Oh my nosh! Reubens wins Jewish News kebab award

Popular deli Reubens beat tasty competition to land the Best Kosher Shawarma Restaurant prize at this year’s prestigious British Kebab Awards event.

At a plush ceremony in Westminster’s Plaza Hotel, attended by 1200 people, including MPs, journalists and many kebab restaurant owners and staff, Reubens became the first ever winners of the newly created kosher category, partnered by Jewish News.

The British Kebab Awards has become one of the most popular ceremonies of the year, with prime minister Rishi Sunak, and Labour leader Keir Starmer amongst the scores of politicians sending messages of support.

Reubens chief Lee Landau was loudly cheered as he collected his award on stage, where he was joined by Jewish News’ Justin Cohen, who had first come up with the idea of introducing a kosher category.

Landau was presented with the award by Westminster Council leader Adam Hug and Just Eat’s Robin Clark.

After collecting Reubens award, Landau told Jewish News:”It was a real honour and privilege to receive the award tonight.

“It’s actually 50 years now for Reubens, we opened back in 1973.

“People ask why our food is special, I say it’s the ‘magic touch’ .

“We try our very hardest to give all of our customers the best food we possibly can.

“It’s just fantastic that we’ve been honoured in this way tonight.”

The event – which saw former Tory Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi and Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner both speeches – was started over a decade ago as a way of honouring Britain’s kebab industry and its workers, who generate around £ 2.9 billion to the economy each year.

Reubens saw off tough competition in the best kosher shawarma category.

The other nominees were Golders Green’s Pita, Bricky’s in Shenley, Balgan in Borehamwood, Shefa Mehadrin in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, Balady Alaesh in Temple Fortune, Sami’s Restaurant in Hendon, and Samis, Edgware, along with Saba Borehamwood.

Other awards on the night included best restaurant by region, best kebab house by region, and best kebab van, best fine dining, best Lebanese and best chef sections.

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey was amongst those to hand out awards.

British Kebab Awards founder Ibrahim Dogus was also loudly applauded after he gave a speech in which he urged attendees to support his charitable efforts to raise money for the victims of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

Dogus, whose father arrived in this country as an asylum seeker from Turkey, has previously spoken of his enormous respect and close friendship with many in the Jewish community in this country.

He later said:”We are feeling very proud about launching the first ever Kosher Kebab award as part of annual British Kebab Awards in partnership with Jewish News.

“The winners, Reubens are a 50 year old brilliant business in Westminster and plays a significant role in the local community. Congratulations to all winners and thank you to partners Jewish News for supporting the awards this year.”

Amongst the MPs at the event were ex-Conservative minister Sasjid Javid, Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker, and MP Caroline Noakes.

Jewish Labour MPs Alex Sobel and Charlotte Nichols both hailed the inclusion of a kosher category at the ceremony for the first time.

Nichols told Jewish News:”It feels kind of natural there’s a kosher category at the event after all these years.

“We all know that kebabs are big deal amongst the community and in Israel. It’s brilliant that this has been recognised. It feels kind of validating.”

Nichols also said the ceremony was not just about cuisine, but all served as an important reminder of how communities such as Jewish and Muslim ones had strong historic links.

Sobel added:”This ceremony is not just about kebabs, it’s all the traditions of all the countries surrounding the Mediterranean.

“It’s about Greece, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, we have these shared traditions and we should celebrate them.”