This unique annual competition gains worldwide publicity for the best of the sub-continent's cuisine and in the process draws international attention to Scotland's capital city and its attractions.

The launch of the competition in July each year - normally in the House of Commons and latterly through the good offices of Scottish Nationalist M.P. Alex Salmond - is widely reported, with details carried by local and national press, international wire services, BBC World Service, ethnic radio and television and other electronic media.

For entrants, winning through to the final cook-out at Queen Margaret University College ensures extensive, frequently intensive, media exposure. For professional chefs and restaurateurs, just reaching the final guarantees a huge improvement in business turnover.

Actually winning the title can have unexpected benefits, even for an amateur.

For one housewife, winning the title spawned publication of her own cookery book and a cookery programme on television. For another, the win led to a further education teaching post.

The title enabled one early winner to transform his failing restaurant into a wide-ranging business empire that includes magazine publishing. A chef started his own restaurant after winning.

The only Englishman to win was promoted to executive rank from a routine job preparing in-flight meals for first-class airline passengers. Immigration authorities delayed deportation of a Bangladeshi chef to allow him to compete: his win brought a top job in the Gulf.

Over the years, finalists have included restaurateurs from Bombay and New York, a North Sea oil rig cook, a German secretary, a French housewife, and a Thai woman studying in Britain. The oldest was a 69-year-old Australian businessman and the youngest a 20-year-old Chinese woman from Malaysia.

One enterprising finalist had business cards printed and now owns two highly-regarded up-market restaurants in Britain. And a Royal Navy officers' cook is now executive chef at a prestigious hotel.

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© The Indian Chef Of The Year 2002