Lord Clive of Crawley joined – The Company – today. Before becoming embroiled in the day’s other activity, he joined Hector on the walk up Cheetham Hill Rd. to – the other – Kabana (133 Cheetham Hill Rd., Manchester, M8 8LY England). There is quite a cluster of Curry Cafes in this stretch of Cheetham Hill Rd., Curry-Heute has reviewed: Lahori Badsha, Apna Lahori Kebabish, and Chappati Corner. Dera, a long time favourite Manchester venue. lies another kilometre up the road.
We arrived around 14.30. Many tables were occupied, however, by the time we departed, most were free. I liked the seating arrangements here, fixed chairs similar to Al-Faisal Tandoori back in the Northern Quarter. I counted seating for thirty in the main room with another twelve in the small room off through the archway.
As with the mother shop, there was a Specials Board to complement the illuminated Menu on the wall. Being a Tuesday, Kofta was available. Had it been Kofta Anda, Hector would have been straight in there, however, the primary aim today was to compare like with like. Alas, there was no Lamb Karahi, Lamb Masala appeared twice on the Board. I guessed correctly that this meant Boneless and on-the-bone. Clive opted for – Boneless, for Hector – on-the-bone, both to be served on a bed of Rice.
*
With Clive taken care of, the serving chap stopped midway and looked up at me. Ah, I understood, he was posing, how obliging. With the Curry served, so – The Foliage – was added. The Ginger here was a Paste rather than finely chopped.
Lamb Masala (Boneless)
A big wedge of Ginger – was Clive’s opening remark. My fault, I had placed a big blob on top of his Curry.
Lamb Masala (on-the-bone)
When Rizwan serves us at Kabana, he always ensures that the food is piping hot. The Curry here was warm rather than hot meaning that it would cool significantly as we ate. The first piece of Meat was surprisingly chewy, thereafter all was well. Whilst the Masala had the same appearance as in the Karahi, the Flavour was subtly different. This took me back many years, quite – an old fashioned taste. The Seasoning was a bit below the mother shop’s Karahi. When I included – The Foliage – so I was back in familiar territory. Peppercorns were encountered, slowly Cloves registered on the palate and would form the base of the after-taste.
A good Curry, but could have been served warmer.
Clive finished his meal with a sigh of satisfaction:
Up there, definitely up there.
The Lamb was absolutely gorgeous, perfectly cooked. It deserved to be eaten on its own without the Chillies and Ginger.
Wot, no Foliage?
The Bill
£7.80 – each.
The Aftermath
I had asked if Mani, Mein Host, was present today, alas he had gone. Our paths will cross one day.
