Urban Rajah: Food Author, Cook, Traveller And Lifestyle Adventurer
‘The chapatti
shuffle is an exceptional manoeuvre. It requires dexterity, loose shoulders, a
wobbly head and dry hands. It’s one of my earliest memories of growing up in
Slough, a town that defines multiculturalism’
…And so
begins the story of Urban Rajah, the self-confessed dandy brought up where
terraced living was shared with his brother, mother, father and a pair of
orange curtains.
Dandy
Dhal’ing
Ivor Peters
aka Urban Rajah is a food author, cook, traveller and lifestyle adventurer with
roots deep in the Indian subcontinent. A second-generation immigrant and a son
of 1970s Britain, he grew up on hot summers, street cricket and spiced Indian
food, which has narrated his life. His cookbook Urban Rajah's Curry Memoirs
(Headline, £16.99) is packed full of inspiring stories and generations-old
recipes, opening the door into a world of family cooking that teaches us how to
cook delicious curry in our own homes.
Spice
Campaigner
Every year
Britain spends £3.5bn on Indian food, however this ‘curry economy’ is almost
entirely based on takeaways and Indian restaurants. People fear spice - but
they shouldn't. Urban Rajah is on the campaign trail to make Indian food
accessible to the every day cook, fit for every palette and for the smallest or
tallest.
The Healthy
Option
Urban Rajah believes
that a curry diet is the answer to staying young and healthy. Did you know that
curry & spice have extensive health benefits?
Better moods
– lean red meat in curries such as beef, pork and lamb not only provide a
significant number of B vitamins which are essential for helping the body to
release energy from food, but they can also enhance mood and promote a more
positive state of mind.
Lower’s risk
of cancer - Tomato based curries are a great source of lycopene. This extremely
powerful antioxidant is far more prevalent in cooked tomatoes than raw ones.
Reduced risk
of heart disease - Regular consumption of cooked tomatoes also prevents the
formation of blood clots, lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes by as
much as 48%. Many spices, such as curry
powder and paprika may also help to cut the risk of heart disease as they
contain salicylic acid, a compound that scientists believe may work to stem
inflammation in the blood vessels that could otherwise lead to hardening of the
arteries.
Increased
metabolic rate - Several clinical research studieshave found that an ingredient
known as capsaicin found in spices, particularly chilli, can raise the
metabolic rate for as long as three hours after a curry.
Reduced risk
of Alzheimer's - According to researchers at the University of California, Los
Angeles, a chemical found in the spice Turmeric called curcumin can reduce the
build-up of knots in the brain that can cause Alzheimer's by as much as 50 per
cent. This may help to explain why Alzheimer's affects just 1 per cent of
people over the age of 65 living in some Indian villages. Turmeric has also been found to improve
memory, aid digestion, reduce inflammation, fight infection and guard against
heart attacks.
Boost the
immune system – paprika, chilli and other spices trigger the body’s natural
defences to produce extra mucus, trapping viruses and soothing inflamed
passages.
Reduced blood
pressure - Coriander, another common ingredient of Indian curries, contains
high levels of antioxidants that help to lower high blood pressure and prevent
their formation.
Increased
energy - A lamb curry can provide up to 50% of the iron a woman needs in a day,
boosting energy.
A stronger
immune system - Research shows that garlic contains allicin, which is antibiotic,
antifungal and may even be antiviral.
Bettering
lives through food
Not only does
Urban Rajah look good, cook good food, he also does good. Aiming to better
peoples’ lives through food, whether enlivening the sense through eating
fantastic Indian fare, or by enriching the spirit by giving away at least 10%
of Urban Rajah profits from events, products and experiences. Additionally
Urban Rajah donates 100% of profits from his Cash n Curry supper club to
projects in Chennai’s slums, India. This social enterprise focuses on helping
those who have been trafficked, or are without the basic human rights of health
and education.
So fire up
the rickshaw and experience life the Urban Rajah way:
See &
Taste > at the Great Indian Food Feast
Cook >
from the book
Read > theblog
Urban Rajah
brings together a distillation of global culture, stories from a vibrant past
fuelled by migration, ideas and trends, diverse ideas and international trends,
a celebration of the individual, and an insatiable thirst for life Urban
Rajah’s philosophy seeks to bring together like-minded people, who seek pockets
of radiance in everyday life.
That's the Urban
Rajah www.urbanrajah.com @urbanrajah
For recipes follow this link
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