Indian Summer dansak and Peshwari Naan

Well, back in February I was saying that the Viceroy in Hadleigh, Essex, was my favourite Indian restaurant, but the Viceroy has now become my 2nd favourite, as the ‘Indian Summer’ appeared along the A13 in Westcliff-on-Sea.  I can now say that the ‘Indian summer’ is the best restaurant in Southend, and possibly Essex, as I have not had better anywhere else!

This restaurant is consistent and we have visited at least 15 times now so we have plenty of experience to go on!

Indian Summer does not offer buffets and special cheap deals, and we are glad they don’t, as they concentrate on good quality food instead. What they do offer is fantastic value for very good food. They use fresh ingredients and great seafood/meat, so everything tastes as it should without the flavours being ‘covered’ in hot spice and oil, as some Indian restaurants do. We love prawns, chicken and lamb in our curries, and it is always really nice. The naan breads are fresh and light, the raitha yoghurt is a refreshing accompaniment and the dansak actually has whole lentils in it, giving it a wonderful texture.

The staff are polite and friendly, and the restaurant is very comfortable, cosy and modern and they play Indian music – what more could you want?

Our favourites dishes are:

• Tandoori King Prawn Jalfrezi, Korai or Madras.
• Chicken Tikka Dansa or Madras
• Garlic or Peshwari Naan
• Garlic Chilli potatoes
• Cucumber raitha
• Pilau rice

My rating for this restaurant:

Food – 9

Atmosphere – 8

Service – 8

Value for money – 10

Address: 629 London Rd, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9PE

Telephone: 01702 333358

Restaurant name

Indian Summer

Restaurant address

629 London Rd, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9PE

Restaurant telephone

01702 333358

Date of visit

multiple in 2009

How many dined?

2

Service Charge included?

No

Average price per person for 3 course meal, excluding drinks

inexpensive (under £20)

Value for money rating?

10/10

Atmosphere Quality rating?

8/10

Service Quality rating?

8/10

Food Quality rating

9/10

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red-arrows-at-southend-air-show-sandra-m-dean

It has taken me ages to upload my photos and I am gradually doing so.  I have just added the Southend on Sea Festival of the Air Show 2009.  I went on Sunday 24th May, and it was sooooooo busy, but I got some lovely photos. 

See the PHOTOS by CLICKING HERE

Did you go?  Did you have fun?  Let me know……

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Diversity

To see all the new news on Diversity Dance group from Essex, I have added a page for each member and a main page – CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MAIN PAGE - for photos, news and info on every single one of the members - I reckon the best info on the web!!!!

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Ashley Banjo Diversity

I have just added lots of bits of info – will sort it all out soon, but enjoy it, its all good stuff…..

Ashley Banjo – 20 years old from Wickford – Diversity Choreographer. His brother, Jordan is also in the group.
Diversity are a dance group from Essex made up of three sets of brothers and 4 friends. Talented, hardworking and humble, their ages range from 12 – 25.
Ashley and Jordan: Learned skills from ballet-trained mum Danielle – the group’s manager – who owns dance studio.
Choreographer Ashley is natural sciences student. Share house in Wickford, Essex, and have younger sister, Tanisha, 15.
Diversity’s Ashley and Jordan Banjo may get their flair for footwork from their boxer dad. Funso, left, won 15 of 18 fights from 1981-86 and was once tipped to be world heavyweight champ. Lads’ light feet like boxer dad.
Ashley showed his cheeky side when asked by Dec on Britains got talent, ‘Where do you get all your creative ideas?’ Ashley answered ‘I was blessed’ and laughed.
On the Martin and Su radio show on Essex FM a few weeks ago, they asked Ashley if he felt more desirable as he is a tall, good looking chap…… Ashley didn’t say anything but he told them ‘If you google me there’s some really funny stuff’
Ashley suffers from hayfever – aaahhhh!
Ashley Banjo is just 20 years old and the choreographer of the group.
Banjo wants to make time to study for his masters degree in physics and biology, he told the Daily Mail, as the career prospects for a scientist seem better to him than those of a nationally famous dancer.
“I’m not going to be spinning on my head when I’m 50, but as a qualified scientist I can always earn a living”, he told a press conference today.
‘My education matters to me,’ he reveals. ‘I want to get my degree under my belt. It’s vital to have something to fall back on because nobody knows what the future holds.
‘When you are a solo artist it must be hard,’ troupe leader Ashley Banjo says.
“Susan must have a lot of support from her friends and family,” Ashley Banjo, the 11-member group’s leader and choreographer, said. “But we’re in this together as a group and we are really close, so when you’re on the stage, when you’re doing interviews in the media spotlight, you’ve got each other.
“When you are a solo artist it must be hard because you’ve got a lot of pressure to deal with on your own.”
“I had my speech ready, you know, ‘Well done, Susan.’ Then they said ‘Diversity,’ and honestly, my legs actually gave way. I’m really tall and there’s a long way to fall. I hit the floor, and honestly words can’t describe how I felt.”
Banjo said of Boyle, “She was so gracious about [Diversity's victory], she said the best act won and [backstage] she said she saw something special.
“She was so nice about it. She has a great career. She’s going to do really well anyway.”
The troupe will perform on the “Britain’s Got Talent” tour later this month, and will perform for the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance in December. They will also appear with Kanye West and Kelly Rowland at Britain’s Wireless festival on July 5.

To read all about Diversity, CLICK HERE

If anyone has any info or photos to add, please comment below or send me an email at info@notjustanessexgirl.com

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perri Kiely diversity in Lakeside

Perri Kiely is aged just 13 from South Ockendon

Here he is in this photo, surrounded by fans all wearing a mask of his face – he has such a cute face, why not!
Perri: Lives with builder dad Russ and mum Christine. Sisters Star, 10, and Elvie, seven, also talented dancers. Three aunts and gran live streets away in South Ockendon, Essex. Attends Gable Hall School in Corringham. Aunt Carol Kiely said: “It’s wonderful, there was a lot of screaming and tears last night.”
The members of Diversity range in age from 13 to 25, but Ian McNaughton says he has “no worries” about the youngest dancers Perri Kiely and Mitchell Craske, both 13, coping with fame.
But McNaughton, who works in IT for a City law firm, said: “These two guys are the most down-to-earth guys you’d ever meet. We’ve got no worries about that.”

And here he is again in the front, together with his dance team members – Diversity!

To read all about Diversity, CLICK HERE

Update on 17th September 2009 – poor little Perri failed to land an ambitious jump and landed in a heap on the concrete, when Diversity performed in Downing Street.outside Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s official residence, number 10!  He is alright though!

If anyone has any info or photos to add, please comment below or send me an email at info@notjustanessexgirl.com

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Diversity Mitchell Craske

Mitchell Craske – 13 years old from Dagenham – his brother Sam is also in the group.You can see Mitchell in this photo – he is the smallest one in the front!

Sam and Mitch: Brothers live at home in Dagenham, Essex. Massive fans of TV comedy Scrubs. Have a pup called Cassie.
The members of Diversity range in age from 13 to 25, but Ian McNaughton says he has “no worries” about the youngest dancers Perri Kiely and Mitchell Craske, both 13, coping with fame.
But McNaughton, who works in IT for a City law firm, said: “These two guys are the most down-to-earth guys you’d ever meet. We’ve got no worries about that.”

Mitchell Craske diversity

He is also in the front of this photo, next to Perri!

To read all about Diversity, CLICK HERE
If anyone has any info or photos to add, please comment below or send me an email at info@notjustanessexgirl.com

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Diversity dance terry smith

Terry Smith – 24 years old from Rainham
Group member Terry Smith, 24, volunteered to kiss the 48-year-old spinster, who reportedly had her first smooch with judge Piers Morgan.

Terry can be seen in this photo – he is 3rd from left at the back, inbetween Warren and Ike….
Terry: Has a Masters degree in computer technology. Lives with parents Paul, Josie and sister Danielle, 21, in Rainham, Essex.

Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity have thanked fans for the votes that put them in top spot.
The street dance troupe signed autographs and posed for pictures outside television studios on the South Bank in central London.
Diversity member Terry Smith, 24, said: “To be honest, I’m still flying after the result. I’m just so happy. I don’t think we will ever get used to this. People’s support has been superb.”

To read all about Diversity, CLICK HERE

If anyone has any info or photos to add, please comment below or send me an email at info@notjustanessexgirl.com

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Diversity dance Warren Russell

Warren Russell – 18 years old from Dagenham
Warren can be seen in this photo – he is 2nd from left in the purple top, scarf and cap…..

Warren: Ex-pupil of Robert Clack School, Dagenham, Essex. Works in telecoms sales. Lives with mum Sonia, older brother Scott, and younger brother Ashton, 15, who’s starring as a young Michael Jackson in West End show. A neighbour said: “They’re always on the garden trampoline, I think that’s where they learned how to do backflips.”
Like many of the others, Warren Russell, aged 19, has been mocked by his mates for dancing but says: “It gives you such a break from everyday life. It lets out anger – and just shows who I am.”

To read all about Diversity, CLICK HERE
If anyone has any info or photos to add, please comment below or send me an email at info@notjustanessexgirl.com

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Diversity jamie McNaughton

Jamie McNaughton – 23 years old from Basildon – he is brothers with Jamie Mcnaughton, and Matt Mcnaughton who are also in the groupJamie can be seen in the picture in the front with the white top on to the right hand side, next to his brother Matthew (in the grey top)…..

Jamie works in telesales.

To read all about Diversity, CLICK HERE

If anyone has any info or photos to add, please comment below or send me an email at info@notjustanessexgirl.com

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Diversity Matthew McNaughton

Matthew McNaughton – 16 years old from Basildon – he is brothers with Jamie Mcnaughton, and Ian Mcnaughton who are also in the groupYou can see him on this photo – he is last on the right….
Matt is studying music at college. Says on MySpace: “Life is what you make it.” The boys have a sister, Rachael.

To read all about Diversity, CLICK HERE

If anyone has any info or photos to add, please comment below or send me an email at info@notjustanessexgirl.com

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