Forfar restaurant celebrates national award win with civic dinner
Civic and community representatives gathered at a Forfar restaurant this week to celebrate it winning a national award.
Jeet Indian Restaurant hosted the event on Monday to mark its success in being named Curry Restaurant of the Year – North Scotland at this year’s Scottish Curry Awards.
The special Civic Celebration Dinner brought together representatives from local government, business, tourism and the wider Forfar community to recognise the achievement of the restaurant and its owners, Lawrence D’Costa, Gabriel Rozario and John Gregory.
Guest of honour was Angus Provost Councillor Craig Fotheringham who delivered the keynote address.
Mr Fotheringham said: “As Provost of Angus, I am honoured and delighted to join this Civic Celebration at Jeet and to recognise the team’s achievement in winning such a prestigious award.
“It is particularly pleasing for me personally because Jeet is a restaurant I know well and visit regularly. I have experienced at first hand the first-class food, service and warm welcome for which Lawrence, Gabriel, John and their team have become so well known.
“Their success is thoroughly deserved and is something of which they, and indeed the wider Forfar and Angus community, can be very proud.”
Jeet opened on Castle Street, in 2019, established by childhood friends Lawrence D’Costa, Gabriel Rozario and John Gregory.
The trio grew up together in Bangladesh and have developed Jeet as a family-run business.
The evening included a traditional welcome, entertainment and a buffet showcasing Jeet’s cuisine, before concluding with a vote of thanks from Lawrence D’Costa.
Mr D’Costa said the restaurant’s team are proud of winning the award.
He said: “When Gabriel, John and I opened the restaurant seven years ago, we hoped to create somewhere that people would enjoy coming to - not only for the food, but for the friendly, family welcome we wanted Jeet to be known for.
“We could not have achieved this award without our wonderful team and the tremendous support we have received from our customers and the Forfar community over the years.
“To have the Provost of Angus as our chief guest, together with so many friends and representatives of the local community joining us to celebrate, makes this a very special occasion for all of us.”
The evening was hosted by David Valentine MBE, who will act as Master of Ceremonies. Mr Valentine also officiated at the formal opening of Jeet in 2019.
He said: “I had the privilege of formally opening Jeet seven years ago, so it gives me enormous pleasure to return as MC for an evening celebrating just how far Lawrence, Gabriel and John have come.
“They have become an established and much-valued part of the Forfar community, and this award is wonderful recognition of what they and their team have achieved.
“To be judged Curry Restaurant of the Year for the whole of North Scotland is not simply a success for Jeet. It is another reason to be proud of the quality and diversity of the independent businesses we have here.”