Achari, the Tangy Curry, it’s more than a year since I last had one, so a well known and reliable Curry Blog informs me. The Village “Curry House” (119 West St., Tradeston, Glasgow G5 8BA) last satisfied the Achari notion in July 2022, it was here the Hector had the ritual Saturday afternoon Curry-Heute.
In the last Achari post, I featured this tub of Pickle that had been in the fridge, unopened, for some time. It remains thus. For this item, one suspects the – best before – could be regarded as arbitrary. Maybe I should be adding it to other non-Curry creations and see if Marg notices?
A group of four occupied one window table as I arrived at 14.00. Three more took another shortly afterwards, that was it. Omar, the day manager, let me choose my spot. Rather than have the staff clear away three settings, a smaller table nearest the kitchen was chosen. This was as close as I could get to the site of the original downstairs cafe in which I took up residence back in the noughties. Those were the days. I can still taste the Lamb Desi Korma c.2008.
Achari Gosht (£12.95) is in the business section of the menu. Strangely, the Desi Qorma (£12.95) is not here. The Lahori Karahi (£12.95) logically features elsewhere. One day, I’ll have the sharing one (£24.95), to myself. At £44.95, they can keep the kilo, for that there’s Yadgar’s – Goshat Karahi (£30.00).
Omar took the Order. On-the-bone – was a given, I chucked in a – Desi style – just in case. Mushroom Rice (£3.50) would accompany, Sparkling Water (£2.50) completed the Order.
I settled down for the wait, pondering why a team in the centre of Scotland could not get a shot on target against a reserve goalkeeper, and ten men. So it goes.
Hot food, always appreciated, not necessarily the norm at The Village, especially when it’s busy. The Rice bowl was too hot to touch, somehow I managed to tip the contents onto the plate. European readers will wonder why the Rice portion was:
a) so small,
b) not inclusive.
Every grain would be eaten.
Achari Gosht
This was a classic Village Curry. The Masala was suitably – viscous – also rich in appearance, and far from excessive. Soup, this was not. On arranging the Meat over the Rice, I reached double figures and found one unattached Sucky Bone. The bone count was minimal. There was no sign of Lime Rind or any of the other ingredients from the Achari tub.
Omar was over to check on my progress, the Curry-Heute rituals were not yet complete.
I haven’t started yet!
The blast of Pickle was immense. From where had this come? Perhaps Chef had blended it into the Masala. There’s something to consider in home-cooking.
The Seasoning was right up there, a la Hector. The Spice Level was sufficient, there was so much happening here, no need for added sliced Chillies.
The quality of the Lamb was self evident, a beautifully soft Texture, tasty Meat. The Mushrooms played their part, more solids, Diversity. The Masala was magnificent, a glorious intensity of Flavour, nay Flavours. In addition to the Pickle, the root Flavour of a Village Desi Curry was coming through. There’s Curry with depth of Flavour, then there was this – Wow!
Coming to The Village and not having this? I have mentioned some of the alternatives above, then there’s the Kofta variants and Mehti (sic) Gosht (£12.95). So much on offer, one could eat here every week, or three times a week as was sometimes the case back in the day.
As I have said oft to Mr. Baig, Mein Host, not present this afternoon:
I leave feeling sad. My Curry is finished.
So it was today, the meagre Rice portion meant I wasn’t full. A Naan would have avoided this scenario, this Curry needed Rice.
Same again – flashed through the mind. Perhaps the model established at the now defunct – India Club – could be the solution: three portions between two? A willing fellow diner required. A – sharing portion – for one?
Immense, magnificent, glorious, this Achari Gosht was outstanding.
On my way over to pay, I spotted a solo chap at the opposite end of the room, a fellow enthusiast. We should start a club. Derek, next month, a promise.
The Bill
£18.95
The Aftermath
I believe that today is the first time I have actually named – Omar. I asked how long he had been at The Village.
Twelve years!
Next time, a photo?