[frogman]

Speaking of curry, there's an interesting piece on the BBC website today:

Curry house founder is honoured

An Indian entrepreneur who opened one of the UK's first curry houses is to be honoured with a green plaque.
In 1810 Sake Dean Mahomed established the Hindoostane Coffee House in George Street, Portman Square, central London.

He is also reputed to have introduced therapeutic massage or "shampooing" to Britain and was the first Indian writer to be published in English.

The plaque, which celebrates the achievements of former Westminster residents, is unveiled on Thursday.

At the age of 11, Mahomed joined the East India Company Army and rose to the rank of captain.

He fought in a number of campaigns until 1782 when he resigned from the army and two years later arrived in Britain.

Staying in Ireland he wrote and published his book, The Travels of Dean Mahomet.

He later moved to Portman Square where he became an assistant to Sir Basil Cochrane at his vapour bath.

This is where Mahomed is said to have added an Indian treatment, champi (shampooing) or therapeutic massage, to Cochrane's bath which became very fashionable.

In 1810 he opened the Hindoostane Coffee House serving Hookha with real Chilm tobacco and Indian dishes. The premises is now a building called Carlton House.

Mahomed was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1812 but a few years later he opened special treatment baths on the seafront at East Cliff, Brighton.

He died in 1851 and was buried in St Nicholas' churchyard in Brighton.