Paris, France, as the citizens of the USA like to say. We never knew why until a certain movie came out. Oh, there’s one in Texas! It’s true, the Eiffel Tower is seen from every window in this city, there must be hundreds of them.
With over two hundred Curry Houses to choose from Hector is in the delightful position of being able to dismiss the majority instantly. Google – Punjabi Restaurants – that has narrowed the field down considerably. Hopefully the Restaurateurs will have some representation of the Cuisine from the Favoured Region of the Sub-continent
Technology is great when it works. With Google Maps in hand and a Paris Metro App, getting around Paris is a skoosh. Yesterday I had a frustrating ten minutes trying to get through to Vodafone to discover a bar had been put on my access to t’Internet. Their automated responses suggested I use t’Internet to find the problem and then cut me off. The Chap I eventually spoke to admitted they are aware of the shortcomings of their Customer Service access – I want to speak to a person!
Villa Punjab (15, rue Leon Jost – 75017, Paris, France) is not far from Porte de Clichy where Marg and Hector are resident for five nights. The Plan is a Lunchtime Curry then something Parisien of an evening – Pizza, Spaghetti Bolognaise, the usual rubbish…
Villa Punjab was reportedly open early afternoon then closed until evening. Have The Populous not realised that for Hector, 15.00 is Curry O’clock?
We walked in, nobody else was there. A small venue with about a dozen tables. The walls all had mirrors which creates the illusion of a larger venue. Mon Host brought The Menu, the Lamb section was very Mainstream. I was hoping to avoid the Sauce Pot. Keema Matter should surely get around this. This has to be prepared separately. A Pratha would accompany. The Bread prices were on the High side – €4.50 – for what would no doubt be Small in comparison to that served in the UK. Still, one does not have Rice with Keema Mutter.
Marg’s lunchtime tactic when Hector has Curry is to have a Starter only. She departed from Samosa and chose Pakora Allo. Hector refrains at this point from making any further reference to Café René.
No sooner had we sat down when another customer came in and took a corner seat. His meal arrived first. The Karahi was on the Small side, the contents looked like a Creamy Soup. That I did not want.
Mon Host had a Lady Partner who moved between bar area and kitchen. Was she La Chef? This was never ascertained.
The Dips for the Pakora were placed on the table and a stand sat over these. The Pakora would be presented a la High Tea. Novel, but as Marg was having the lot, the platter was then moved to cover her plate. No decanting.
Pakora can be anything The Chef wants it to be. This interpretation was different. Flat pieces of something in batter. Marg cut one open. The inside was empty. Empty Pakora? The Potato had not been chopped into fine pieces as one would mix with Onion, but had been left as the unique vegetable. This was not Potato Pakora but Pakora Potato. Eh? There was the distraction of the Salad surrounding the Pakora. Marg ate the lot but still aired that she found the Dish to be – Disappointing.
The Keema Matter was presented in the same size of Karahi seen earlier. Due to being filled with Mince and Peas the Quantity appeared to be greater than the Co-diner had received in terms of Solids. This was a comparatively Wet Keema Mutter but thankfully not as Wet as I have encountered, the Jaipur in Köln holds that unenviable record. The First Dip of Buttery Paratha was a – Gosh! I have had some Excellent Food in Morocco in the past ten days, but nothing tasted as good as this. Coriander was definitely there, was this Methi on the Hector Palate? There was an overall Earthy Flavour from the Keema. The Peas gave a Subtle Sweetness to the Dish. The Kick was Decent.
As anticipated, the Paratha was not Huge, but – it had girth – as someone once said. The Periphery was sufficiently Flaky to impress. Again comparisons can be made with the pathetic example served in Casablanca at the India Palace earlier in the week. This was a Real Paratha.
Hector was in a Punjabi Restaurant eating a Worthy Keema Mutter. Just how good did The Hector feel today?
The Bill
€28.00. This will set the standard for Curry Prices in Paris.
The Aftermath
The Calling Card was accepted and in a hideous rendering of Franglais, I explained the orogeny. Interest was expressed, the Card was scrutinised.
The Lady, who was ever-present, confirmed the presence of Methi when I mentioned – Fenugreek.
I informed Mon Host that I planned to visit only Punjabi Curry Houses in Paris. He mentioned something about the different levels of Spice.
But Spice is not what I am necessarily seeking, it’s – The Taste!