CELEBRITY chef Rick Stein was given a warm welcome in Oxford when he signed copies of his new book about India.

The book, Rick Stein’s India, accompanies his latest TV series in which he journeys around the country in search of the perfect curry, meeting chefs, street sellers and cooks, sampling both the food and the culture.

After the signing at Waterstones in Broad Street yesterday, events manager Charlie Hayes said: “Lots of people came down to get their books signed — it was hot inside the store and hot outside as well.

“Rick was here a couple of years ago when he did a book about Spain and we had Spanish food laid on and a flamenco dancer so we thought we should give him a warm welcome again.

“This time round staff from Qumins, an Indian restaurant in St Clement’s Street, came along.”

Mr Stein, who runs a seafood restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall, said: “My book goes with the TV series which is now being shown on BBC2 on Monday nights at the moment. “I really enjoyed tasting the curry made by staff at Qumins — they come from Sylhet, a town in Bangladesh I visited when I was making the TV series, so we had a lot to talk about.

“Waterstones in Oxford always makes me feel very welcome and about 200 people came along.”

  • Rick Stein’s India: In Search of the Perfect Curry, is priced at £25.