IF the spice is right then come on down to the Armida Indian Restaurant and Buffet in Taunton.

The fragrant zing and spice of authentic Indian cooking will be provided to you by a chef with 22 years of experience in the trade who has worked in a number of countries around the world.

The infusion of taste and fresh ingredients is delivered to you by Tistea Khan, who has worked in Switzerland, Norway, Belgium.

Sweden, Bangladesh, Italy, Singapore and different locations in the UK before settling in Taunton.

Tistea started out on a management course at the Sheraton Hotel in Bangladesh before he went to Singapore in 1995 then to the UK before heading off to Norway and Sweden before going to Italy in 2005 and then arriving here in the UK and Taunton.

After his many years of travel, the 44-year-old is delighted to be here in Taunton and working at the Armida World Buffet, 25, Bridge Street (it changes it name to Armida Indian Restaurant and Buffet ) on April 22.

On Saturday, April 21, the restaurant is holding an Armida Indian Food Festival where you will be able to try a wide range of Indian cuisine with over 60 dishes on display, 20 of them will end up on the new menu starting later this month.

Somerset County Gazette:

It runs from noon-11pm.

Admission price of £9.99 per adult or £5.99 per child (aged4- 11). Bookings are essential for this event.

Book at armidabuffet.com or call 01823 339393.

While working in Bridge Street, Tistea has created a number of signature dishes.

These would include:

- Murgh Kofta-spiced shredded chicken and potatoes, deep fried till golden.

-Armida Mix Starter

-Chicken tikka, lamb tikka, seek kebab with salad and mint sauce

- Chicken or lamb garlic chilli Massala-Lamb or chicken, lots of garlic and other herbs and spices in a hot rich sauce.

- Poncho Khana-spiced mild sauce finish with fresh mango, cream and yoghurt

- Green Masala (Chicken or lamb) Coriander yoghurt, fresh cream, mango chatni and chef special spices (spices created by Tistea).

Speaking about being a chef, Tistea said: “I am confident in the knowledge I have and confident in myself.

“When I am in the kitchen cooking, I am always cool.

"I have an assistant who helps by cutting food and ingredients up and there is someone on dishwater duty.

Somerset County Gazette:

“I believe in cooking good quality food with fresh ingredients. This goes for the meat, chicken and vegetables.

“You cannot make food which has no taste, the better the ingredients the better the taste.

“When people who come to the restaurant or oder take away eat the food then I feel very pleased when they said it was good, they feel full and give it a good rating.

“Between 95%-99% are very well satisfied with the food cooked here.

“I have a mentality that it is not about the money when I am cooking. What it is about for me is cooking for the people who eat here.

“It is about the hospitality of cooking, it is about people being happy with what they have eaten.

“That is important for me and the best lesson I have learnt in life. People keep coming back time after time.

“And for Indian cooking it is about getting the balance of the spices right so it does not over power the food.

“I blend the spices used in the food myself.”

So what can you enjoy at the Armida World Buffet.

The menu includes starters such as: n Onion Bhaji n Somosa n Murgh Kofta n Vegetable or chicken pakora n King Prawn Butterfly n Armida Mix starter.

There are Tandoori main dishes like:

- Tandoori mix grill Tandori half or full chicken n chicken or lamb tikka 

- chicken or lamb Shaslik

There are Balti dishes including chicken, lamb, prawn or mix vegetables.

There are also the chef’s specials where you will find;

- Indian wedding style chicken roast

- Chicken or lamb garlic chilli massala

- Poncho Khana

- Green Massala

- Duck Anaus

- Duck Korai

- Bengal Benaroshi

- Chicken or lamb Pasanda

- Butter chicken

Somerset County Gazette:

- Korai

- Naga

- Rezala

- Garlic

- Sagwala

- Tandoori king prawn Massala

There are also a number of traditional curry dishes such as Korma, Madras, Vindaloo, Bhuna, Rogan and Phall which is one of the hottest curries in the world.

Somerset County Gazette:

You will also find vegetable side dishes, rice, bread, sundries and dessert.

Armida World Buffet, 25, Bridge Street, Taunton, is open Noon-2pm and 5.30pm-10pm.

Book a table online armidabuffet.com or call 01823 339393. Free car park after 6pm at rear.

There is also a take away service.

After April 21, there will only be a buffet on Sunday and Monday.

The other days the restaurant will serve only Indian food.