After Curry, Chez Steve, in Helensburgh last night, the diary showed that Alan and Tracy were due to join Marg and Hector for Curry in Glasgow this evening. Yadgar Kebab House (148 Calder St, Govanhill, Glasgow, G42 7QP) was the chosen venue, Alan and Tracy have not been since Yadgar #100, we were collectively overdue a return. As always, a text was sent to Mein Host midweek to arrange – The Fayre.
Shkoor, Dear Chap
Can I arrange for four of us to dine this Saturday (19th) @19.30. There is a clear demand for baked Scottish Haddock to start. Alan and I wish to share a kilo of Goshat Karahi on-the-bone. Tracy asks for a portion of Chicken Tikka Karahi (don’t shoot the messenger). I shall add Marg’s choice later if she tells me.
Marg subsequently added a portion of Boneless Goshat Karahi despite the fact that she knows on-the-bone is much more full of Flavour.
At our 18.00 rendezvous Tracy did not sound too enthusiastic about the Fish. On our arrival at Yadgar we added one portion of Vegetable Pakora.
A table for four had been set aside, no – Reserved – signs are used at Yadgar, if a table already has plates and cutlery in situ, one knows.
There was the usual warm greeting from Shkoor who appeared to be in a playful mood tonight.
All’s well that ends well – he declared. We had to ask for an interpretation. Hector’s travels are well known, Naveed (get well soon) sees my activities on a certain Social Medium, he can track my movements. Hector’s third visit to Manchester this month/year is looming, favourite venues will be revisited, and who knows where else?
Shkoor arranged the Drinks, two Mango Rubicon, two Cokes. Chapattis were confirmed as the Bread accompaniment. There is a new young Waiter resplendent in a t-shirt with the Yadgar logo. I never got close enough to see if this featured the Minar-e Pakistan in Lahore, or was new Yadgar Kebab House branded clothing. (How much is an XL?)
A pile of Poppadoms and a bowl of Spiced Onions were first to arrive followed moments later by two Dips: the temperature Hot Red Sauce and some Raita. Hector watched his fellow diners tear in. Patience, there’s more to come, much more, no need to fill up on Poppadoms.
When the Salad arrived it was time for Hector to start. Green and Black Olives were accompanied by Paneer, these sat on a bed of Rocket and Spinach Leaves. Alan is not into Olives, Marg admitted that pre-Hector, she wasn’t either. More for the rest of us. The Rocket was left, who likes Rocket?
The Vegetable Pakora was next, around eight pieces, Hector limited the intake to two, one would be left. Why? With the Salad, Spiced Onions and the Dips, the – Feast – was already shaping up.
Shkoor brought the platter of Fish. Haddock – he announced, which puzzled. I could see two pieces of Fish which I would not otherwise have identified and three pieces of Salmon.
The Haddock was not the Spice encrusted presentation we had hoped for, these were more Lightly spiced and were a devil to separate from the foil. We each had a Soupçon, the photo appears to have enlarged them. The Piece of Salmon nearest Alan and Tracy turned out to be significantly different from the two nearest Hector. The latter had much more of a Lemon infusion. Marg suggested we set one aside to take away. I agreed, then took half, it was too good not to eat now.
Tracy appeared to warm to the Fish and did her best to secure the remaining morsels, and the Spiced Onions… Alan reminded her that there was much more to come. As Shkoor passed on his way back from serving others in the very full Restaurant, I asked if that was all. We could contentedly leave now.
The Takeaway queue at times spilled into the space adjacent to where we sat. A Saturday night Takeaway from Yadgar must be popular. It was rare for us to be here at this time. As always I was amused by what the other customers ordered. Obviously, for Hector, Curry is all. However, Kebabs and Wraps were spotted being presented to a table of taxi drivers who I recognised. Behind me was a truly obnoxious git. Unless he was actually best friends with the new Waiter then his manner was totally inexcusable. I heard him but never saw him. Hopefully I never shall.
There was a suitable break between the Starters and the main Event, thankfully.
Goshat Karahi
Lamb chops! I could see a mountain of Lamb Chops. These were not the scrawny ones that some venues serve and charge a fortune for. Nor was this Goshat Karahi simply Tandoori Chops with a Masala chucked on at the end. Sucky Bones were there too, so some Leg of Lamb also. This Lamb had been cooked with thought, tenderness, care, and slowly.
The topping of Fresh Coriander Leaves was welcomed, I had to study – the other green bits – closely. Sliced Green Chillies, phew. I knew before I started that I would never eat half of this, but tonight we didn’t have to. Marg was driving, the car was outside.
I took four Chops to get things underway, the Classic Yadgar Flavour hit the palate immediately, but was this in fact their standard Goshat Karahi? The Masala had the same Thick consistency, it may have been slightly Paler. Photos will prove nothing here. Black Pepper was prominent in the Masala that shrouded the Chops. I consulted Alan, he too had spotted this and was finding the Karahi to be – Peppery.
Halfway between the traditional Goshat Karahi and a Namkeen Karahi – is what I noted. My first Lamb Chop was approaching – Cold. Would I have to send this back? I checked with Alan, he was not experiencing the same thing. I continued, all was well.
The Spice was no more than Moderate, it doesn’t have to be silly. The Seasoning was spot on – Khara! (There is an unfortunate linguistic connection between – Yadgar – and – Khara. We’ll see if anyone works this out.)
Chef Arshad acknowledged us when he popped out from the kitchen. He likes to take his bow. I also like to think that he knows who he is cooking for.
Aloo Gobi
No sooner had we been served our Mains when Shkoor appeared with a plate laden with Potato and Cauliflower in another Yadgar-thick Masala.
My Favourite – I exclaimed as he found place for it on the table. No longer was I eating just a mass of Meat and Masala. The added diversity that Vegetables bring to a meal is always appreciated, yet as I wrote in Manchester last week at Spice Lounge re their Veg Deshi Bhuna – I left a Soupçon, frankly, I was bored at the end. Not tonight, the combination of everything was immensely satisfying, the boxes were ticked – Fish – Vegetables – a Superb Goshat Karahi with a difference, and – Lamb Chops!
The plate of discarded Bones was filling, I estimated I had eaten about Six Lamb Chops plus whatever was attached to the occasional Sucky Bone. I could see around six chops left. Alan had reached his limit, the remainder could go back to Helensburgh.
On seeing that we had stopped, Shkoor was across, he may never have seen us admit defeat this early.
I have a strategy – I informed him. No way was this going to waste.
Alan’s verdict:
Very tasty very peppery, a good combination, enjoyed it.
The drinks bill will be quite cheap.
The latter is a comparative reference to a night’s dining at Akbar’s.
Now for – The Ladies’ Curry
Goshat Karahi – Boneless
As I always order the Kilo at Yadgar which arrives in a large karahi, a plateful can make less of an impact. However, look at the Quantity, no way was Marg going to manage all of this. It was at this point the aforementioned strategy was conceived. The Masala looked identical to what Alan and I were having, it wasn’t. Marg plonked a piece of Meat on my plate. Yes the Lady who tends to eat my Lamb Chops was giving me more Meat. The Boneless version was Spicier than the on-the-bone version. Marg may often comment about her food being – too Spicy – but she is well used to this. Her enjoyment was not impaired. Throughout, Marg remarked on how much she was enjoying her Curry. In the last twenty years, Marg has travelled the World with Hector, she too has seen, sampled, and enjoyed the very best of Curry. She knows how good the Curry is at Yadgar.
Marg strategically ate around half of her portion. This and the leftover Aloo Gobi were going back to Hector’s House.
Marg has previously enjoyed Kashmiri Tea at Yadgar. Having mentioned it, I suggested that she order this sooner rather than later, it has to be – cooked.
Marg’s comments for this evening:
I loved the Starters, I tried not to over indulge.
Re her Main Course – I thoroughly enjoyed it, thought it was great, very tender meat, worked well with a Chapatti.
The Chapattis felt incidental tonight, well for me anyway. Tracy asked – How do they get them so round? Years of practice – was Marg’s reply. I probably had less than half of a Chapatti, it was never more than a tool with which to lift the Lamb Chops. Why fill up on Bread? Half a Chapatti was left of the four presented, so the others ate more than I did.
Who ate all the….
Chicken Tikka Karahi
Chicken Tikka Karahi has only made a Curry-Heute appearance once before at Yadgar Visit #100. Tracy’s choice was inspired by her particular enjoyment of the Chicken Tikka Karahi at Yadgar’s Glasgow contemporary venue – Karahi Palace. Visit #100 to Karahi Palace will be soon, three have asked to accompany me so far.
The Chicken Tikka was shrouded in the classic Yadgar Minimal Masala, but the Redness was something different. Red? The Red Oil was already collecting around the periphery in the moments after its arrival. As with Marg’s portion, there was a mass of Meat here.
When Hector eats, his conversation is minimal. Others chatted, concentration. When I stopped I was surprised to see that Tracy had eaten the vast majority of her Curry, I don’t know how she managed this. There was just enough left over to make packing it justifiable.
Tracy’s verdict:
It was spicy, very tomatoey, a lot of meat, not enough sauce.
I’m not quite sure about the balance between the positive and negative here. Tracy’s last Yadgar Curry had even less Masala.
Kashmiri Tea
We did have to wait for this during which time we heard Master Obnoxious. Two cups of Pink, Milky, Hot Tea arrived. Hector was never going to touch this, Alan and Tracy each took a spoonful. Far too Sweet.
Cardamom helps digestion – Marg reminded us, there were Nuts in there too. Marg likes – Sweet. She drank both cups.
Regular Readers will know that Hector must surely dine at Yadgar at a Special Rate. I waited in the Takeaway queue until I could attract Shkoor’s attention.
Do you have a number? – I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders – The usual.
The Bill
£60.00 We paid appreciably more, the honourable thing to do. This works.
The Aftermath
How do you cope with this man’s travelling? – Shkoor asked Marg. Earlier he had made a comment about me being retired over a year now. Try three – I reminded him. Marg will get her turn, but no time soon.
As we made our way out I studied the dishes on display. The Lamb Biryani looked very interesting. I should return to my days of just dropping by at Yadgar and enjoy the Daily Specials, there’s always something to enjoy. Hector may then avoid the – Lamb overdose, as if.
You cannot leave without trying this – said Shkoor with reference to a tray which may well have just appeared from the kitchen. A plastic container was filled – Lamb Pilao.
Behold, another meal to enjoy at home.
