Glasgow – The Village “Curry House” – Ramadan Buffet

I booked tonight’s table at The Village Curry House (119 West St., Tradeston, Glasgow G5 8BA) for the Ramadan Buffet in passing on Tusday. Taking advice from the Manager, the table for four was booked for 21.00.

How many cameras? – was his retort as the reservation was noted.

The food would be rolled out from @21.20 he predicted. Each year, Ramadan gets earlier, it will be many years before sunset in Scotland matches the Middle East.

Arriving with Marg, Caroline and Stuart @21.10, The Village was remarkably quiet. We were offered a choice of tables, at the window, or a table with benches under the balcony. We chose the latter, ordered drinks then changed our minds. Our window table was right at the start of where the Mains would be set up.

I did a recce to see what Mains would be on offer this evening, no Kofta Anda, one day. The usual Punjabi Delicacies that Hector tends to eschew were once again present: Paya and Haleem. I had warned Caroline and Stuart, the débutantes at tonight’s Buffet, that Paya (Trotters) and Haleem should at least be – sampled. Various Chicken Dishes were there for those who are less discerning, however, there would be plenty of Lamb to go around. Lamb Shalgham (Turnip) on-the-bone and Lamb Dumpukht on-the-bone were two new Dishes for Hector, Keema Karela was potentially a standout. Keema Karela in a Buffet? Unglaublich! Lamb Bhuna (Boneless) and Lamb Kirahi on-the-bone are house standards, the fall-backs. Did Hector just write that? Limitless Lamb Kirahi, at The Village? On any other day I would bite off a hand to have Village Lamb Kirahi by the kilo. Lamb Nehari on-the-bone too, choices, choices.

A couple of staff members came over to say – hi. I was invited to photograph the array of Starters. On my return, I advised my fellow Diners not to fill their plates too early. By all means have the Salads, Spiced Onions etc but at the end lay the – good stuff – the array on the right being – the very best of.

*

The Village was gradually filling up. People were already queueing for Starters, we were about to join them when a platter was brought to the table:

*

Here you are, Mr. Hector.

A Samosa kicked things off for Hector, Marg was already raving about her Spring Roll. A Shami Kebab, or similar was OK, then I found what was a Potato Patty equivalent, this was the best yet. Then it was my turn to sample the Spicy Burger, this was truly immense, it had everything, Spice, Seasoning, Flavour and was suitably well-fired. The Fish Pakora hit the spot, even the Fritter-style Pakora was a novelty.  On any other Buffet night, it would have been straight back up to gorge on these. I wondered if Marg would, she has been known to abandon Mains in favour of Starters. I have suggested before that one should really do The Village Buffet twice, once for Starters, once for Mains.

Suddenly, The Village was full, or near enough. Chaps at a nearby table had piles of Starters on three plates, the rest of their Company was who knows where.  People were waiting, as in sat, but not eating. At 21.49 there was a musical broadcast, I never knew The Village had a P.A. System. Clearly a prayer, this signalled the – off – for those who had yet to break the fast.

Chicken Biryani and Lamb Biryani, on-the-bone, and mountains of them both, were set up over my left shoulder. Once again Hector was invited up to take photos before the hordes would descend upon the Mains. This was a good idea, in the past I may have been guilty of holding up the queue as I photographed each tureen. Unsurprisingly, my table of four was first up for the Mains.

Hector’s Buffet Choice #1

The Soupçon: Lamb Biryani for just a little Rice, and Haleem. I can take Haleem in small doses, to order as a solitary Main Course would be unthinkable as yet. Hector is many years away from enjoying Lamb cooked for days to a pulp. Today I took one step closer to that time. Actually, it wasn’t too bad. The Keema Karela was an instant – Wow! Dry Curry, Meaty, well Seasoned, Spicy, then there was – the Bitter Vegetable. This had it all. There would have to be more.

The left side of my plate has both the Lamb Shalgham and the Lamb Dumpukht . Never a huge fan of Turnip, I appreciated the Diversity of having the Vegetable. The Turnip was decidedly – Soft – and had been well cooked in to the Masala. Here was more Flavour than I expected. Somehow, after all this, the Lamb Dumpukht  also forced me to record another – Wow!

What happened to the Lamb Karahi? There was always the next round.

The comments from my fellow Diners appear at the foot of the review, meanwhile, here is some more food porn:

Stuart’s Selection

Caroline’s Selection

Marg’s Selection

Hector’s Buffet Choice #2

More Keema Karela of course. The Daal was simply labelled – Daal. Surely this was closer to Daal Makhani? Again, as a Side Dish, I love this stuff. I am reporting it as a Daal Makhani, if it wasn’t then it was quite simply the best Plain Daal, ever. The Shorva which accompanies Lamb Nehari puts me off ordering this except on the odd occasion where I can be convinced the Masala is otherwise. With no Rice or Bread on this round, it was a bit of a splash. When I had reached the end of the line of tureens, the Paya was only Shorva and Bones, no Meat was left. As Stuart had been broad-minded enough to sample this earlier, I thought I had better take the opperchancity. I mentioned to one of the Waiters that the Paya was in effect, empty. He promised to rectify this.

Moments later he arrived with a full portion of Paya and placed it before me, oh no. I insisted that he accompany me to the tureen so that I could decant most of it. Hector was not here to waste food. What was left in the karahi was quite an experience. Trotters, the skin at least, boiled to oblivion, slimy, not a good note to end on. Hector had no choice, there would have to be Dessert.

Dessert

Meanwhile, the Ladies had already been to the array of Desserts and had returned with very safe selections: Ice Cream, Millionaire Shortbread, Brownies. They were well pleased. Hector had to introduce them to something different.

*

Mr. Baig, Mein Host, was manning the Ice Cream, only Chocolate was left. News of Hector’s – Paya – request had already reached this end of the room, Hector was being mercilessly wound up, accused of wasting food. He knows me well.

I had never seen so much Gulab Jamun. I took some and a spoonful of Gajar ka Halwa, a Sweet, Carrot-based dish which I first experienced in Bradford. I passed on the Kheer (Rice Pudding). The Débutantes duly sampled these novelties.

I asked for – The Bill – and was invited to go up to the till which Irram had been manning all evening. No sign of her brother, Kassif this evening.

The Bill

£55.55 Four Buffet, two Cokes, one large Bottle of Sparkling Water (£2.95).

The Aftermath

How was it – asked Irram.

Our pleasure and appreciation was expressed. I asked Mr. Baig if – The Herald – had been this year, apparently not. Hector famously was mentioned in this national newspaper having insisted their reviewer visit The Village Buffet two years ago.

As we took our leave from the near empty premises, I reminded Mr. Baig that I’m still waiting to have Fish Karahi at The Village.

Driving home, it was time to extract quotes from my Fellow Diners:

Marg: Too much food actually. (did she mean she ate too much, or too much choice?) Good selection of Starters, my highlight was the Keema Karela. A lovely Dessert to finish.

Caroline: The Keema was definitely the best part. The Beef Burger thing was very good. Very grateful for the Ice Cream and Caramel Shortcake to finish.

(I wonder if – Milkshakes – were available?)

Stuart: The staff were very polite and attentive without being overbearing as in many places. The Starters, the Potato Fritters and Samosas were particularly … , I thought. I enjoyed the wide selection of Lamb Dishes, a lot of places don’t have even have one OK Lamb Dish. The Trotters were an unusual texture to try. I liked the taste.

At the start of the evening if I had shown The Company some Karela, and let them taste it on its own, I wonder if the Keema Karela would even have been sampled.

There are @two more weeks of Ramadan.