Since Hector’s last visit to Peterborough, Royal Spice has closed and is currently being transformed into Indiya Garden. Pity, that was a Good Venue. The Company are in Peterborough for the Beer Festival, the great indulgence this week has been the Curry Intake in Norwich. The Standard has been High, no disappointments despite a couple of close shaves. Peterborough has numerous venues but only one clearly identifies itself as being from the North-West of the Subcontinent – Punjab Balti & Pizza House (298 Lincoln Road, Peterborough PE1 2UL). When it was time for – The Bird Cage Cover – Hector took his leave from the riverside location and went in search of Curry, once again, there was a downpour.
Taxi
The driver had never heard of the New Punjab Balti as the branding says. To what extent – New – was relevant would never be established. This was – Our Type – of venue, the classic Curry Cafe. Essentially a Takeaway, there were six tables seating twenty four max. The Reed Formica-covered tables were a welcomed sight after a week of Tablecloths. Hopefully this would be a case of Authentic Curry sans Pretensions.
Hector took his seat facing the action. The phone rang constantly, this is a Popular Takeaway. Piles of Pizza were transported during the visit. Pizza only took up the back page of the A3 Laminated Menu. It was £9.00 for a 15” Pizza, two for £13.00 if delivered. Why has Pizza not gone Metric? Why is Hector reporting on Pizza, it’ll be Kebabs next.
The Menu had a Chicken Methi and a Meat Balti Bhuna, Hector required Meat Methi Balti Bhuna, no problem. Lamb Chops have been on Menus this week but at a price, here it was £8.00 for six Lamb Chops, a Half Portion was agreed. The Final Test would be a Keema Paratha (£2.20).
There were two pairs of Fellow Diners, two of the Chaps left then returned for more.
The Lamb Chops were accompanied by a Particularly Tasty Raita which was poured over the Salad Bits too. Fresh Veg, Hector needs to reconsider his Diet before Scurvy sets in. Maybe Hector needs a Kebab? The Chops were Good-Excellent, a bit Chewy in parts, still, a Treat.
No sooner had I started The Chops when the Balti and Paratha were set before me. Too soon! This is what happens when one eats at this end of the market, so one cannot possibly think of complaining. I had to sneak a Dip of the Paratha into the Oil collecting at the side of the Balti – The Seasoning Blast! Oh yes! This was going to be Fun!
The Chops were finished as soon as the Gnashers permitted and The Main Event was tackled. The Balti does not look huge, the contents were Meat, and More Meat, more than a Man could contemplate. No point counting, way more than enough. The Masala therefore was squeezed into the interstices between the various-sized pieces of Lamb (?). The Oil had maintained the Heat level, the Methi Blast was there, this was very much in the style of Bradford Curry!
The Paratha was Substantial, the Flaky Texture had been achieved despite the Keema Stuffing. The Keema itself was Donner-like, not the Discrete Grains that the best outlets can achieve.
The Spice level had never been agreed upon, this is how it came, Fine. Some pieces of Lamb were more Chewy than others. Without the Masala some pieces were Dry, with the combined Meat and Masala this was the Pure Joy of a Bradford-style Curry. The Softer Meat was towards the Base of the Balti, the more I ate the better the Dish became. This was Night and Day compared to the Bangladeshi Restaurants that I have visited this week.
Hunners of Meat, Minimal Masala, Methi, this was – The Curry of The Week.
There was also a realisation that this Curry could well fall into the Yadgar-Category of being – so rich in flavour – one could not eat this every day.
The Bill
£14.00. A Can of Mango Rubicon was part of this. I suspect The Bill was rounded – Down!
The Aftermath
The Two Chaps who had returned offered me some of their Chicken Pakora. Sorry, I am stuffed! Introductions were made, the Calling Card given all round. I asked where I should have my next Curry in Peterborough. An impossibly long list was suggested, some venues out of town to the North. The Lunchtime Limit was stated, The Banyan Tree it would be.
Update 2017
Indiya Garden has also closed.