Between April and November last year, Hector visited Chutnify (Sredzkistraße 43, 10435 Berlin Deutschland) on three occasions, the South Indian Cuisine with its Smokey/Peppery Flavours being the magnet. No other Berlin Curry House known to Hector was serving Curry with this intensity of distinctive Flavours. Having learned of their other outlets in Portugal, Hector and Marg made a beeline to Chutnify Canteen (Porto) earlier this year. What a disaster! With no Fish or Lamb available, the Hector was forced to have a – Chicken Curry. I’ll let the reader discover my verdict on that experience.
Today, all forgiven and back on familiar ground, we wondered around Prenzlauer Berg before deciding it was Curry-Zeit @13.15. A familiar face greeted us, a table inside was requested. The other diners had chosen to sit outside, today it was warm enough to do so. This was the first time I had seen the interior of the restaurant so empty. Booking is recommended if coming of an evening.
We were brought a lunchtime menu plus the main menu. Prices have not increased since last November. For Hector it had to be Telangana Lamb available at either €14.00 or €19.00 depending on the menu, Basmati Rice included. For a change, Marg was having Lamb Thali (€15.50). To complete the Order: a 0.75l bottle of Sparkling Water (€6.00) and Malabar Parotta (€3.00). This king of Breads is served as a pair, try getting one for this price in the UK.
I pointed to the main menu when ordering the Telangana Lamb. I also asked for the food to be served – hot.
I’ll tell them – was the acknowledgement.
On previous visits, the food was simply not served hot enough. The message relayed, was taken seriously. Hector’s Curry bowl was too hot to touch on its arrival, Marg did not find the components of her Thali to be so.
As prevails across Europe, the quantity of Rice presented was more than a Hector could manage. One does one’s best.
The Malabar Parotta were scrunched in a small bowl, I managed to find the space to open one out fully. Multi-layered, buttery, soft, stringy, yet crispy in parts, this Paratha variant is such a joy. Rice and Bread, indulgence, but the opperchancity to have a Malabar Parotta is not to be missed. Marg would assist.
Telangana Lamb
Previous encounters have featured dry Red Chillies floating in the Shorva, not today. I counted nine pieces of Meat as I decanted, most of these would be halved, so quite a plateful. One piece of Potato was present also, usually more.
I think an alarm bell was ringing already.
Calm. The Spice was pitched at a worthy level, not demanding, but significantly better than what is served across Mainstream Berlin Curry Houses. The Seasoning was a la Hector, all was set for the Flavours to emerge from the Shorva. Dipping pieces of Parotta into the retained Masala was one half of the eating experience. Then there was the Curry & Rice.
The Meat at Chutnify has always impressed, superbly Tender. Sampling a piece of the Potato almost brought a – Wow! – moment. The Potato had fully absorbed the Flavours from the Shorva, I wanted more! Why only the one piece?
Returning to the Meat it was apparent that it was not giving back the same intensity of Flavour, but how could it? Potato in a Curry, such a simple, but effective addition.
The Peppery Flavour was clearly present, the anticipated Smokiness not. Was this down to the missing Red Chillies?
There was still enough – good – happening here. I have been to enough Berlin Curry Houses to know how poor the opposition is. Days after my last visit here I did discover the then recently opened Punjabi Zaiqa. A totally different brand of Curry altogether, but what Berlin badly needed. Chutnify should satisfy the needs of most serious Curry eaters. For those who appreciate why Lamb on-the-bone offers so much more, Punjabi Zaiqa is the place to be.
Lamb Thali
It is evident that Thali is the choice of the majority at Chutnify.
Half a Poppadom sat atop a mass of Basmati, with the spoonful of Chutney adjacent. One was not going to leave Chutnify feeling hungry. The same Telangana Lamb with four – and a bit – pieces of Meat was the focal point. Thereafter, Soupçons of Vegetable Korma and a Daal occupied two of the three remaining slots on the school dinner tray. Cauliflower, Broccoli and Carrots sat in the Coconut Sauce. The Daal proved to be the superior – Daal Makhani. This makes a fine accompaniment to any Curry.
Dessert – was a listed component, a single Gulab Jamun sat in the corner. I wonder how many people have started with this?
Diversity is something I enjoy, yet I still find Thali to be – too bitty. Bring me a half kilo of Lamb on-the-bone, something to get stuck into. And maybe some Daal Makhani on the side.
Marg cleared her tray and had much to say thereafter:
A lovely selection of tastes brought together on a metal tray. The Lamb was very tender and the sauce thin and spicy. The Daal complemented the wonderful, crispy Parotta exceptionally well. The abundance of Rice soaked up the extra Vegetable sauce and amused me. It was fun.
Finishing on a sweet note was an excellent conclusion to my meal. Sweet syrup and a tasty sponge was the Dessert.
Meanwhile, across the table, the Hector was defeated by the quantity of Rice.
The Bill
€38.50 (£33.19) The Telangana Lamb was charged at €14.00, the lunchtime menu price. Does this explain the missing Red Chillies and minimal Potato?
The Aftermath
Farewells were brief. The customers outside always have the staff busy running in and out.
Much later, there was a football match in Nederland, ah well, so it goes.