Glasgow – Ginger Garlic – A Delivery to Clydebank

The – silly season – is over, Marg has had her birthday too, time to get things back to whatever normal we presently live in, and definitely time for the first Curry of 2021. Ah, the power of advertising, Ginger Garlic (41 Byres Rd. Glasgow G11 5RG) has been popping up on a certain social medium. Homestyle Indian food – is what they offer and they deliver to all – G – postcodes. Having food delivered is a concept which I have yet to fully embrace. Too often one reads of long delays and disappointment. If a venue is local, then go and collect, surely. My indulgence, courtesy of Yadgar, in the days before xmas, was only the second time I have had food delivered. The first was many moons ago when a Bradford outlet was able to ship Curry around the nation packed in dry ice. The arrival of this at school (work) certainly caused a stir, to what lengths was Hector willing to go for decent Curry?

The address for Ginger Garlic is that of the Little Curry House which Hector has visited sporadically in the eleven years of Curry-Heute. This is in Glasgow, an area presently out of bounds, except on the days I visit the QEUH.

Book before 19.00 for delivery the next afternoon – was the instruction, so last night I did. The online Menu for Ginger Garlic features some of the dishes I have encountered over the years at Little Curry House. It also defined a – portion – as being 650ml, plenty enough. It’s a year since I last visited Little Curry House, a venue which has showed potential, but has never recaptured the – wow factor – achieved in their earlier incarnation as Mrs. Majhu’s. Perhaps if I had visited more often I could have arranged the various Hector tweaks.

Marg took the Lamb Karahi (£7.60) option with her customary Chapatti (£1.00). The Lamb Bhoona (£7.90) at Mrs. Majhu’s was legendary, Ginger Garlic’s interpretation had to be tried. As is the Curry-Heute custom, an Interesting Vegetable accompaniment was required. Carrots with Peas, Spiced Leeks & Potatoes (£6.40) seemed worthy. No Rice, no more Bread. I recently picked up some frozen Paratha at my nearest Halal outlet, in Scotstoun, that must be permissible.

Having ticked the required boxes, I was was pleased that there was the capacity to make comments. Remember, this was my first time doing this in decades. I asked for the Karahi to be medium Spiced and the Bhoona to be above medium. Here also was the opperchancity to invoke the important clause – No Capsicum!

The Bill

£25.90   This included the £3.00 delivery charge.

Within an hour of placing the Order, there was a phone call from the number associated with the Little Curry House.

Regarding the Capsicum, did I have an allergy?

Peppers are used in the preparation of their Masalas, why?

I just don’t want to see any – was accepted.

The food arrived at 13.30, well before the 15.30 deadline. Indeed, there were a few updates informing me that my Order was out for delivery, most efficient. I had expected a poly bag, not the sealed box. On opening the box, here was a thermal lining and a block of ice. The food was cold, reheating instructions were provided., these I would ignore.

No way would I reheat Curry in a microwave, something horrible happens with the Salt. Reheating  Curry on the stove tends to dry it out, much better to use a conventional oven and my collection of karahi.

The Paratha, really? The photo on the packet had seduced, the contents were a con.

Two would be required, thin does not even begin to describe the outcome. Yes, they were flaky, but how many layers? In terms of conveying Meat and Masala, they did the job, otherwise a major disappointment. I, myself, can make better Paratha.

*

The wholesome Chapatti was given one minute in the microwave, a better option by far.

We had quite a spread, visually, each Dish impressed.

Lamb Bhoona

The thick, blended, Masala was not excessive. The absence of an oily slick was commendable. The Meat count was into double figures, some pieces were particularly large. The quantity in all three karahi was substantial. Sizeable pieces of Tomato had been cooked in as per the illustration online. This impressed.

Carrots with Peas, Spiced Leeks & Potatoes

In terms of appearance, this was everything I had hoped for. A truly Minimal Masala shrouded the melange of Vegetables.

For this Dish, hopes were also high. Comparison with the equivalent recently enjoyed, courtesy of Yadgar, was inevitable. Yadgar have set the benchmark for Vegetable Curry.

Oh dear, this was decidedly lacking in Flavour. The taste of the Carrots dominated, not the Spice. The Seasoning was way too low. Seasoning is all, this hardly registered on the scale. The individual Vegetables had been cooked to perfection, but offered little in terms of Flavour. Having enjoyed the Lamb Massalum with Methi Aloo at the Little Curry House back in 2019, I was hoping for something similar from both today’s Potato and Lamb.

The Texture of the Meat was a delight, beyond Tender, far from pulp. The Lamb was certainly a giver of Flavour to the Curry, however, this was nowhere near as intense as was hoped for. Again, the level of Seasoning was low – not much Flavour coming from anywhere – was my first tasting note for the Lamb Bhoona. In time this developed to recognising the base Flavour of Tomato, this Curry was a slow burner. The Spice Level was in no way demanding but the palate was certainly registering some sort of – kick. I went back to the Vegetables and decided the – kick – was not coming from them.

Homestyle Indian food – maybes aye, maybes no. Desi? – most certainly not. I could not classify this Lamb Bhoona as being anything beyond the Mainstream. For some that may be sufficient, Hector always hopes for more. The major positive, this Curry tasted nothing like that which is on offer in Clydebank, success.

Lamb Karahi

The Masala was visibly orange-redder than the Bhoona. When I took a soupçon, I could not tell them apart. Given the quantity and blended nature of the Masala, this again was not in the Desi style of Karahi Gosht as served in the preferred Curry Cafes of Glasgow’s Southside.

Peppery, then – Tomatoey – were Marg’s first remarks as she tore in. Indeed, it was Marg who identified the Tomato Flavour which took the Hector time to realise. Marg concentrated on her Karahi and therefore took very little of the Vegetable Curry; around half was left at the end, sadly, this was dumped.

At the end of the meal I asked Marg for her contribution, her words took me aback.

It was peppery, with a kick. A tomato masala and it (meat) was tender, not the most tender. An average Karahi, I’ve had much better. My tastes are going towards what we get in Greece, the real taste. I’ve been wowed by the Greek (Athena Curry) cafes.

Hector has been singing the praises of Athena Curry for years. Athena is as close to Pakistan as it is to Glasgow-Bradford-Manchester, why should Athena Curry not be authentic? That Marg has set Athena Curry as her benchmark was quite a statement, especially as two hours previously I took the plunge and used an easyJet voucher to book flights to Athena for the end of the year.

The Aftermath

Has Little Curry House been re-branded as Ginger Garlic? I asked Chapatti John to nip out from his nearby abode and take a photo of the frontage this evening. Little Curry House maintains.

At the foot of the receipt, there was an invitation to contact Jas at Ginger Garlic to give feedback. I was interested in establishing why there was a duplication of brand names for Little Curry House fayre. I soon received the following reply:

Evening Hector,

Ginger Garlic is being ran as a standalone brand from Little Curry House, thus the separate branding, marketing and website. LCH offer delivery and collection as normal within a 3 mile radius but the GG concept is to allow us to serve the whole of Glasgow with our food with it’s online only presence.

Although it is noted to be of affiliation with LCH we aim to run and build a stand alone brand for this down the line.

Kind Regards
Jas

One assumes that this means a new kitchen at other premises, eventually. In the meantime let us appreciate the irony that residents of Helensburgh (G84) can secure a delivery from Ginger Garlic, whilst the good people of Paisley may not.