Our apartments in Zlota are a two minute walk to Chmielarnia (Twarda 42, 00-831 Warszawa, Polska), how did this happen? What better way to celebrate our arrival in Warszawa than have Curry-Heute writes the Bier-Traveller. To which Blog should this be posted, hopefully both, eventually. Is that three rhetorical questions in succession, oops, four?
Hector and Steve complete the four day Polska Trip with two nights in Warszawa, a city Hector is slowly getting to grips with. Parts are stunning, the bits in between most certainly not. Zlota is handy for the train station, when I eventually bring Marg, will we stay near/in Stare Miasto? Already, Dear Reader, the overlap between Curry-Heute.com and Bier-Traveller.com should become apparent.
Entering Chmielarnia at 14.50, two tables were occupied. Piwa had to be sorted first. The Bier of the week has been Siostra Bozenka (13Zl), a 6.0% Hoppy delight from Bowar Podgorz. With an IBU of 70, it’s right up there with Rowing Jack (Ale Browar), but not such an assault on the palate.
The Waitress offered both the Lunchtime and Main Menus. The Cuisine is notionally Nepalese, not a style I often tolerate – cf Belgium and Huddersfield. However, having dined here in 2015, I knew the Fish Curry was worth having again, if only I could find it on the Menu.
The Waitress pointed out the Fish part of the Balti section, it was not Number 31 as last time. Ryba Balti (30Zl) it was, with Ryz Z Kminem (10Zl), ah Cumin Seeds.
Steve was totally undecided. Eventually he plumped for Kurczak Chilli (30Zl) and Bez Dodatów (7Zl). That’s Chicken Chilli with a Plain Naan to the rest of us.
Today was Steve’s first time in Warszawa. Hector was here briefly in 1992, twenty five years ago, then on Fahren de Polen in 2015. Things have certainly changed since 1992, the Palace of Justice is now thankfully obscured by other tall constructions. Since 2015 there has been explosion of Bars selling Craft Beer. Two days, we’ll only scratch the surface.
The Curry arrived, and so did Steve’s Chilli Chicken. The Creamy Masala looked very European, the Mustard Seeds added an air of Authenticity. The Cumin Rice looked happy where it was, so I decided not to decant to the provided plate. Spooning on the Fish and Masala, the Aroma was most welcoming. The first taste was oh so familiar. This was deutsche Curry! How can a Curry taste German? I know, I’ve had a few.
The Kick was in the face, this was a Spicy Curry. The Seasoning was Perfection, the Masala had a reasonable sense of Thickness. As ever, the Fish was unknown. The Masala Fish was white and soft. I soon realised I was working up a sweat. The Red Chilli that topped the Balti was left untouched, I was not going there. This was a Damn Fine Fish Curry, my third in a week. One has to take the Opperchancity when it presents. Back home in Glasgow where is there Decent Fish Curry?.
Steve’s expression was not a happy one. The Chilli Chicken was a Stir Fry. He recalled his Karahi with Marg and I in Bydgoszcz, this was even less to his liking. With Big Chunks of Onion and Capsicum, this was not a Curry at all, this was a Chinese Stir Fry. Steve hates Black Bean Sauce, this was full of it. Then there was the Naan. A Naan with a Chinese? The Bread was totally inappropriate, little was consumed, I declined the offer to assist. In the end, the Chilli Chicken and Plain Naan were abandoned. Meanwhile The Hector ate on.
The Siostra Bozenko could not be touched whilst the Spicy Curry was being consumed. Once the Bier was finished, that was it.
The Bill
103Zl. (£20.32) One of us had their money’s worth.
The Aftermath
There had been a downpour whilst we dined, the walk to Stare Miasto, the Old Town, was long and dreich. Then the sun made a brief appearance.
