A Birmingham Restaurant was invited to a reception with the Queen.

The reception was organised by Buckingham Palace to recognise the valuable contribution made by leading industry players to the UK's hospitality world.

Nominated by his contemporaries within his sector, for his part in the success of advancing the country's £3.2billion Indian restaurant industry, Raj Rana of the Itihaas Restaurant joined over 350 other guests from across the UK at the event.

To mark the invitation, Itihaas created a dish fit for the monarch.

The sumptuous Imperial Khumb Malai is the marriage of flavours from the east and west.

Raj Rana said: "An invitation to Buckingham Palace is not something you receive everyday.

At first I was convinced it was a hoax or maybe sent in error, but soon realised it was for real!

"I feel truly honoured to have been invited, especially having been a part of the hospitality trade for only a few years,"

The Birmingham restaurant is the proud winner of the coveted 2007/2008 Cobra Good Curry Awards for Best UK restaurant and Best in the Midlands.