Marg and Hector’s eight day tour of The North ends with two nights in Manchester. The return to Manchester is particularly poignant, the final city through which Hector made his Escape from Polska as Lockdown came into being across Europe. The first stop on reaching Blighty was Kabana (22 Back Turner St., Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1LQ England) – #gethehectorhome.
Today, on celebrating the discovery of cheaper overnight car parking than anticipated in the now very different Northern Quarter, we were then told that Ancoats Travelodge now offers limited free parking, tomorrow. Methinks there may also be a return to Kabana tomorrow.
Rizwan, Mein Host at Kabana, had declared that – The Red Carpet – would be rolled out to welcome Hector’s return. Primarily this means all concerned are well and also the business has survived. It was 14.15 when Marg and Hector entered Kabana, a time deliberately chosen to avoid any lunchtime rush. However, after a week away, we know how few people are actually out and about. The exception was a large gathering in Leeds. Only now have we come to realise that getting out of Leeds on Sunday, by having a day in York, was such a good idea.
Rizwan was out front when we entered, there was a virtual hug.
Greetings to all, it’s great to be back – I announced which drew the attention of the chaps hard at work in the kitchen as well as my fellow diners. Six diners were sat at four tables, all was well. The Board was photographed which is part of the Kabana ritual. Lamb Karahi on-the-bone with Rice is Hector’s favourite Curry at Kabana, it had to be. Rizwan invited us to take a seat, he would bring it over. Momentarily I forgot that this is now mandatory, not the honour that once was. Table service is – the present normal. Marg’s role today was that of Paparazzo, having consumed a mass of Curry in recent days.
Lamb Karahi
The Manchester Trilogy of foliage – Fresh Coriander, sliced Green Chillies, and finely chopped Ginger had been liberally spread across the Dish, so no before photo today. There are many photos of this Curry in its naked state for those who which to drool.
The plate was heaving, a Kabana Feast, it was straight into the Lamb. In my final visits on the eve of Lockdown UK, Rizwan had admitted his fear over maintaining the quality of Meat that makes his Lamb Karahi such a standout. Today’s Lamb was as good as ever, it really has to be sampled to be believed. Tender-Soft, far from Pulp and perhaps more importantly, a giver of Flavour. Cloves, definitely a Manchester thing, hit the palate before the combined Flavours from the blended Masala registered. Plain Basmati sat beneath the melange, it has been a while. There was a lot of Rice, every grain would be eaten. The array of Lamb on-the-bone included one Sucky Bone which delivered its Marrow. Tasty, the root of what makes this version so much better than the Boneless.
Hector is in Manchester, visiting Kabana, enjoying a Lamb Karahi. It has been a while, four months and six days to be precise.
The Bill
£6.80 Rizwan has been able to keep the inevitable price rise down to 30p per Curry.
The Aftermath
Of course I’ll be back tomorrow.
And so to Mackie Mayor and a somewhat over-complicated means of entry and ordering. No smartphone, no app, no service. Some may go hungry, thirsty.
This is – food – allegedly.