200 years old and still going hot and strong!

We can celebrate a wonderful anniversary-200 years since the first Indian restaurant opened its doors in London town-George Street, Marylebone just off Baker Street. The curry has taken over first place from its strong competitor for the national dish from good old-fish and chips. Why has the curry usurped the status quo in the nations diet? No self respecting high street would be complete without its Indian restaurant. Apparently Bromley has the highest concentration of curry houses in Britain, with one for every 853 people. It is quickly followed by Epsom, Reading, Leicester and Cardiff. The most popular name for an Indian restaurant-not surprisingly is the Taj Mahal. Why is going for an Indian the thing to do? Its a combination of factors-the exotic, the fulsome flavours, the convenience, the cheapness, good way of celebrating an event. etc. Poor old fish and chips has been knocked off is perch. However to redress the balance and do my bit for Blighty-I went to Hastings the other day with my son to eat at John Osborne's favourite eatery for fish and chips the Seagull-which is on the sea front. Hastings is blessed with a very good functioning fishing village in the old town. It has a unique way of drying the nets-in tall wooded sheds all painted black. They look most majestic standing out against the sea as a background. In addition there is a small museum that tells a history of the town and the central role of seafaring. It is also one of the Cinq Ports which Churchill was the warden of, he was also a member of Hastings' famous Winkle Club.