Having scrutinised and dismissed the Trastevere Curry Scene, Hector, Marg, Clive and Maggie took the Tram to its Termini at Piazza Venezia at the Vittorio Emanuel Monument. No longer does Tram 8 terminate at Argentine. From there we passed the top end of the Forum and climbed the stairs to Via Internationale. Here lies the access to a Cluster of Roman Curry Houses around Roma Termini.
Krishna 13 was almost the Restaurant of Choice this evening, however this was dismissed when Hector read an account on an Occasionally Accurate Website of a Lone Diner being turned away. As a frequent – Lone Diner – I cannot support this. Their Sister Restaurant – Indian Affairs (Via Palermo, 6, Roma, Italia) appeared to have a better pedigree, it was also nearer the Tram Stop.
We Were Hungry
We had spent the day at Ostia Antica and then the Lido. Somehow Lunch had been missed and Curry would be the sole Food Intake of the day. The Hector Saturday Norm. Today is Tuesday. Yes, Hector is still on Holiday, well that should be apparent already.
Entering Indian Affairs at 20.30, I could see around half a dozen occupied tables in the long, narrow, triple room set up. We were shown a table for Five by the Lady who would be our Charming Hostess for the duration.
Maggie lost her reading glasses soon after our arrival in Roma, Clive sees little anyway. Add to this the Atmospheric Gloom of the Restaurants and Gold Shiny Paper, and well, they struggled to read The Menu.
The Courtship
Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon, or not at all. (Harriet van Home)
Somehow, Everyone managed to read this welcoming statement at the start of The Menu. Time was taken, Starters discussed. A Basket of Broken Poppadoms and Three Dips were presented whilst the deliberations continued. It took considerable time. Eventually, our Hostess had to ask Clive if he was – in a mood. He admitted he simply couldn’t see The Menu.
Given the Modest Price for The Starters, I convinced Marg that a Pakora Mix would be better than sharing. Clive and Maggie ordered Vegetable Samosas, Meat was not an option.
As ever in This Company, the choice of Mains can be diverse. With Capsicum featuring in some potential Hector Curry Dishes, I found myself resorting to the Old Faithful – Lamb Vindaloo.
Spicy, or Very Spicy? – asked our Hostess.
Spice is not a problem. I can eat whatever the Chef can prepare. – The now Standard Hector reply.
The choice of Interesting Vegetable this evening was Jeera Aloo. I have not tasted Cumin since Catania which now feels to be in the Distant Past.
Is that instead of French Fries? I was asked by Our Lady, to whom I was steadily warming.
She went on to state that some have…. The Menu had an array of Parathas available, there was hope. Supplemented by the label – Chef’s Special – was – Kerala Paratha. I did the double take when I read this. It was – Kerala – and not – Karela – still, Make it Mine.
Marg was not going to get past Butter Chicken on any Menu. A Chapatti to accompany.
Clive had read the Chilli Chicken as being – Dry. The quoted Capsicum was also a Positive Feature, for him. This was enough to seduce Clive. Each to their own. Keema Paratha was not listed but this order was accepted anyway. Maggie, with the aid of an optical device, had caught up with those of us who had spotted the description on The Menu of Lamb Kadai as having – Chicken. She ordered Chicken Kadai, to be safe? An Onion Paratha would accompany. No Rice. A Green Salad was an afterthought.
Liquids
Sparkling and Still Water was ordered by the Litre. Maggie was advised that ordering a Bottle of Chianti would be more cost effective than ordering a Giraffe of House Red, and lead to a better Wine. Hector ordered a Big Bottle of Kingfisher (660ml). This was served Ice Cold, Rehydration.
Solids
The Poppadoms didn’t last long. The Red Dip was certainly Aggressive, a sign of things to come? Tamarind once again added a Tang to the Poppadom Experience. The Starters came very quickly after the order was placed. Two Portions of Pakora was indeed Four Pieces. (?) A Portion of Samosa was Singular. So, no chance of being stuffed before the Main Event. Sensible with hindsight. Always a disappointment at the time.
The Pakora – Mix – baffled. Both Pieces were the same. Did they mean the Interior? Dark and Crispy on the Outside and Mushy on the Inside, this Pakora was different from the typical Onion and Potato Mix. Cream Cheese – was Marg’s instinct. Too Salty – her next announcement.
Well Seasoned – was The Hector’s Assessment. This certainly was Unique Pakora. Assuming it was Paneer, I congratulate them on serving such an Interpretation.
Maggie noticed that the Peas in the Samosa were the only recognisable feature. The Potato may well have been Mashed. Interesting Starters.
Fellow Diners came and went. There was an appreciable wait between courses. A Negative Feature of the past Two Weeks in Italia has been how quickly the Mains come after the Starters. We were here – To Dine. Another Feature has been how Restaurant Staff address their Customers. Locals in their Finery are always allocated the Better Tables. Chaps in Shorts are sent to the Periphery. Hector was in Long Pants this evening. Oh, and The Ladies looked – Splendid. Hector is learning, slowly…
The Trolley with the Feast was wheeled out by One of the Two Chaps responsible for distributing the Food. Our Hostess clearly is Front of House.
The Portions all looked Acceptable in Size, bigger than London, Smaller than Glasgow. The Redness was an instant concern. The Vindaloo had a Red Hue, Clive’s Chilli Chicken looked Severely Red, Patia. The Dreaded Food Dye. Clive said more than Once that he was expecting – Dry. This was not. He became convinced he had been given the Dish – One Below – on The Menu, he had Fruit, None was expected. The Jeera Aloo looked Stunning! This was Seriously Dry.
The Butter Chicken had the customary Thick Creamy Masala attained without the aid of Coconut.
The arrival of The Breads almost brought a Cheer. Parathas at last! They have been Poor in Hector’s Italian Travels. Here were Authentic Parathas – Flaky, Layered, Soft. Pity they were so Small. Should I order another? Given the Quantity before me, I decided – No. Only the Kerala Special was presented – Whole. The rest of the Breads were Quartered – Why?
Clive announced that his Keema Paratha was – The best I have ever had. Whilst he enjoyed the Curry, he remained convinced he had The Wrong Dish! He never did mention Capsicum again.
Maggie kept waiting for a Ginger Blast which never came. Maybe I was looking for the wrong thing. There was a – Wow – when I finished but I don’t know what it was.
Any Curry with a – Wow – Factor has to be considered a success.
Onion Paratha? Maggie enjoyed this too. Lovely, lots of Onion. Like a Cheese and Onion Crisp without the Cheese.
The Green Salad was dominated by – Two Thick Wheels of Onion – as Maggie described it. Green Salad?
Marg cannot eat a Butter Chicken without comparing it to Glasgow’s – Mother India’s Café, her yardstick. Exactly as it should be.
Creamy and Tomatoey, with Big Bits of Chicken – which she had to cut. She felt the Chapatti was like a Thin Naan. It did go Crispy. Was it indeed a Roti? I was not paying attention to these matters. There was a Lamb Vindaloo to take care of.
Lamb Vindaloo, Very Spicy – said The Waiter as he placed it beside me. How did he know this was for me? A Reasonable Quantity of Meat, more than Six Pieces, most of which had to be Halved. There was a Potato content as a Vindaloo should have, but this was Minimal compared to the mass of Potato in the Jeera Aloo Dish. At first I noted the Masala to be Soupy and then re-evaluated. There was a Good Texture to the Masala. Onion-based Masala has been a rarity in Italia.
There was a Kick. A Serious Kick! Not a Problem. However, we all know that Spice at this level tends to reduce the Complexity of Overall Flavour.
I was considering this when there was a Momentous Blast on the Palate – Cumin and Seasoning – the Jeera Aloo was Outstanding. The Vindaloo alone would have been recorded as a Fine Curry. The combination of these Two Dishes was Classic Synergy. Hector was having Fun. This truly was – Curry!
Five Shiny Metal Dishes showed the level of Overall Satisfaction.
Our Hostess Returned
We must have spoken for a good Ten Minutes. The Italian Curry Scene, she was remarkably Forthright about the failings of some Chefs. She mentioned the Skill required and astonishingly – Salt. Did I say I was warming to her?
Our Hostess was from Mumbai, however the remaining Staff were Kashmiri-Punjabi. Clive and Maggie stated that the Crawley Curry Houses are Bangladeshi. This meant that I had to mention Punjabi Progeny of Bradford and some of Glasgow’s Curry Houses.
Karahi is not on your Menu.
Karahi is a (metal) dish.
Yes, but it is also the name given by the Punjabis to the Dry Curry served in my Favourite Curry Houses. She stated that they could have served our Curry – Dry – had we asked. Next time.
The Curry-Heute Website was unveiled on the Samsung, and hence The Calling Card issued. I assured Our Hostess that the Review would be Positive. It is!
Desert (sic)
Marg ordered Mango Kulfi, The Ladies ordered Coffee. Espresso came, to their surprise. What do you expect in an Italian Restaurant?
The Bill
€107.50. The Chianti was €15.00, the Kingfisher €6.00. This was less than last night’s Dinner where no Alcohol was ordered, and probably half as much Food consumed.
The Aftermath
In effect, this had preceded – Desert – as The Chaps pronounced it. There was a Photo, or Two.
