A Monday Curry, Curry Cottage (91 Cambridge Street, Glasgow G3 6RU) is always a reliable venue to visit, being open all afternoon. Two tables were occupied when I arrived at 14.00. At the window, three ladies were out for Curry and a long catch-up. Pratap, Mein Host, greeted from behind the counter.
The seats have been reconfigured since my last visit, a seasonal menu was also in place. Goat Meat (£14.95) served on-the-bone is why I was here, this was conspicuous by its absence.
No Goat?
I was assured it will return in January. This aside, I didn’t see anything different from the usual menu. The – Daily Specials – featured Lamb Chops with Roast Aubergine (£16.00). Whether this was actually a Curry had to be verified.
I asked if the Lamb Chops came with Masala. This was verified. Just in case, I enquired what was in the Vegetable Rice (£5.00). Peas, Green Beans and Sweetcorn – was the welcomed reply. A 330ml bottle of Sparkling Water (£2.50) completed the Order.
I read recently that the works on Cambridge Street had been completed. Not so, the mess remains as is the case in a fair part on Sauchiehall Street. The stretch immediately outside Curry Cottage has been completed but is not yet open.
Curry Cottage was not the intended venue this afternoon. Glassy Central has moved to Cambuslang, Green Gates has taken over having opened another branch in the basement premises.
Hector is particularly keen to visit Green Gates. This afternoon, Green Gates subsequently confirmed they only open for lunch on Friday and Saturday. When the new Yoker-Renfrew bridge opens, crossing the river to their Renfrew branch will be a priority.
I had recorded a gap of fifteen minutes since placing the Order, respectable, who wants a rushed job? Pratap appeared with a bowl of Soup – from the Chef.
Chicken Vegetable Soup
Behold a Hot and Spicy Shorva with pieces of Chicken, Sweetcorn, and Carrot. Whilst there was a hint of the gelatinous texture one finds in Hot & Sour Soup, the cornflour here had not been overdone. The Flavours were decidedly Indian Spice.
Much appreciated, and it gets the Soup at Curry Cottage into these pages, there was a further wait for the main event.
The Vegetable Rice was as described. What seemed like a sensible portion would become more than I could manage given the quantity of what accompanied.
There was a distinctive Flavour from the Rice, ironically after the Soup, this was from the east, i.e. beyond the Indian subcontinent.
*
Lamb Chops Masala
This was a work of art. Ginger Strips, Coriander and Onion topped a pyramid of Lamb Chops shrouded in the thickest of Masalas. Three, large, thick, chunky Chops. Only three, but these were complemented by a further three large pieces of boneless Lamb. This was quite a portion.
With the Meat and Masala arranged over the Vegetable Rice, it became a matter of how to eat this. Maybe a Chapatti would have been a better accompaniment. It did seem a bit strange approaching Chops with Rice. With the added Vegetables there was a lot going on here.
The Seasoning in the Masala stood out. Correspondingly, the full Flavours of the Masala were revealed. Intense west Asian Spice here, meeting the eastern Flavoured Rice, a new experience.
With no sign of charring, the Chops may not have been grilled but cooked in the Masala. Succulent, again full of Spice and Meatiness, the big Lamb blast too. This was finger eating, the boneless pieces were therefore eaten along traditional lines with the Rice and Masala, and a fork.
No Aubergine, unless it had been cooked into the Masala and blended. I asked Pratap, he confirmed I had Lamb Chops Masala (£16.00), not on the menu.
There was a sense of smokiness, a tanginess also taking me towards a hint of Achari, and another familiar and distinctive Flavour in the background – that of Cabbage. This I have sensed before on these premises, the second visit when I had – Lamb Leek Potato. Fortunately this was the least of the three – tastes – I was getting to grips with. So it might have been Leek.
The complexity, the depth of Flavour, the copious Meat, this was certainly a treat, and a marked departure from my usual fayre. Defeat was staring me in the face, accept it honourably, no need for a penalty shoot out, yesterday was enough.
Pratap acknowledged the volume as he came to clear the table, an opperchancity to praise his creation and my unwitting ordering of – east meets west.
The three ladies were still here, their stay prolonged by the offer of Chai.
Their description of the food? V… …. .
I rest my case.
The Bill
£23.50
The Aftermath
I declined the offered sweetie, telling Pratap that I like to sustain the Flavour of my meal for as long as possible. The concealed Cumin Seed saga was related. Today this didn’t happen.
Pratap saw me to the door. He knows I’ll be back.