…the very aromatic New Delhi (Wojciecha Bogulawskiego43, 50-023 Wroclaw Polska) is how Hector described this venue, late at night, back in 2019 on the last visit to Wroclaw. The 2019 menu looked interesting, the décor the customary – faux, the staff welcoming. The flight home the next day denied a report on Curry-Heute. However, Steve was staying the extra day and pronounced New Delhi to be very good. With the opperchancity for one more Curry on this trip, New Delhi it was.
I thought Howard was joining me at 15.15, nope. A small table in front of the counter was allocated. Half a dozen were sitting outside, the same again inside. The number of diners did not decline throughout my stay, this is a popular venue.
It was immediately apparent that the name of the venue may be the same, but this was not the same interior. What was the Curry like?
I gave Howard ten minutes during which time I ordered a 330ml bottle of Sparkling Water (6Zl). This gave me plenty of time to study the menu.
Another source had suggested the Naan would tick Hector’s boxes, but Bread and Rice? The Vegetable Biryani (36Zl) option was considered, however, the translator on the trusty Oppo revealed that Rice or Bread was included in the price of a main course. As the Butter Naan (10Zl) was already at a premium in the inclusive option, I decided to have the inclusive Basmati and pay for the Butter Naan. With hindsight, it may have been cheaper to switch this.
With only eleven main courses featuring Meat/Fish, the menu was decidedly minimalist. No Chicken, no Tikka for Hector, this left Mutton Madras (48Zl) as the only option. I had translated – cooked in a Tomato and Pepper Sauce – and so decided to take the risk of nothing unwelcome being added later. Coconut would also feature, strangely I have been warming to this in recent months.
The portion of Basmati was sensible, that Rice would be left was down to this commentator being less so. On arranging the Rice on the plate, a single, whole Clove was discovered.
The Butter Naan, although thin, and served in three pieces, was as good as one could hope for (in Europe). The pointy panhandle and the outrageous number of blisters had me won before it was even sampled, a Tandoori Naan!
Yes, this was a worthy Naan. Soft dough, the Texture was getting towards my favoured Malabar Paratha, and the Butter added that something extra.
Mutton Madras
Dessicated Coconut topped the thickest Masala I have been served in quite some time. This was the antithesis of a Soupy Curry, here was what the Hector seeks, bring it on. There was probably no need for Rice, with this Curry, Bread would have sufficed.
There was more than Mutton in the Masala. Yes there it was, not just Green, but Red and Yellow Capsicum, the works! Classic – Ballast. The Offending Vegetable had simply been stirred in at the point of serving. Fortunately, the Peppers had not been cooked in and so did no damage to the Curry. Hector was up to the task of picking them out.
The Meat was delightfully Tender, certainly the best Lamb/Mutton served to Hector in Polska, this week anyway. I don’t believe it had been in the Masala for long.
Madras, typically a reference to the Spice Level, not a style of Curry per se, this was Vindaloo-plus. The Creamy, blended, Coconut-rich Masala was more a paste than a sauce. The Masala lacked Seasoning, but maybe this was intentional. Not sweet, despite the Coconut, the Curry was lacking in Flavour. The solitary Clove gave a momentary burst of Flavour, the single Green Cardamom was set aside.
Hector’s preference is Curry with Herbs, abundant Cumin Seeds, this simply was not that style of Curry. I was left puzzled as to what Chef thought this Curry was trying to be.
Sitting with my back to the room, I couldn’t see other Curry being served. This would change, Howard was now present.
There was no point in Howard having the Mutton Madras, this left him little choice but the Fish Tikka Masala (44Zl). He too chose the inclusive Basmati and added a Plain Naan (8Zl). The price of Bread remains realistic in Polska.
The Plain Naan may appear to have been served whole, but look again, the end of panhandle has been arranged across the middle. Another superb Tandoori Naan.
Fish Tikka Masala
Yellow and Creamy, this looked more like a Traditional Curry. Did I just write that? Well, the Masala was thinner, Soupy, that which the Hector prefers to avoid. I feel a mass of contradiction here. Maybe, it’s the lack of authentic Karahi Gosht?
The white Fish had been served in large pieces. Fried Fish Fillets – is all the menu was giving away. A Soupçon crossed the table.
The Masala tasted – thin – whatever that means, well it would after the Madras Masala. The Flavours had permeated the Fish, all was Creamy, which again intrigued having had the Madras. I wasn’t sure that I liked the overall Flavours, something was not right. Fortunately, Howard would not be flying the ‘plane back to Glasgow tomorrow.
Do you like it? – I asked Howard tentatively as he ate. I was concerned that he may be doing himself damage. In time, he offered the following:
Outwith (Indian) Mango in Munich, I’ve had a poor interaction with Fish Curry. Today was no exception.
I first tasted the fish which was bland apart from a very slight aftertaste that I didn’t like. I next tried the sauce which had a creaminess and a satisfactory spice edge, but it too was rather nondescript. The only real flavour I got was when I bit into a clove.
Ah, Howard had one in his Rice also!
The Naan had a slight sweet edge to it, but I enjoyed it.
Hector’s Bill
64Zl (£12.05) … Sterling is plummeting back home, but holding its value here. Who voted for these idiots?
The Aftermath
The staff were busy. It did not feel appropriate to interrupt them. The Calling Card was left on the table.
Even the Hector considers this to be a strange Blog entry. I suspect we did not have the same Curry experience which Steve had in 2019.
2022 Menu extracts
