television: Ainsley Harriott and Len Goodman were in the city as part of their soon to be aired BBC series, ‘Len and Ainsley’s Taste Britain Tour’
television: Ainsley Harriott and Len Goodman were in the city as part of their soon to be aired BBC series, ‘Len and Ainsley’s Taste Britain Tour’

Pakoras and bhajis on offer from television duo

Famed TV chef, Ainsley Harriott, and Strictly Come Dancing head judge, Len Goodman, were spotted on the streets of Bradford earlier this week as they cooked up a storm in the city centre.

COOKING: Khalil Alam and Ainsley Harriott try out some pakoras in Bradford city centre
COOKING: Khalil Alam and Ainsley Harriott try out some pakoras in Bradford city centre

Asian Express’ own boxing columnist, Khalil Alam, was on hand to taste some of the Asian-inspired dishes and see if they lived up to high standard of the UK’s official Curry Capital.

“On Wednesday I was lucky enough to meet Len Goodman and Ainsley Harriott at lunchtime as they were filming for a new television series,” he said.

“Intrigued to see what was going on, I walked over and was fascinated to see Ainsley preparing a selection of pakoras using fruit and spices with a special sauce he says he inherited from a tour in Pakistan.

“I was able to try the dish and it was beautifully cooked. It reminded me of my mother’s cooking but I did joke with Ainsley that it could do with some extra spice and chilli and it didn’t quite live up to my mother’s pakoras to which he laughed with his famous chuckle.

“Ainsley said he was very proud to be in Bradford and to be cooking up pakoras and bhajis in the UK’s curry capital.

“I was also fortunate enough to speak with both men at length about the volunteer community work I do in the city and they were both very polite and offered their commendations.”

The television pair’s visit to Bradford was part of the ‘Len and Ainsley’s Taste Britain Tour’ that will be shown on BBC in the coming months.

After their demonstration in the city centre, they headed off to Lumb Lane where they continued filming at a local takeaway.