This was unexpected. Late last night, Mr. O’Leary’s airline informed the Hector that there is a strike at Charleroi Airport, today’s fight cancelled. Rebooked for tomorrow, the challenge was to find a reasonably priced hotel at short notice, anywhere in Belgium would do, it costs the same to travel to Charleroi regardless. One of the best Biers had on this trip was in Antwerpen, there was always the attraction of a return to Afghan Darbar (Sint-Gummarusstraat 35, 2060 Antwerpen Belgien). Mondays Lams Karahi at Afghan Restaurant disappointed, whereas Afghan Darbar set a standard on last year’s visit. Bier, Travel & Curry, Hector leads the simple life. Antwerpen is also ideally placed, just in case…
Anyway, it’s only a two hour train journey, without changing, to Charleroi.
16.00 CET, 15.00 BST, is Hector’s preferred time to eat. If ever the half kilo could be managed, this should be it. I stood just beyond the counter waiting to be recognised as a sit-in customer. A chap invited me to choose any table in the otherwise empty restaurant. The lady, who was clearly today’s hostess, was dealing with departing customers.
The menu at Afghan Darbar bears an uncanny resemblance to the Afghan Restaurant‘s. Here, one significant difference, the 500 gram Lams Karahi (€18.99) is appreciably cheaper, and there was no sign of the lesser – portion.
The lady came to take the Order, English was going be the lingua franca only one of us spoke it. I showed the photo of last year’s – kilo – and pointed to the – 500 gram – on the menu.
Drink?
Water with gas.
The tiny bottle of Sparkling Water (€2.00) came with a straw, for once, this was accepted. Poured into a glass, the drink would have disappeared in two gulps.
Check the gold-plated cutlery!
Given my perspective, I must have been sitting in the same seat as last year. The muriels (sic) remain the same. I like this place, one knows exactly where you are. 
A chap placed a chit on my table as he brought a Modest Salad, Raita and more Flatbread than I could eat in a week. The Bread was cold, given my increasingly expansive knowledge of Afghan outlets, that’s how it is. This Bread was tough around the edges but manageable in the middle. Had it been Naan, I would have been celebrating three pointy ends. Much Bread would go to waste. I put this down, in part, to the lack of communication.
The menu advises of a thirty five minute for Lams Karahi, mine came far too soon, but nothing like as quickly as Monday’s.
Lams Karahi
Everything was hotter than everything else, care had to be taken not to touch the actual karahi. The Tomato-based Masala was close to that served last time, then Meat fibre was apparent, not today. Today’s was not as Thick as before, but still not as watery as a Charsi. This was a marked improvement over what was served on Monday at nearby Afghan Restaurant.
The Spice Level took me by surprise, then I noticed the sliced Green Chillies which had not been cooked in, but stirred in towards serving. The Seasoning was well pitched, not as noticeable as last year when it was the immediate standout.
For the half kilo, this was definitely on the generous side, large pieces of Meat, some on-the-bone. There was no sense of the Lamb given back Flavours from the Masala, or whatever it had originally been cooked in. Tender towards Chewy, some pieces went down easier than others. On Monday I wrote – I don’t want to see Lamb again for a month – yet three days later, back for another challenge.
Salt, Pepper, Chilli Powder, Oil and Tomato, I could see nor sense any other ingredients. Yet, simple as the Masala appeared, there was way more Flavour here than just Tomato. And for the third time this week, I had to marvel at the intensity of the Tomato Flavour itself.
The Raita remained untouched. I added the chopped Tomato, Cucumber and Onion from the Salad into the karahi. The food was still hot enough to partly cook these. Diversity achieved and a whole lot more Flavour to burst onto the palate. Amazing.
I was enjoying this even though the knowledge of approaching diminishing returns was coming to mind. Finishing all could have immediate repercussions. With two pieces of Meat left, the white flag was raised.
Was this as good as last time, probably not. I noted two crucial words that had been printed on the chit – Little Spice. I hadn’t asked for this, the waitress may have been responsible. The Hector was after – the full Bhuna. Desi/Apna were unknown terms last year, yet I got the message across. Being caught in two minds at the point of ordering, see what comes, or be more proactive, a difficult scenario, not aided by the inability to communicate. There must have been someone on the premises who spoke English. Does the World not know that regardless of where we are, we – The British – are never the foreigners?
With no further engagement from the staff, I went up to the till to pay.
The Bill
€21.00 (£17.80)
The Aftermath
The chap who took the payment did manage to ask if I had enjoyed my food.
It would be interesting to tour some of my favourite Glasgow venues and try – Chicken Curry. Is this – The First Act of Henry The Fifth?
This time, I do feel I need a break. But then, there’s always Fish and/or Vegetables. If only I could get a – Wow! – level Fish Curry in my own town.
Stop Press!
Approaching midnight, here we go again, a message from Ryanair: tomorrow’s flight cancelled. Nothing flying out of Charleroi. This was the other reason why I chose to be in Antwerpen this evening, it’s ninety minutes to Schipol.
Amsterdam, here I come!
2024 Menu
