Deshi Spice Indian Restaurant and Lounge, not Lunch. (60 Tavistock Street, Bedford, MK40 2RD). How can Bedford have a Milton Keynes postcode? (New Town Geography)
A supposedly well known and reliable Social Media Website has this first on their listings for Curry in Bedford. Hector was here Two Years ago, the Deshi was not. I overheard the Waiter tell a Takeaway customer that they have been under this Moniker for Two Years, more or less then.
Arriving in Bedford at 18.36, Hector had checked in t’Travelodge and was back down to Tavistock Street by 18.55. Tavistock is a Hector Street, wall to wall Curry Houses. Gibson St. (Glasgow) was never like this. They don’t open late and few open early. Two years ago I failed to have Curry on the day of arrival due to early closing, tonight no chance was taken.
Hector was the First Diner of the shift. Shown to a Table set for Two well inside the premises all was well. The Menu was provided, Deshi Korai or a more expensive Oven-baked Lamb Dish were the Two Hector choices. Lamb Karahi it was then. Chapattis at £1.00 or Vegetable Paratha at £1.95, the latter felt the better deal.
I had refused Poppadoms Twice by the time The Waiter took the order. If they really wanted me to have them they should have brought them as the Curry-Heute Campaign insists. Lamb Karahi and Vegetable Paratha was the order, plus (a glass of) Sparkling Water. The Waiter pronounced Deshi – Desi – hopes were raised. Hector had wondered if this was a Bangladeshi in joke, apparently not.
The Restaurant is a long room with alcoves down the left wall. The open area where I was sitting and the alcoves felt separate, a good layout which suggested privacy if required. Congratulations to the Interior Designer. Part of Hector was still at 30,000 ft, time to calm down, The wean and Clive were already at the Corn Exchange, Bier can wait. No news of Dr. Stan or Goodluck, Jonathan.
The Karahi arrived. So did the Paratha. I immediately ordered another, this was Microscopic. Unfortunately another of these recurring moments when a Photo was taken and nothing was recorded. £1.95, just like that. The Paratha was decent, layers of Pastry, the right way. The Waiter made a point of telling me how Special they were. That I ordered a Second would have made it clear the size was ridiculous. I’ve had worse – was my official verdict when I was pressed for a verdict on the – Special Paratha. I had ordered Vegetable Paratha, there were no Vegetables.
The Karahi looked Fine, despite the Big Green Bits. Now I had read the Menu and was sure it did not list Capsicum as an inclusion. I had failed to register the Meat content. This Lamb had Feathers was my Second disappointment. Buried under the Chicken were about Four Pieces of Lamb, so the Meat content was more than Adequate. When did Hector last have Chicken Curry? The Younger Waiter asked me the Courteous Question, I stated that I would have preferred Lamb only. Mein Host brought The Menu and showed me it was Chicken and Lamb Korai. My error. Should have gone for the Exotic Lamb Dish. This made me realise that I was being well served. Good Guys.
The Curry was served Seriously Hot in Burny terms, perfect. The Kick was suitably evident. The – Very Red – Masala was Minimal and suitably Thick. The Dominant Flavour was Stir-Fry, or was it? Given the presence of Chicken, I decided to eat the Capsicum. There was no point in proving my point and leaving a Pile of Debris. A Familiar Flavour dominated the Overall Taste. (Even Pedants should let me away with that.) Capsicum! Two Hours later and the after-taste was Capsicum. It has been a while. I now remember the other reason why I dislike Capsicum in Curry. Big Onions was another feature of this Karahi. I wonder how many more I would have been given had I excluded the Capsicum, oh, Capsicum was definitely not on the Menu description of ingredients. Prove me wrong.
Given the abomination I cooked last night, who is Hector to criticise Curry?
Why Others rate this as – Excellent -, who knows. Mainstream, I have had better in Bedford. The Taxi Driver gave me a Tip! Lunchtime tomorrow. Apparently there are no Punjabi Venues in Bedford, so he told me, then he recommended…
The Bill
£14.30. The Second Paratha. Just as well I didn’t have the Vegetable Paratha as asked for.
The Aftermath
The Calling Card was presented at the Counter. Minimal Interest expressed. Hector’s mind was now elsewhere, the Corn Exchange was calling… The Bedford-Bamberg Spring Fest.
Restaurant and Lunch – ? I hope Curry-Heute is more accurate.