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Ready, steady, curry ... at the Mill

Most people who love Indian food have probably had a stab at trying to recreate the fascinating flavours of a ''real'' curry at home but very few have experienced the luxury of learning, first hand, how to create a perfect Asian dish from an acknowledged master of the art.

At hugely popular Darnley restaurant Ashoka at the Mill, recently judged one of the top 30 Indian restaurants in the whole UK, so many customers have asked boss Rajesh Saraf just how his head chef achieves that distinctive ''authentic'' taste that he decided to stage a series of special Indian cookery Master Classes.

They're aimed at customers whose interest goes beyond simply reading then enjoying the contents of the menu, and they offer an invaluable insight into the careful preparation, correct use of ingredients and minute attention to detail which are such vital elements of how the cuisine is prepared at Rajesh's award-winning restaurant.

Rajesh said: ''We have been quietly running these special cookery demos for some time, but from the response I've had from those who've tried it I think anyone who is interested in how great Indian food is prepared (and that's an awful lot of people) would find it interesting, and also a great deal of fun.''

After a welcoming drink guests are taken on a tour of the restaurant and given a brief talk on health and safety essentials in the kitchen before discussing the day's menu. Then, after the various ingredients are displayed and explained, it's time to don aprons and begin cooking, which takes around 90 minutes, depending on the menu choices involved. Finally the guest chefs become diners and sit back to enjoy the dishes they've helped to create, rounding off an evening which costs just £70 per couple ... which includes a complimentary Ashoka cookbook!