There are some dates in the calendar which will never be forgotten, this has become one.
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The day started well, a long lie at Ancoats Travelodge, a noon checkout and the short walk through Manchester’s Northern Quarter to Kabana (22 Back Turner St., Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1LQ England). Rizwan, Mein Host, was happy to see us, he insisted I take a photo of his new staff member. What she was employed to do was unclear at first as Rizwan is so hands on. Maybe this is not a good week for such an expression given what is going on in UK politics and Hollywood? When the phone started to ring for Takeaway Orders, her role became evident. Kabana is very busy at Lunchtime.
Steve and Hector took a table at the rear of the room so that our luggage would be out of the way, by 12.10 a queue was forming at the counter, a good move to grab a table. We spotted two Chaps getting stuck in to Lamb Chops, a Portion of four. Not a bad start to the their day either. We were both tempted, but on seeing today’s Board it would be Keema Spinach for Hector, Lamb Karahi for Steve. To order a single Curry is not necessarily the norm in the Northern Quarter Curry Cafes: Rice and Three (£6.30) has become a Local’s Favourite here, also at nearby Yadgar Cafe, and This & That.
A Mountain of Basmati was already on what would become my plate when Rizwan announced:
You must have the Lamb Biryani (£6.30) – so we did.
This was Lamb on-the-bone in Pilao Rice. Rizwan poured some of the Shorva-like Masala from the Lamb Karahi over the Rice, this soaked in immediately. We were left to cover this Melange with Fresh Coriander and Chopped Green Chillies. The photos may suggest a Dog’s Breakfast, the resulting creation was Magnificent.
The Bill
£7.00. Hector had a can of Lilt, the first in years.
Steve was well ahead of me by the time I completed the ritual photos and note-taking.
There was enough Tender Lamb even a Sucky Bone appeared. Before mixing in the Chillies the Kick was evident, the Seasoning was as it should be. The Flavour in Kabana’s Masala is so distinctive, you know what you are going to get. Steve asked for a reminder as to when the Manchester Beer Festival is, he may come down – just for the Curry.
The Rice portion was huge but manageable, eventually. A piece of Aniseed was picked out whilst the Black Peppercorns were bitten open, so much Flavour from what remains essentially very Simple Fayre.
Steve was finished long before me, noon is still early for Hector to attempt digesting food. I let him record his own comments on the Trusty LG:
Nicely spiced. Liked the option to add extra chillies and Coriander, Lamb Tender.
We watched the place fill to near capacity, how six Chaps squeezed on to one table mystified, the side tables permit more space. Rizwan may have increased the seating capacity, but what about comfort? Expanding upstairs or through the wall to adjacent premises may be something for the future. We spotted one of the Chefs last night leaving Kabana as we walked through the Northern Quarter, Kabana is open until 17.30. For those of us requiring Curry later, delhi2go fills this slot.
The Faithermath
As I got the bits together to change trains at Preston an hour or so later, a flood of emails hit my inbox, I could only see one word in the banner headlines:
Robin!
The Faither – of – The Company. There are no words to describe our loss.