Yesterday I took a different route from Huddersfield Travelodge t’Bus Station and passed a couple of interesting venues for the first time. As with all Curry Houses in Huddersfield, Alishaan was not open at lunchtime, however, Kobane Kurdish Restaurant (8 Bradford Rd, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England HD1 6HY) most certainly was. Had I not been heading to Sarina’s (Queensbury, Bradford) I would have been straight in.
Checking out at noon, in theory I had a four and half hour wait for my booked train to Manchester then back to Glasgow. A long lunch in Huddersfield was the plan. I arrived at Kobane @12.15 to find one Diner tearing into a mass of food. I was keen to see what was on offer.
A Chap and a Young Lady were sharing front of house duties. The Lady brought the Menu and a bowl of Shorva, this was quite a welcome. Two Dishes on the Menu stood out, Lamb Qozy (£7.00) and Lamb Tashreeb (£6.00). Neither are – Curry – but the latter certainly featured Capsicum and so I thought the Lamb Qozy would suit me more. Fried Mixed Vegetables – were mentioned somewhere. A Side, Rice, Salad and Naan were included, all for £7.00?
The Chap took the Order. I was offered a Side of Beans or Potato.
Potato please.
I ordered a Lemonade as no Sparkling Water was available.
My spoon was wrapped in the napkin provided, handy with a plate of Soup. The Shorva was well Seasoned and had a sense of Spice. A couple of pieces of Onion and a strip of Green Pepper were in there too. The slightly Meaty Flavour was new on the palate, a decent start.
Lamb Qozy
This arrived in no time at all. The Sizzling Platter with two substantial pieces of Lamb on-the-bone impressed instantly. Beneath the Lamb were Onions and Capsicum still frying on the platter. A plate of Rice with presumably Rice Vermicelli was placed in front of me, who could eat all this Rice? There’s more.
Another plate of Shorva with Potatoes was presented, then a large round Plain Naan. This was all for me? For another £1.00 I could have gone – Large. Everything looked splendid, but this early in the day, the digestive system is not fully awake. At 15.00 I might have managed more. Even then, I doubt I could eat this volume. No Salad came, thankfully.
The two pieces of Lamb were arranged on top of the Rice then half of the Potatoes. I poured over some of the Shorva, retaining the remainder for later. I tore off a strip of Naan which had been served whole. Just how good was this?
Dipping the Naan in the Shorva revealed a more – Tomatoey Flavour, not the same Soup then. I used more Naan to scrape up some of the Onion and Green Pepper stuck to the platter, interesting, again something new on the palate.
I used a fork to separate some Meat from the Bone, a simple task, this was really Tender Lamb, no knife had been provided, none required. At last, Flavours I recognised. This was essentially my favourite Greek Lamb Dish – Kleftico – with added Cloves. This Lamb had been slow cooked then somehow revitalised on the platter. I tried to make a dent in the Rice and Vermicelli. The Naan was ignored.
The Potato had absorbed the Tomato in the Shorva. So by this time I had the Lamb, the Mixed Vegetables, the Potato, and the Shorva each with their own distinct Flavours. Diversity? This array was rewriting Curry-Heute.
This was not – Curry, Spices had most certainly been included, but as Flavourings, not to create – Heat. This Lamb Qozy was my first, it most certainly will not be my last. Finally, I have found an establishment in Huddersfield which is open at lunchtime and sells fantastic food. I have also therfore managed to avoid – Curry – on two days this week.
With half of the Rice and two thirds of the Naan remaining, I called a halt. The Serving Chap had gone to the back of the open kitchen and so I approached the Young Lady. She led me back to the till at the doorway.
The Bill
£7.75. What a feast, what a price!
The Aftermath
I introduced myself and was invited to take photos of the Menu. I thought I had taken full page shots, not extracts, next time. Hector had been trying to be discreet on arrival. The Kitchen Staff were evidently happy to have their photo taken.
Hopefully I shall be back on May 30th, a Big Day for someone in – The Company.
A well-timed text enticed me to Manchester earlier than planned. So it goes.
