Rice prices put the bite on London's curry houses - most expensive restaurant dish

LONDON (Reuters Life! )-
Chef Azmal Hussain offers hot service to his specialty cuisine
"Chicken Hood "-
Tell customers that they have to taste every precious rice.
"This is the most expensive dish on the menu," Hussein joked . ".
However, the sharp rise in rice prices is not a joke for Bangladesh --
Born restaurant owner
Since he opened the door to a large number of Londoners who liked what most Brits call "curry" spicy South Asian food, he has had to raise his prices for the first time in nine years.
"We spent 20 kg bags of Basmati rice 14 three months ago. 99 pounds ($29. 73)Hussein said.
"Now we pay 24. 99.
Still, they say it will grow more and more. ”Last week U. S.
Rice futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange hit a record high
Over $25.
Thai rice prices soared to $1,000 a tonne in April 24.
Some of the world's largest rice producers have restricted exports, rising energy costs, and growing demand in emerging economies such as China and India have exacerbated concerns about food shortages.
India, the world's second-largest rice exporter after Thailand, banned non-rice exports in last October.
Control prices and inflation.
Two months ago, inflation hit 14-month high.
Countries with export controls include Egypt and Vietnam, the world's third-largest producer of rice.
Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest consumer of rice, said it would curb inflation
Rice exports.
Alex wo, director of the British Rice Association, said the rice harvest this year has made great progress.
"In my opinion, in the view of most people in the grain trade, we will not see prices fall back to their original level," said Waugh . ".
He said that the growth of the global population has also driven the growth of the population.
"We feed 80 million new mouths a year, equivalent to Germany," said Waugh . ".
Meanwhile, at the curry restaurant in Brick Lane, London, Hussain insists that he will never compromise on quality and intends to continue to provide top Basmati rice to his clients.
But due to the recent credit crisis in the market, his most basic component prices soared, coupled with the expected off-season in the financial district near London, prompted restaurant owners to close one of his four restaurants.
"The credit crunch and the food crunch have reduced my profit margins," he said . ".
"In any case, if you can't survive, then you have to close the restaurant.
"The restaurant is Jeet, just around the corner of Hussain's flagship Preem, and many Londoners know that they gather in different races of the city, road signs and names on public buildings are written in English and Bengali.
A lot of curry traffic comes from tourists, and Hussain is looking forward to offering them more of his hot dishes before 2012 London Olympics.
While the Olympics could be the future savior of London's curry trade, Hussain is already working hard
Including the Olympic plan to build a hotel in Brick Lane.
His hotel will have a fast food restaurant specializing in fixed-price South Asian meals.
But rice prices mean he is unlikely to pose a threat to a global fast food chain like McDonald's, which sells "Chicken Legend" meals for £ 4. 49 pounds.
"McDonald's can survive for four years. 50 (pounds)
I think I can survive with the same standards.
But now I have to re-think.