The demise of Glasgow’s Kyhber has made Hector all the more determined to sample Afghan Cuisine. That München boasts a few Afghan Venues has been well known to Hector for some time. It has all been a matter of the Opperchancity to investigate venues which may or may not live up to expectation. One cannot invite Peeps for a Weekend Trip then take them somewhere terrible.
In April of this year, Hector and Marg headed out towards Schwabing but found the chosen Afghan Venue to be closed at Lunchtime, contrary to other information. The Menu as read at the door did not suggest the purveyance of the much sought after Afghan Karahi. Menus I have found online since then appear to be missing this #1 Attraction.
With an appetite larger than it should have been, Hector headed out to locate Nigin – Afghanisches Restaurant, Cafe, Bar, Cocktail Bar (Neuheuser Strasse 15, 80331, München, Deutschland). Their website showed it to be along a Passage off this main shopping street. Having walked the length of the Passage, a more accurate address would be on Altheimer Eck, the parallel street. But then they wouldn’t have a Neuheuser Strasse address.
There was sufficient information posted on the wall outside to entice The Hector inside. Various Lamb Dishes in a Sauce as opposed to simply Grills which is what I have seen on most Afghan Menus.
Entering from Altheimer Eck, I was walked through the premises to the door I could have come in from the Passage. The place is long and narrow, about three groups of people were dining or drinking. People do come here for a Drink when München has so many more obvious places to do this?
The seating was remarkably comfortable, table height for eating, cushioned enough to sit back afterwards. The Young Waiter who had sat me provided The Menu. Four Lamb Dishes which might be something along Curry lines were read once more. Lamb, Potatoes, Garlic and Ginger in a Sauce, is that not Curry? €14.90)
Katschalu Tschalau
That’s a new one. As described above, it was pointed to. The Replacement Samsung was called into use, there must be a translation. A TV channel was the closest I found, then, ….
Fast Food
Hector’s dinner was sitting on the table in front of him! Wtf? I have waited longer in a Hamburger Joint, well longer in a Kebap Shop. I don’t think this did the credibility of Nigin any favours. They could at least have pretended it had not just been scraped out of a pot.
Half the plate was Basamti. Where was the Lamb? I could see Two Large Chunks, maybe a third smaller piece, hardly generous. The Sauce was prominent, Orange? Or was that the lighting? There were Slivers of a Light Coloured Vegetable in the Mix. I had spotted Kadoo in the Menu, never seen that before, in Deutsche it was Kurbis (Pumpkin), but I knew, or hoped. Kadu and Kurbis are related, the latter we all know, Kadu is a decent, Interesting Vegetable to add as – Ballast – Yay! .. without offending the palate. Hector includes this on occasion in Hector’s Home Cooking. Potato! Such was the dire state of the Potatoes served 
earlier at Indisches Fast Food Imbiss, I was taken by surprise.
Mein Host appeared – Geschmekt?
It’s OK.
Well it was OK, no more. I had the Romantic Notion that I would have been served a Mujahideen Karahi, only in Glasgow. Had I asked for – The Blandest Thing on The Menu – then I would not have been surprised if this is what had been served. A Plate of Potatoes, Minimal Lamb, Under-seasoned, Under-spiced, a Sweet Coloured Sauce. Time to set aside the Prejudice.
The Lamb was Beautiful, don’t think I’ve posted this before. Very, Very Tender. As the Large Pieces were broken up, so the plate was filled with an almost Substantial Portion of Meat. The Waiter had provided three Dips, one was Scharf. Careful, too many of us have been caught out here. Some was stirred in, nothing, try again, nothing, Scharf? Do they know what this word means?
Conclusion
This could have been Craig’s Favourite “Curry” of all time. But that was last week, served in Glasgow, by Yadgar.
The Bill
€18.90. €4.00 for a Bottle of Sparkling Water. I have paid less than this for the same quantity of Bier on this trip.
The Aftermath
Clive and Jonathan had departed earlier. Hector was tired, not in the mood for negotiations and trivia. For the second time today, The Calling Card was withheld.
The Menu here is not what I was looking for. In June I shall return to this City en route to Stuttgart to see Ritchie Blackmore. Why am I flying here and not Stuttgart?