Cindy the Curry Queen!

Umhlali’s local curry master who is featured in the award winning cook book “Durban Curry”, Cindy Valayadam, was awarded the very first ‘Durban Curry Cup’ on Saturday, April 11 at the Litchi Orchard market.

The book’s authors and publishers, Erica Platter and Clinton Friedman, presented Valayadam with the special trophy to celebrate her having sold more copies of the book from her tiny shop in Umhlali village, than any other outlet in South Africa.

Valayadam, known locally for her curries and pickles, has so far sold more than 300 copies of the book and the book continues to fly off her shop’s shelves.

“The secret to Cindy selling so many books is not that she minimally cuts the normal retail price, but rather that she throws in her signature – usually on the page featuring her famous chicken and egg curry recipe or her baby brinjal pickles,” said Platter.

Platter said the blackboard outside Valayadam’s shop saying “Durban Curry book sold here” lures customers into the little shop.

The subtitle of the book (‘so much of flavour’) was born from Valayadam’s answer to the question, “What exactly characterises a Durban curry?” to which she replied “So much of flavour!”.

“It must be pronounced with an authentic local Indian accent,” said Platter.

The book was recently named the South African cook book of the year by the international judges of the World Gourmand Awards. Durban Curry competes for the overall best world cookbook award with seven other finalists and the winner will be announced in China in June.