Menu of first Indian eatery in UK auctioned

LONDON: More than 200 years after Patna-born Sake Dean Mohamed opened the first Indian restaurant in the United Kingdom at George Street in London, its menu comprising spicy dishes such as pineapple pullaoo has been auctioned for £8,500.

The handwritten menu of the Hindostanee Coffee House, set up near Portman Square in 1810, was sold by Jarndyce Antiquarian Books at the ABA Rare Book Fair that ended here on Saturday.

Organisers tweeted the menu included more than 25 dishes, including chicken and lobster curries and a selection of breads, chutneys and dishes considered “too numerous for insertion”.

Born in 1759, Mohamed was one of the first Indian immigrants to Britain. In colonial Bihar, he served in the army of the East India Company before travelling to London in 1782 and introducing shampoo to Britain. He also wrote a book, The Travels of Dean Mahomet, considered the first book by an Indian author in English.

A plaque was unveiled in September 2005 at 102, George Street, close to the original site of his restaurant at 34, George Street, by the city of Westminster.

Mohamed is credited with opening the first Indian restaurant, but according to author Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, the first Indian takeaway was launched by one Sarah Shade, who went to India in 1796, was caught up in wars, imprisoned in Mysore, learned to cook in captivity and returned to open the takeaway.

INDIAN FOOD IN UK HAS A LONG HISTORY. IN 1747 HANNAH CLOSE WROTE A COOKBOOK OF INDIAN RECIPES AND LATER, SORLIE’S WAREHOUSE STARTED SELLING CURRY POWDER