Today is the penultimate date on the Riverside – 20 – tour, and also for Howard and Hector in Polska. With so many new venues to choose from, Yummy Punjaby (Kantaka 8/9, 61-812 Poznan, Polska) stood out. Punjabi Cuisine in Poznan? Hector’s favourite, this had to be investigated. Yummy Punjaby is one of a cluster of Curry Houses in Poznan between the Main Train Station (Glowny ) and the Old Town (Stare Miasto). Another cluster lies on the east side of Stare Miasto. There must be a demand for Indian food in Poznan.
Shivaz has impressed over the years, as has Taj-India near the Zoo. My visit to Mata on Wednesday of this week almost had me return today to confirm the quality could be replicated. The possibility of Punjabi Cuisine won in the end.
Howard and Hector arrived in Poznan mid afternoon after a ridiculous train journey from Lódz via Warszawa. Our connecting train had forty four stops between Warszawa and Poznan. Even a train to Siberia surely cannot stop that often?
I entered Yummy Punjaby at 15.45, two other couples were possibly already in situ, I couldn’t see the far side of the room once I was shown to my window table. Two staff were on duty front of house, Mein Host and a young chap who was evidently learning the ropes. He was asked to give culinary advice to the next couple who arrived, one of which was “American”. She sought Indian food without Spice. The young chap suggested Samosa, clever.
For Hector, the plan was to hopefully once again take advantage of the relatively low price for a Vegetable Biryani and a Main Course. On studying the menu, there was nothing that was particularly – Punjabi – only four of the Lamb Dishes were within acceptable parameters. Sadly, the menu photo of the Bhuna Gosht (53Zl) prominently showed the Offending Vegetable. It would have to be Lamb Rogan Josh (51Zl) accompanied by a Vegetarian Biryani (31Zl).
In addition to a 300ml bottle of Sparkling Water (5Zl) I was drawn to the Lemoniada Classic (12Zl), home-made lemonade with the promise of Ginger. The palate needed a good cleanse after four days of potent hops.
Mein Host took the Order. On showing him my stock photo of the – Offending Vegetable – I verified that Capsicum/Papryka would not appear in either of my Dishes. He led me to another page on the menu, a Curry full of them. Then the penny dropped, I didn’t want them!
He promised they would not appear in the Biryani, none would have been in the Rogan Josh as it happens.
Despite the off-putting colour, the Lemoniada was cool, refreshing, tasty. And indeed, there was a sense of Spice.
Howard texted, he wasn’t far away. He would arrive at 16.15 in time to become my paparazzo.
The young chap brought the Biryani which was accompanied by Raita. He then brought the Curry accompanied by Basmati. Only in Europe. I declined the Basmati, whilst I wouldn’t touch the Raita. In time, Howard would make a respectable dent in the Raita.
Vegetarian Biryani
The presentation impressed, grains of white Basmati on top of the Pilau, with a threat of Coriander and a slice of Lemon. As with my visit to Mata three days previously, I took from the pot that which I believed I could manage. Paneer was the standout, more protein, Cauliflower, Green Beans, and Carrots were mixed through the Pilau.
It was necessary to taste the Biryani before progressing further.
The Biryani was well Seasoned, the Vegetables each had firmness, so cooked as I like, no mush here. At the end, a solitary Clove appeared on my plate, however, something else was on the bottom left which puzzled. This was possibly the largest Black Cardamom ever seen. Later I studied the texture, too firm. Nutmeg? This Spice has intrigued over the decades, it’s in Hector’s Spice cupboard but is used rarely. What does it do? What does it taste like? I thought it best to play safe. If it had added to the overall Flavour of the Biryani then so be it. Hector was not for biting into this large, solid, object.
Lamb Rogan Josh
Generous strips/wedges of Ginger and a sprinkling of Coriander topped the Soupy Masala. The sign of the Oil separating, on one side of the Onion and Tomato Masala, I took to be a positive. I counted the Meat into double figures as I arranged it on the Biryani. A Shorva-esque Masala but not a Soupy Curry per se. There was a sufficiency of sauce.
Damn tasty – was my first consideration of the events here. The Masala was well Seasoned, the Spice Level was moderate. Whole Peppercorns were mixed through the Curry.
Mein Host was over to ask the customary question. I was enjoying what lay before me. He appeared to congratulate himself on having prevented the you know what appear in the Biryani.
I apologised in advance that I would be leaving a significant quantity of the Rice (not the Vegetables and Cheese) and that my mission was to avoid just – Meat and Masala.
I have described oft the Curry-Heute observation of how Rogan Josh has evolved from a Masala with added Tomato, towards something more Creamy in the last couple of decades. Last week at Raunak Raseeli – India (Glasgow), Rohit, Mein Host, challenged this, and claimed it has always had an Onion base. The menu at Yummy Punjaby lists Onion and Tomato, though the latter did not come across prominently in terms of Flavour or consistency. How much Onion had been used, why so Soupy?
Some of the Meat was decidedly chewy, not – tough – just chewy. The Lamb gave off a suitably – Meaty taste – but in doing so transformed my perception for this Curry. I had already accepted this to be a Mainstream Curry, towards the end, the term – Euro Curry – was coming to mind. A bit unforgiving, Hector. The Curry & Biryani was certainly enjoyable, maybe the subconscious had still been hoping for the distinctive Punjabi Flavours.
The Bill
99Zl (£18.56) This, of course, was for one.
I was able to advise Howard the Curry came with Rice, this saved him time in ordering. Lamb Balti (55Zl) and the recommended Lemoniada Classic was soon recorded, no caveats.
Lamb Balti
Ginger Strips, Coriander and Raita, topped the Curry piled high in the bucket. Chef was evidently trying to present a more Creamy Masala. Once decanted to the plate on top of his Basmati, Howard added more Raita. The Creaminess may have been more suited to his palate.
A piece of the Lamb from the Balti came my way just as I was finishing my Rogan Josh. The redder, creamier Balti (left) stood out. More Tomato here? This piece of Lamb was more tender than I had in my Rogan Josh. Pot luck?
Howard can always be relied upon to give a thorough report:
It’s enjoyable to have a Curry with Hector Curry-Heute, which, due to a loss of appetite during Lockdown, has not been as frequent as I would like.
The Curry itself was a decent portion with a mix of soft and chewy lamb. There was some flavour from the lamb and the sauce. The spice level was good, as was the seasoning. My overall impression would be that the Curry was almost there, but not quite. A bit more flavour from both the lamb and the sauce would have made it a very good Curry.
The Aftermath
The table cleared, I gave the Calling Card to Mein Host and introduced us. I had read that Yummy Punjaby was an offshoot of a Curry House in Singapore. Mein Host, from Delhi, confirmed that his brother had indeed established the business in Asia.
The ever increasing number of Curry Houses in Poznan was discussed, Yummy Punjaby as been in operation here for some eight months.
Hector’s travels were unsurprisingly brought into the conversation. Having been to India always adds credence. I had to ask why there was no attempt at offering an authentic Punjabi Karahi Gosht. For an instant he referred to the menu then stopped. What was there that I had missed?
Menu extracts
Karahi Palace (Glasgow) update
Karahi Palace did not reopen today, Hector was misinformed.
Riverside : Berlin, Gdynia, Lódz, Poznan
Riverside? Remember why we were here?
This tour celebrated twenty years of Riverside, but thanks the events of the past two years, this has carried over into – twenty one.
In Berlin, Mariusz Duda, Bass player, vocalist and main writer, spoke in English, since Gdynia, hardly a word. Finally, he had four nights of opperchancity to address an audience in his own tongue. The song lyrics are all in English.
First time in Glasgow it was the – Wasteland – tour, on this tour, nothing from Wasteland (2018). Instead, classics from a cross section of their albums, three of which I have: Rapid Eye Movement (2007), Anno Domini High Definition (2009), and the outstanding – Love, Fear and the Time Machine (2015). In Berlin, I only knew half of the set, however, tonight I arrived at Klub Muzynczny B17 confident I would know every note.
The venue is a section of the underside of Stadion Poznan, cordoned off to create an ad hoc venue, with a stage offset from the entrance. The result? More than half of the audience had no chance of seeing all of the band. Determination got me a spot ten lines from the front, but still far from the stage thanks to a moat. There were some fifty lines of people to my left who could see next to nothing. Klub Muzynczny B17 – avoid.
Riverside of course were wonderful. Pianoforte – may well describe their brand of Prog Rock. Some gentle intros give way to music approaching heavy metal a la Porcupine Tree/ Steven Wilson. As each song develops so they – play – superbly tight instrumental breaks, and no tedious solos.
Photography has become an issue, cameras giving up, and the shops appear to be out of stock with reasonably priced replacements. Here are my best over the first three nights, plus footers of Bariel from another Polish band – Imperator. We met Bariel last night in Lódz before the gig. He’s a mate of Piotr Kozieradzki, the drummer in Riverside, they have played together in a previous band. Bariel was on last night’s guest list, we know our place.
Bariel (Imperator)
