Congratulations are due to a dining spot which has won best in the UK at the first ever UK Caribbean Food Awards.

Roger's Kitchen is headed up by chef Roger Shakes, who serves Caribbean food with a contemporary twist at his Camden Road restaurant.

Mouth-watering dishes, which take inspiration from a mix of Caribbean regional cuisines, include saltfish cod fritters with apple chutney, chargrilled jerk chicken, vibrant vegan curry, and Roger's special pork ribs.

Ham & High: Chef Roger Shakes came to London in 1999 to work in Camden Town's legendary Mango Room restaurant and rose to become head chefChef Roger Shakes came to London in 1999 to work in Camden Town's legendary Mango Room restaurant and rose to become head chef (Image: Roger's Kitchen)

Originally from Westmoreland in Jamaica, Roger came to London in 1999 and his first job was washing up at legendary Caribbean restaurant Mango Room in Camden Town.

Learning from the chefs around him, combined with the cooking skills passed down from his grandparents, he realised "the joy of feeding others" and rose to become head chef at the restaurant where stars from Prince to Spike Lee, Grace Jones to Samuel L Jackson would drop in to eat curry goat or ebony wings.

Then in 2020, he went it alone, encouraged by his cousin Derrick Blake, the owner of Mango Room, who died last year. His efforts were rewarded last week at what was the first five-star event celebrating "winners from around the UK doing great things in the Caribbean Food & Drink industry."

Ham & High: Roger opened his own 'Modern Caribbean Restaurant and Bar' at 71 Camden Road in 2020Roger opened his own 'Modern Caribbean Restaurant and Bar' at 71 Camden Road in 2020 (Image: Roger's Kitchen)

"I'm delighted to win 'Best Caribbean Restaurant', from where I'm coming from it's a huge achievement," he said.

"I've had massive support from my friends and family and my team at Roger's Kitchen. I also can't forget my cousin, Derrick Blake as I wouldn't have done it without him."

Judges included Lorraine Copes of Be Inclusive Hospitality, Rachel Graham of The Grocer, Justice Williams MBE of Black Business Magazine, Mark Dalgety of Dalgety Teas Ltd, chef Michelle Trusselle, and food expert Jane Milton.Ham & High: The interior of Roger's Kitchen which has won best UK Caribbean restaurantThe interior of Roger's Kitchen which has won best UK Caribbean restaurant (Image: Roger's Kitchen)

The lifetime achievement award went to Rustie Lee, who rose to fame in the 1980s as a cook on TV-am, media personality of the year went to Great British Menu presenter Andi Oliver, and outstanding chef of the year went to Dexter Thomas, who is based in Deal in Kent.

The second UK Caribbean Food Awards are already pegged for a central London location next October.