Wednesday is – Quail Day – at Kabana (Cheetham Hill) (133 Cheetham Hill Rd., Manchester, England M8 8LY). I confirmed yesterday with Rizwan, Mein Host at the mother shop in the Northern Quarter that I would be heading up towards Cheetham Hill this lunchtime. Rizwan assured me that I would finally get to meet his brother – Mani – who I have missed on previous visits.
Hector and Marg, who already had eaten, entered Kabana (CH) at 14.15, Paul the co-host remembered me from last month, the other chap had to be…
Introductions were made, the brothers may sound the same, Mani is more handsome, by far. That’s one boat burnt.
Mani had – good news and bad news – for me. Someone/something had disrupted the usual Wednesday pattern, no Quail had been prepared. Instead, another – Special – Lamb and Bhindi was on offer. Paul in particular raved about this, I thought I’d better take the opperchancity. I related how I had recently been enlightened as to the correct way to cook Okra in order to stop it turning to mush. I ordered the Lamb and Bhindi plus Rice.
As with last time, the Rice portion was enough to feed half of Asia, for a month. I shall again refrain at this point from using the ubiquitous – literally – and settle for hyperbole. Mani confirmed that I wanted the Curry on top of the Rice and not in a separate bowl.
Marg introduced cans of Mango Rubicon, much deserved after the hot walk over from the Northern Quarter.
The conversation with Paul, Mani and Hector continued. Haggis Curry was mentioned. Why would you? Haggis is already a Spicy Delicacy. Haggis Pakora? Chip shops in Scotland have been serving Haggis in batter for decades at a fraction of the cost that restaurants charge for similar balls of Haggis (Pakora).
With an appropriate quantity of – foliage – added, I took my seat. Marg had chosen a table at the front window. The staff member who had looked after Steve and I so well last month was having his lunch in the main dining area. There was simultaneous acknowledgement.
Lamb with Bhindi
The Curry looked paler than the Karahi I am used to having at Kabana NQ. There were small slices of Okra visible, plus longer pieces which had been cooked into the Masala.
My first mouthful was off the top of the mound, somehow I had managed to scoop up a spoonful of sliced Chillies. This shocked the palate and may well have wiped out the taste-buds. Not the best of starts.
I could see the huge quantity of Lamb under the jungle, the majority of pieces were on-the-bone. Having nowhere on the plate to set these aside, I ate on, concentrating on the Masala soaked Rice. Seasoning was an issue, Rizwan’s Karahi is always well Seasoned, Mani’s Masala was way below the Hector idyll.
Paler Meat, suitably Tender, one assumes it was sourced from the same magical butcher which Rizwan uses? Time to address the Bhindi: it was soft, slimy, not as Hector desires. Where was the firmness which even this commentator can now manage?
I had a mountain to get through, Marg observed the struggle.
How is it?
Nothing special – was the ever honest reply.
As I tidied up my plate and estimated what might be a respectful quantity of Rice to abandon, Marg described the ongoing – Festival of Food – at the table behind me. A chap had ordered Lamb Karahi, so Marg observed, with Chips and a Chapatti, Salad and Lamb Chops. Marg was looking on enviously at the well charred Lamb Chops, one for the future. Chops & Bateera? Anyway, he arranged the Meat over the Chips leaving the Masala for dipping with his Chapatti. Curry & Chips? His strategy was to abandon the surplus Chips and leave the delight that was the Lamb Chops to the end. Oh to be able to eat that amount of food this early in the day.
The Bill
£9.40 Including the two cans of pop.
The Aftermath
At the risk of upsetting Mein Host, I had to tell Mani that his Brother’s Curry has more Seasoning. For Hector, Seasoning is all.
As for the Okra, I suppose that having sat in the kettle, the outcome was inevitable.
Well stuffed, it was back down the hill towards Victoria. How many times have I walked up/down Cheetham Hill Road? Strangeways, so close, close enough.
Later, I described my visit to Kabana (CH) to Curryspondent Neil, he who painstakingly proofreads these pages, in time.
Bhindi, oot the windae – was his suggestion.
It wisnae Quail.