One month to the day since my last Achari Gosht (£12.95) at The Village “Curry House” (119 West St., Tradeston, Glasgow G5 8BA) the Hector was back for more. Expectations were high, last time the intensity of Flavour hit the – Wow! – level. No pressure then.
After investing a ridiculous £4.00 to park on Centre Street, we entered The Village at 13.15. There would be eleven fellow diners in the course of our Monday lunchtime visit. The muzak was louder and different today, it sounded as if we were being called to prayer. There was no sign of Omar, a young waitress would do the honours. Only the great value Lunch Menu was on the table.
Marg, wary of doing further damage to her top lip, would have Mince Curry as part of the Lahore Lunch (£7.95) deal. This comes with an option for two Chapattis and Vegetable Pakora. Mushroom Rice (£3.50) always works well with a Village Curry. A 750ml bottle of Sparkling Water would complete the Order.
I asked for – on-the-bone and Desi style.
That will be very spicy – was the advice in response – will you manage that?
I’m a man.
This always winds up Marg, if nobody else.
Seriously, I had just ordered a Dish from the Main Menu without seeing it. Did this not imply that I had full awareness of the situation?
Vegetable Pakora
The Pakora arrived almost in an instant, three pieces, two large. Hector’s share was much appreciated. Warm-hot, with a decent Spice Level, fresh and tasty, how I have missed this.
This was enough to amuse before the main event.
The Order was assembled on the table. Cold plates were the last to arrive.
The Chapattis were in the style of the preferred: traditional – Tawa cooked. Marg only required one of the two. The Mushroom Rice bowl was so hot it was dropped on the cold pate as I distributed the contents. The Rice itself was tasty, the Mushrooms a bit – iffy. I’ve had better fresh Mushrooms. The quantity always looks to be meagre when compared with the absurdity of a European serving of Basmati. The reality, every grain would be eaten, an elegant sufficiency therefore.
Achari Gosht
I counted the Meat well into double figures, no skimping here. An isolated Sucky Bone stood out, four more would be revealed, one rib. Quality Lamb – evidently.
The Thick Masala was far from excessive, enough, it matched the Rice portion. Has somebody actually sat down and worked this out?
Warm-hot once again, piping hot food at The Village is comparatively rare. This would take the edge off the experience. The Pickle came across, but not as intensely as last month. Maybe back then, Omar had a special word with the Chef?
The Hector is also in a period of recovery from the sublimely intense Desi Lamb Methi enjoyed at Annaya’s (Helensburgh) on Saturday. I knew that would be a hard act to follow, I chose today’s Curry in the hope that it might compete.
The Seasoning was a la Hector, the Spice Level far from demanding. Beautiful Meat, beware of the Mushrooms, enjoy the Pickle. Ah, this time, the base Village Curry Flavour was not apparent as it was last month.
No – wow – today, but I set the standards high. Hotter food and more Pickle may have achieved this, a Village Curry is not to be criticised severely.
Still way better than the Mainstream.
Mince Curry
The smaller karahi for the lunchtime menu, you get what you pay for. The dark Lamb Keema with Coriander stirred in, had minimal Oil collecting on the 
periphery. A spoonful crossed the table. The Seasoning was instantly apparent. That my Achari had even more Flavour was also realised. Marg likes her Keema, though today no Aloo or Mutter.
Tasty, salty, plenty coriander, a good hit.
The Bill
£28.35
The Aftermath
Mr. Baig, Mein Host, had come out from his office to take payment.
Surviving – was how he put it. The overheads are have been issue since the cost of everything inflated.
We’re just back from Greece, I shouldn’t tell you, but I’m going to: in the Athena Desi Curry Houses, a half kilo of Mutton Karahi is €6.00 including Naan.
He doesn’t know how this is possible either. I did admit it’s not the best of Mutton.
I suspect the sheep are not slaughtered, they die of old age.
The breeders – was his conclusion.
(For the record, it is known that sheep have to be slaughtered around the age of five, their teeth fall out, they can no longer eat.)