Wow! – moments are relatively rare. Back in February, as witnessed by Marg, Hector had one such experience at Royal Punjab (Venloer Str. 4, 50672 Köln, Deutschland). Today it was time to invoke the Curry-Heute Test, could they replicate this?
I arrived at Royal Punjab at 13.45 after watching Boris bluster his way through PMQs, also, the aftermath of the presumably terrorist attack this morning in Berlin. Any lunchtime customers had gone, the place was empty, bar the mature chap who had served me on my first visits to Royal Punjab back in 2017. I was permitted my choice of table.
The Order was soon placed: Lamm Accharri (€15.90) with inclusive Basmati and a 0.4l glass of Sparkling Water (€3.50).
Above medium – was agreed as the Spice Level. The wait was appropriate.
The Euro-portion of Rice was more than I could eat, however, today the level of wastage was not excessive.
Lamm Accharri
The appearance was identical to my first encounter with this Curry. Specks of, presumably, Yoghurt were mixed through the Masala which had a decent level of viscosity. I counted ten pieces of Meat as I arranged the Curry on the Rice. Some of these pieces were large and would therefore be halved, plenty of Meat.
The Spice hit the palate then the blast of Pickle. As a Lamb Achari, this was right up there. I waited for the next event, the smoky blast of the South Indian Curry, it wasn’t happening. No – Wow! – today. Eventually I bit into strip of well cooked-in Chilli, the hoped for Flavour then emerged, slightly. I declare the Curry-Heute Test as being – failed.
I settled down to enjoy my Curry. Mein Host came over to check primarily that the Spice Level was not excessive. For Hector, not a problem, for most Germans it could have been, I have been told oft.
The Seasoning was there, the Spice was there, the Pickle most certainly. Had I not had the February version I would be singing the praises of this very fine Achari, so I cannot be hyper-critical. I did wonder why it was not the same, a different Chef is the obvious answer.
I have established that Royal Punjab is a chain of three restaurants in Nordrhein-Westfalen, with further outlets in Leverkusen and Langenfeld. One day I shall establish which one came first. Perhaps the Chefs move around? Next time I meet the younger chap who served us in February, I may get to the core of the saga. His English is up to it, Mein Host today was making me speak Deutsch. After all the time spent in Berlin, it is strange having to speak Deutsch in Deutschland once more.
The Bill
€19.40 (£16.61) Again, a cash payment, they only take German bank cards here.
The Aftermath
I showed Mein Host the photo of his colleague, who served us in February, as an ice breaker. This sparked a conversation that went on for a good ten minutes. Conversation? He spoke, I nodded and made appropriate interjections. On seeing the photo of the Lamm Accharri last time, he asked if this was my favourite Curry. Karahi Gosht was the inevitable answer – aber echtes Punjabi Karahi. I mentioned Namkeen Karahi, hoping that this would stimulate an offer to cook. He recognised the Afghan origin of this very fine Dish.
The ongoing price increases of – everything – have affected their business. I could follow the list of ingredients being recited, plus I can do numbers in Deutsch, therefore I did understand his quite specific references. Cashew Nuts have doubled in price. I must go and see Jazzy at Punjabi (Glasgow) who first raised this problem a year or so back. He surely will have more to add on this topic.
I promised to return, the Keema has to be sampled, but there’s Kofta too.