An Indian restaurant manager is taking the concept of takeaway to the extreme by personally delivering a banquet 3,200 miles away to a birthday celebration in Qatar. 

Abdul Razzak, a manager at Papadoms Indian Takeaway in South Woodford caught a Qatar Airways flight to Doha this morning with refrigerated containers of food for the feast.

It follows a visit to the Hermon Hill restaurant in December last year by Qatari businessman Mohammad Quadrat Al Haq, who was so impressed by the cuisine he ordered a meal for 12 to be delivered to his mother's birthday party on Sunday. 

In an email from Mr Al Haq, who owns an aircraft chartering service, to the restaurant, he said: “I know we can get Indian food from India, but I can’t get the best unless it comes from your Papadoms restaurant in Woodford.” 

Mr Razzak, 26, said the request was “out of the blue” and he was delighted to accept. 

He will stay until Saturday at accomodation paid for by Mr Al Haq and it is the first time the takeaway has catered for outside of the UK.

The furthest previous delivery was to cater for a wedding near Glasgow.

Speaking before departing on his journey, Mr Razzak said: “I hadn’t seen him since meeting him in December last year and I was so surprised. This is so big for us. 

“He said he thought the food was amazing when he tried it but for him to request this is amazing. I am so proud he remembered us. 

“We have prepared special containers to bring all the food with me on the plane. 

“The last time I have been to Doha was in 2004 and I remember it was extremely hot. Stepping out of the plane it was like a hair dryer in your face. 

“This is so unexpected and I can’t wait.” 

The order, around £1,500,  included 12 onion bhajis, 12 pakoras, six chicken tikkas, 12 akhni biriyanis, 12 vegetable shabars, 12 kofta curries, 12 elisha fish cutlets in fried onions, 12 fried okras, 12 bombay aloos and 12 dhal tarkas.