Portland OR – India Grill – A Buffet? … and a Chicken Curry goes down a Storm

Today’s intended venue was India Oven (3450 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214 USA) which involved a Bus ride eastwards along East Burnside St. where I am resident, then a walk through Laurelhurst Park. This was a leafy suburb of Portland. Hector was having a pleasant walk in the park whilst those back in Blighty were awaiting the arrival of Storm Hector.

India Oven was chosen due to seeing Fish Curry on their online Menu, also Goat Curry served on-the-bone. Arriving at India Oven just before 13.30 all was in darkness. A sign on the door said they were no longer open for business at Lunchtime. Time was now at a premium, if Hector was going to have a Lunchtime Curry it had to be nearby. India Grill (2924 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214 USA) was the nearest and also in the direction of Migration Brewing Co. where I was due to meet Dr. Stan @14.00.

I arrived at India Grill @13.40, the Hostess looked at the clock as I entered, her colleague showed me to a window table. Four other Diners were present, two more arrived moments after Hector. Some much needed Cold Water was taken onboard before I went up to the Buffet. It had to be Buffet ($9.99), I did not think they would entertain me going a la carte this late in the shift.

The Buffet trays were unlabelled, I ignored the Salads, Raita and Pakora, Daal Makhani was sitting there waiting for me. I took a modest amount, I love it, but in small quantities, also some Peas Pilau. The inevitable Chicken Curry was next up, Hector is definitely slumming it, Buffet and Chicken Curry? What looked like Gobi in Masala was spooned on next, alas this turned out to be Chicken Curry #2.

I started with the Daal Makhani, this oozed Quality. A Tart, Creamy mix of Lentils, exactly how it should be prepared. At least I had this to enjoy. Chicken Curry #1 was next. The Chicken was Darker than the norm, Thigh? It had a better consistency than Chicken Breast. I was not prepared for what followed. This slightly Viscous, Blended Masala was Astonishing! The Spice Level was not demanding, a slight Kick, but the Seasoning, the Flavours… this is what I hope to discover every time I visit a new Curry House, something to become really excited about. The Depth of Flavour was Tremendous, I was mentally ticking off the array of Spices that had been assembled to create this. It had to be a Punjabi Curry, there was a familiarity, a sense of comfort. Hector was at home.

Chicken Curry #2 had a Thinner and also Blended Masala. It was a classic Bland Chicken Curry. The Yellow Rice had the odd Bay Leaf mixed in, no problem with the Peas today. I had to eat all on my plate, fortunately I had not overloaded, I had to go back for more of Chicken Curry #1.

Whilst I was eating, the Hostess was sitting chatting with another Lone Diner. I had to engage before taking more.

Can you tell me what this is? I asked pointing to Chicken Curry #1:

This is astonishingly good, the other one you can keep.

Chicken Curry #2, I was told, had a Yoghurt based Masala, it was a new Dish. Chicken Curry #1 was simply their usual – Chicken Curry.

Are you from England? – asked the Hostess.

No he’s from Scotland – said the Chap with whom she had been chatting. He was from Leicester, England, and has been in the USA for some twenty years. He has been dining at India Grill for eighteen years, and all because of this Chicken Curry. He told me there is nothing served in Portland which comes close.

I took some more of the Peas Pilau and the wonderful Chicken Curry. Did I really just write those last four words?

A Suggestion

This Masala would work amazingly well with Fish. I imagined it thus, it has the potential to create a truly outstanding Fish Curry.

The Bill

$9.99 (£7.45) I had eaten enough, and for this price, great value.

The Aftermath

I did my usual introduction and praised the food once more. I mentioned my love of Punjabi Cuisine:

We are Punjabi – she informed me. This had to be the case. The Hostess was born in Newcastle, England and left for the USA when she was about nine. The photo on the wall was her husband.

Do people actually see this? – she asked about the Curry-Heute Blog. 8 million hits so far impressed her.

This was easily the Best Curry I have had in Oregon. I still wonder about India Oven, nearby, similar name, same people? Perhaps I shall never know. India Oven sells Fish Curry.

Postscript

Last week, on our day spent in Vancouver WA, I reported on a Taco, the first Mexican food I have very encountered which was genuinely – Spicy. Last night at Hair of the Dog here in Portland I had another special moment. Chuck Norris Duck Wings (£9.00). Kung Po Duck has become my Dish of choice when ordering that other – C – Cuisine at home. I particularly enjoy the combination of Meat and Mixed Vegetables. Even here I am true to myself.

The Chuck Norris Duck Wings were served with strips of Onion and Capsicum which were so well marinaded they had lost their belch giving quantities. The Sauce, oh the Sauce, this was truly Spicy. It looked like Soya Sauce with who knows what added. Super Spicy – Curry is usually at the expense of other Flavours. This had Spice then the Sweet & Sour came across. I was tempted to order Round #2, that’s how good these were.

I had to ask the Barman:

To which corner do I crawl off and die?

Duck Stock with my very good friend – Habanero – and Herbs, is the base recipe.

The Menu at India Oven