An award-winning chef at a Durham city restaurant has been providing meals for NHS staff during the coronavirus outbreak.
Syed Islam is executive chef at The Capital and is one of the best in the business, having won top accolades for his cooking.
During the coronavirus crisis, Syed and his team have been busy preparing meals more than 100 meals for staff at the University Hospital of North Durham's accident and emergency unit.
Syed, who was part of a British team to travel to India to showcase the British curry, and his team have been delivering them free of charge to make sure doctors and nurses are having a nutritional meal during their shift.
He said: "The reason behind making the dishes was that we as a teamwanted to participate in helping the NHS as they are the real heroes and we wanted to show how grateful we are to have them."
"We appreciate that they’re making sacrifices to put us first and doing the best that they can."
They have also been helped by Durham MP Mary Foy, who went along to the restaurant to help with the meals being prepared.
She said: “When Syed got in touch and told me about his plan to provide free meals to UHND staff, I jumped at the chance to go along and help.
“The work that our heroic frontline NHS workers are doing at the moment is absolutely invaluable and many of them are working long shifts with little, or no time, to actually look after themselves – even when it involves something as simple as taking some time out to eat a meal.
"This is another heart-warming example of how the communities and businesses in my brilliant constituency look out for one another.
“I hope all the staff who received one of Syed’s incredible meals enjoyed them.
“I was lucky enough to sample one and I can confirm that his status as an award-winning chef is very much deserved. Well done to Team Capital.”
