During the past few years the Merrie City has tasted our local delicacy rhubarb in Cryer & Stott’s award-winning Ruby Gold cheese and the rhubarb ‘growlers’ made by the Hofmann family.

The annual rhubarb festival is also a fixture in people’s diaries.

Organisers believe more than 90,000 flocked to the city in March for this year's event to learn more about the versatile vegetable.

But Ali Nazrul has perhaps come up with the most unusual combination yet – a rhubarb and chicken fusion curry with a rhubarb relish.

Mr Nazrul is launching a new Indian restaurant in Wakefield on Monday and believes the dish will be winner.

He said: “As Wakefield is at the heart of the rhubarb triangle, we are creating a dish to pay homage to this wonderful vegetable. Our rhubarb and chicken curry may sound unusual, but I can assure you their flavours complement each other beautifully.

“I am calling the dish Joy Wakefield, as joy in Bangladeshi means celebration and we are celebrating Wakefield’s famous vegetable.”

The new restaurant is called Bollywood Lounge.

Award-winning chef Mr Nazrul is the co-owner and is launching the Smyth Street restaurant with his brother, Fayzul, and sister, Aklujan.

Mr Nazrul will also be serving his award-winning signature dish Joy Yorkshire, his tribute to the Yorkshire Pudding.

He said: “If Joy Wakefield proves as popular as I think it will, then this could be a serous contender to replace it.”

While Mr Nazrul is leading the kitchen team, his brother and sister will look after the guests front of house.