München – Indian Mango + Plus a Day to Remember

Hector is in München, that can only mean one thing – Curry-Heute! This could well be the only visit of 2016, so there is a need to maximise the intake of Outstanding Curry at Indian Mango (Zweibrückenstraße 15, 80331, München), the Curry Haus that Hector has been Championing since the very start of this Website.

Arriving at 12.20, I was very aware that back in Glasgow, The Company were at Jason’s funeral. If one accepts that life must go on, then I can be forgiven for not attending, I am in Sud Deutschland this weekend for a very special reason – Saturday Night at Bitigheim-Bissingen where Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purle / Rainbow / Blackmore’s Night) will once more put on his Fender Stratocaster and turn the volume on his Marshall Amps up to 11.

Other news has reached me in the last few hours, the Akash in Helensburgh (Scotland) went on fire yesterday, by all accounts it will be out of action for a long time. I hope there was insurance. Did the insurance company ever pay up after the Lomond Castle Hotel went on fire many years ago?

Mr. Jolly Kunjappu knew I was coming, we exchanged emails a few days ago. He was mid floor mixing with his guests when he saw me enter. As ever the welcome was a warm one. Mein Host has a rapport with many of his diners, the number of regulars astonishes. Pass any other Curry Haus in München and they are empty, Indian Mango always has customers. At Lunchtime the €5.95 Special must attract many, though I would order off-Menu.

Fisch Chettinad or Lamm Chettinad? – asked Jolly.

I’ll have the Fisch (€13.95) now and I’ll come back tonight for the Lamm (€14,95).

Scharf?

Please.

Plain Basmati is included in the price, the European way.

Herr Battra, the Head Waiter, plus the Young Waiter, whose name I should know by now, also gave their greetings. I explained why I was in München. Everyone asked – how is your wife? – they are used to Marg watching me eat Chettinad at Lunchtimes.

Jolly, a well known International Musician himself, was taken by the fact that Ritchie Blackmore was playing – Rock – again aged 72. Jolly is a mere 66 and believes himself to be a half generation younger than the ageing Rock Stars who have returned to the stage to perform their back catalogues. As Steven Wilson theorised in Poznan two months back – Is this Cabaret?

The Replacement Samsung informed me that at noon today, the temperature would be 12ºC with – Freezing Drizzle. I was out in a t-shirt, the sun was shining, the temperature continually rising. Tomorrow night, rain is forecast, let’s hope the accuracy is just as poor as today’s.

Fisch Chettinad

This is it, one of the most Outstanding Curry Experiences known to The Hector. Those who have read these pages before know that what is served at Indian Mango is not the Shorva that is presented at every other venue I have reviewed. This is Dry Curry, just enough Thick Masala to shroud the Spice-battered Fish. This is how I seek my Curry, Fisch Chettinad is not even on the Menu, simply ask for – the way Hector has it.

The Spice Level was just right, not excessive, though some may have struggled. With Fish Curry, the Seasoning should never be an issue. The Smokey Flavour from Red Chillies is the norm, I could see only Green Chillies today, so I have to wonder what else Chef is adding, the recipes are Mrs. Kunjappu’s, Jolly’s Mother. The Plain Rice is now served in a Sensible Portion, the wastage of previous years no more. However, the Curry is served in the same smaller bowls, so Portion Sizes have shrunk overt the years. The Prices have remained constant.

The Pleasure from this Dish is off the Scale, this is why I get myself to München whenever I can. I could have flown directly to Stuttgart with easyJet, but I was not missing this Opperchancity. As the End Game approached, there was the feeling of being sated, this was enough Food for Lunch.

Did I tell you how Wonderful it was?

Mr. Jolly bade farewell halfway though my Course, he had an appointment. You cannot be more polite than this.

Can a plate be cleaner?

The Bill

€16.85. (£13.30) This is one of the few venues where Fish is charged less than Meat, as I feel it should always be.

The Aftermath

Time for The Lone Diner to transform himself into The Lone Supper. Hector Naypals? Jim and Aileen are at the edge of München, Jonathan has flown, almost, directly to Stuttgart, I have to amuse myself until tomorrow.

Kloster Andechs

This may belong on Bier-Traveller.com, an hour from the City Centre, a idyllic setting, the Bier ain’t too shabby.

Eight Hours Later

At 20.30, Herr Battra shook my hand once more. A Young Waiter wondered for the second time today why I did not need a Menu and gave no order. The Sparling Water (€2.95) was dearer than the Edelstoff I had consumed at the Augustiner Bräustuben, so it goes.

For the first time ever I sat at the small window table. I declined a large table, this was only fair given the crowd present. Indian Mango is doing good business.

The Lamm Chettinad (€14.95) looked virtually identical to that served at Lunchtime.

The Lamm was cut small, Dry, the actual Flavour of the Lamb came through the Spice, I like this. The Spice Level was – in your face, fine for those of us who can tolerate it. How many German Curry Houses serve – Vindaloo – which a baby could manage?

Even without Fish, the Seasoning was spot on, the same Ingredients bar one, a similar Experience, the same Gritty Texture, yet Quite Different. It is worth trying both just to verify this.

Being later in the day, the Appetite was greater, I felt I could have done with more. Once again, every grain of Rice was consumed. The Curry Leaf, Cardamom and Cinnamon Bark were never intended to be consumed, another clean plate.

The Bill

€17.90. (£14.14) I must cut down on these Expensive Waters.

The Aftermath

Chai is always offered and rejected. Milk in Tea?

I did accept a Complimentary Dessert. Mango Lassi in effect.

And so to the Hofbräuhaus. June 1976, my first ever visit.

40 years later…