishes. Things were very different back in 1947 when Khushi’s opened in Edinburgh and became Scotland’s first Indian restaurant.
Back then, garlic was exotic and chillies, turmeric and cumin were unheard of. That didn’t stop daring curry pioneers from venturing into the first Khushi’s and trying this new fangled Indian food.
Sixty-seven years later, Khushi’s is travelling back in time to offer diners a chance to taste some of the original dishes on a unique Back to 1947 menu.
Co-founder’s 80th birthday
The menu is being offered to mark the 80th birthday of Khushi’s co-founder Hamida Khushi. To celebrate the landmark, Khushi’s is looking to track down original customers from the time of its opening to share their dining experiences as well as their photographs and other mementos from the period.
Customers who can show they were among the first to try curry in Scotland or can supply original pictures or menus from the opening time will be invited to back to have a free meal at the restaurant.
The Back to 1947 event will run at Khushi’s in Antigua Street from 17th March until 30th of March, Fridays and Saturdays excluded, and will feature original dishes such as basic mutton and chicken curries.
Birth of Scottish Indian restaurants
General Manager Jaimon George said they want to collect as many links with the past as possible to show how the restaurant and the Indian dining experience in Scotland has flourished over the last five decades.
He said: ‘Khushi’s is now an Edinburgh institution but it took a bold step by customers in those early days to try Indian food for the first time to help start us on the journey to where we are now.
‘Our Back to 1947 event will be a great opportunity for people who love curry to literally get a proper taste of how it all began.
‘It will also be a great way to help us celebrate Mrs Khushi’s milestone birthday in style and embrace Khushi’s nostalgic past with both new and returning customers.’
Penniless
The first Khushi’s restaurant was opened in Edinburgh’s Potterrow by Khushi Mohammed, a penniless Indian immigrant who arrived in Britain in the mid 1930s after being lured by the Commonwealth promise of work and a better life. The Evening News has a great piece about the Khushi’s story here.
Customers who can prove they visited the original Khushi’s or have photographs of the restaurant can either hand them in to the restaurant or send to Khushis restaurant, 10 Antigua Street, Edinburgh EH1 3NH or send to dine@khushis.com (FAO Jaimon George) where arrangements can be made for their free meal.
If Khushi’s started Scotland’s love affair with Indian food then there are many who would say that their sister restaurant Mithas is showing Scotland where the future of Indian food may lie.
Twice winners of the Indian Restaurant award at the Scottish Restaurant Awards, mentioned in the Michelin Guide and with 2 AA Rosettes, Mithas is the modern face of inventive Indian food in Scotland.
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