Marg and Hector find themselves in Portugal one year later than planned. A return to Lisboa was conceived soon after Visit #1 in 2020, then postponed in 2021. This time we have front ended the trip with a few days in Porto.
There are Curry Houses in Porto, however, sources suggest that the best Curry is to be had across the River Douro, the Southside, sound familiar? However, here we have a Traben-Trarbach, Manchester-Salford scenario, across the river from Porto lies Vila Nova de Gaia, a city in its own right.
AM Indiano Café & Restaurante (Rua do Gen.Torres 1220 piso -1 LJ 24 4400-64 Vila Nova de Gaia Portugal) is one of two Curry Houses south of the River Douro, three stops, at Camara de Gaia. Spice Art, at the same Metro stop, may well be visited tomorrow.
AM Indiano, (the longest address ever posted?) lies in the basement of a business complex, not a shopping mall. The unit is small, four tables only inside, however, there is as much space as the owners will ever need on the concourse. Arriving at 13.00, a couple sat immediately outside the unit, later another couple did take an inside table. So, some people were having Curry in Gaia this Friday lunchtime.
Mein Host was quick to come out and greet, menus were provided. Many familiar names were present, the international language of Curry. An app on the trusty Oppo was used to fine tune some translations. Piemento Verde was the ingredient to avoid. My mind had been pretty much made up in advance, Lamb Vindaloo (€13.00) was the appropriate Curry to kick off this trip, after, all it’s a Portuguese creation. To accompany, Arroz Cominho (€3.00), is there such a thing as too much Cumin?
Marg was having a Mango Lassi (€2.50). This evolved into Vegetable Pakora (€4/50) and Mix Salad (€3.50) also. By the end, I would have ordered two cans of Fanta (€1.50).
At the point of ordering, Marg did her best to convey her desire to have her – Starters – at the same time as my Curry. Sometimes this actually works. Mein Host managed to convey a warning that the Vindaloo would be Spicy. Fine by me. Instead of ordering my Rice in Portuguese, I did so in my normal tongue – Jeera Rice. He took this in his stride. We were talking the talk.
Poppadoms, the European ones with embedded Cumin Seeds, and three Dips were brought. In Europe, this is usually the norm, why is it that in the UK we are mugged for these amuse-bouches? The Lime Pickle hit hard, Marg did well to avoid it. Hector’s palate was ready for whatever would follow.
The Drinks arrived, the Mango Lassi caused a stir. With Whipped Cream on top and Syrup lining the glass, this was more commensurate with an Ice Cream parlour.
The Pakora arrived next, with a quantity of Salad on the plate which was beyond the usual garnish. In a pique of irony, I speculated that another plate of Salad might arrive, thankfully it didn’t.
Vegetable Pakora & Mix Salad
The six pieces of Vegetable Pakora were reported as being – crispy, not doughy.
This is lovely – was Marg’s next statement when she tackled the Salad combo.
Everything is here.
Our charming Host was also doing his bit in the kitchen, assisting his Lady, the Chef I assumed. This Vindaloo was not being simply spooned from The Big Pot and served in an instant, it was clearly being worked at.
I watched as two dinner plates were carefully wiped before they were brought out to the concourse. Mein Host assumed that we were sharing, evidently he has never encountered Curry-Heute. One plate only was therefore placed on the table.
The Jeera Rice was way more than a Hector would manage, though not the extreme mass that too many European venues dish out. The Cumin Seeds were plentiful, I even found a Green Cardamom. This Arroz Cominho would prove to be the perfect accompaniment for the Curry.
Lamb Vindaloo
The Coriander Topping was a welcomed sight, somehow it gave the Curry pedigree. The Masala was suitably viscous, no Shorva being served here. This was the classic blended Masala, sometimes I have to remind myself that this is what one gets with – Curry – as opposed to its cousin – Karahi. As I decanted, so I counted the solids. Marg remarked on the quantity of Meat, I had to remind her that some was Potato. In all, I had seven large pieces of Lamb and three wedges of Potato, a decent portion.
The warning had been given a – kick – was expected and duly delivered. This was a worthy Vindaloo in the accepted – Scale of Spice – which has surely had its day. The Seasoning was a tad below the Hector idyll, but somehow, I had other things to concentrate on. There was a delightful tanginess from the Masala, the – vin? The Meat was wonderfully Tender, and each bite gave an explosion of Spice. No prisoners were being taken. Even the – Aloo – had absorbed some of the Flavours from the Masala in the short time that they had presumably been in each others company.
Mein Host had come back, to check all was well whilst I was still completing my photographic ritual. He was back again for an update. The thumbs up was given.
There was a blast of cold air, then the unmistakable sound of heavy rain on glass. For once, whilst eating a testing Vindaloo, the pate did not erupt with sweat. There was nothing here not to like. As far as a Lamb Vindaloo goes, this did everything one would hope for / expect. And in Portugal, my level of expectation is far higher than in any other European nation outside the UK.
The Bill
€26.00 (£21.76) I tried two cards in the machine, both failed, cash it was.
The Aftermath
The Calling Card was presented. I believe Mein Host had enough English to understand what I was on about. Here’s hoping. For anyone else reading this, the three Metro stops across the Douro River should become an enticingly short hop, in order to secure decent Curry in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Menu extracts
