A Delhi chef found the Scottish capital so attractive on an exchange visit during the International Festival that he returned to work in Edinburgh a year later - and now holds the International Indian Chef of the Year title.

Kapil Kaushik, who works in the city's upmarket Oloroso Restaurant, beat off a challenge from six other top quality chefs -- shortlisted from a 5,000 strong worldwide entry to the 13th annual contest - to win the coveted title and £1,000 prize.

"This is such an achievement for me," Kaushik . "It is a new beginning."

His enterprising menu featured chilli dosa-wrapped Saddle of Rabbit with Masala Mash and Jaipuri Bhindi as one of two main dishes. The other dish was Fenugreek John Dory with Jhinga Rice Nori.

Runner up was Mrs Jabeen Fatema, executive chef of the Royal International Hotel, Khulna, Bangladesh, followed by Anil Rozario, a chef from Oxford in third place.

Finalists are selected for the innovation and quality of their four-dish menu for an ideal Indian meal. They cook the meal in three hours, monitored by judges who taste the dishes to reach a verdict.

Announcing the result of the cookout at Queen Margaret University College, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie said the judges had faced a hard task. All seven finalists could regard themselves as winners as they had already triumphed over 5,000 expert cooks.

"It's hard work going round a table loaded with delicious food to decide which is best," Lord Fraser said, pointing out that he was a connoisseur of eating Indian Food, not cooking it. Only eight points out of a possible 100 separated the winner and the lowest placed finalist, he added..

The other finalists were Farooq Ahmed of Rochdale, Lancashire; Wasim Aslam of Shipley, Yorkshire - whose father won the 1996 title - London chef Abu Choudury, and Ian Smith, owner of the Caledonian Curry Co.

Judges, apart from former government minister Lord Fraser, included Paul Griffiths, chairman of Interlink Foods; Amar Singh, editor of Eastern Eye newspaper; and Tom D. Thomson, chairman of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

The unique competition founded by Edinburgh's master chef Tommy Miah (of the Raj Restaurant and Curry in a Hurry fame) is open free to all cooks, male or female, amateur or professional, without regard to nationality or ethnic origin. It drew 400 entrants at the outset in 1991 and now regularly attracts around 5,000. You can find out more from their website www.indianchefoftheyear.com or via email to indianchefcomp@aol.com