Let’s start with the Good News, Bamberg has a second Curry Venue! – Cafe Zafran (Brennerstraße 42, 96052 Bamberg, Deutschland). The Bad News, it is Temporarily Closed, with no re-opening date announced. How many people go to Bamberg for Curry? 
How many people in Bamberg know what Curry is given what is served at the Very Disappointing – Swarg? There was nothing for it today but to postpone the Lunchtime Curry and do what one normally does in Bamberg, Erlangen is always a Fallback.
Erlangen has featured well in these pages since the birth of Curry-Heute, it felt strange walking past the Impressive – Curry House, however, there is much in this town to be explored – Curry-wise, and there is no holding The Hector back. For a town of this size it has an Extraordinary Large number of Curry Venues, between six and ten depending on Other Sources. November may also see another couple being explored.
Menus had been downloaded and studied en route, one venue stood out. Bombay Haus (Pfarrstraße 2, 91054 Erlangen, Deutschland) had a Lamm Karahi which clearly stated – Dry. This could have been simply a Stir Fry as some venues deliver, always the Optimist, Hector would negotiate.
There were four fellow diners on entry at 20.15, The Waitress greeted and let me choose any table. A table for four was chosen adjacent to – Her Spot.
Wir sprechen auch English oder Deutsch? Hector would have to deliver Deutsch.
I moechte ein Lamm und Kartoffeln Curry.
Vindaloo – was her immediate reply.
I pointed to the Karahi Gosht (Dry). Ich esse nicht Paprika – said Hector trying out Stewart’s advice, – Auch Minimal Zwiebeln. This would hopefully avoid the Onion Overdose when Chefs cannot add Bulk to Curry without resorting to Capsicum. The Waitress went away to check, all was well, the order accepted. The Menu began by describing the Ingredients, Methi was second on the list. Hector forgot to have Methi added, Koriander was promised, allegedly.
A single Cumin-infused Poppadom was brought to the table and the candle lit. What a scene. Without The Dips, the Poppadom tasted even more Powerful. The Sparkling Water came in a 0.5l Bier glass, Perfect, no small measures here. It could possibly cost as little as a Bier, such is the way things are in Bayern.
Taking in the surroundings, Bombay Haus sat twenty six in very traditional surroundings. Old Fashioned Curry House Decor, with Traditional Music to match.
The Waitress brought the typically large volume of Basmati. One wonders if any sort of Special Rice was ordered in Deutschland, would the Plain Basmati still come? The Curry was in a standard metal bowl, not a Karahi. Masala covered what lay beneath, so evidently not a Stir Fry. There was a mass of Lamb and Potato, so not excessive Masala, but hardly – Dry.
The ratio of Meat to Vegetable was acceptable, Potatoes offered the Interesting Vegetable Factor, never Ballast. The Masala would have been reported as Standard, Thin, Minimal Onion-base, not significant, except… There was a Kick, yes there was a Kick, the Kick kept coming… this was Vindaloo Strength and more… was this the hottest Curry ever served to Hector, certainly the Spiciest ever served in Deutschland ! Congratulations – Spice is not everything, however, at least the Chef had the Courage to Spice the Curry, how much Bland Deutsche Curry has Hector eaten in the last forty years?
Was this just their Vindaloo served and charged as Karahi Gosht? Unless two of us go and order variations, who would know? The Capsicum was withheld, the Onion Chunks were limited, the Potato was there. This is what I asked for, forgot the Methi…
The Bill
€16.50. £11.95. With the Large Sparkling Water, good value. Bespoke Curry, I hope.
The Aftermath
A Mango Liqueur was offered and accepted. The Calling Card was given after the previous Erlangen Curry-Heute Blogs were shown. Don’t think she was too bothered.
Erlangen has a disproportionate number of Curry Houses, Hector will visit more and get to the bottom of this…