At some point in the week, Sir Howard of Helensburgh arranged for an informal get together with Lady Eleanor of the same parish. Steve, Marg and Hector were invited to participate, a Lomond get-together, as an honourable member, Howard loves these.
On arrival at a certain hostelry, Eleanor mooted Curry. Despite not having appeared in these pages for four years, she remembered – the rule – no changing of mind at the last minute. Being a Friday evening, the Hector considered that there would be little chance of a table at Annaya’s (80-82 West Princes St., Helensburgh, G84 8XD) without a reservation until after 21.00. As we walked from the waterfront around 20.00, Steve observed that every eatery en route was empty. As it happened, Annaya’s was stowed, as predicted. Rocky, Mein Host, took Marg’s number, he would contact us as and when.
Duly summoned at 21.15, we were allocated a booth table on the right of the still busy restaurant. Alan and Ian, spotted earlier, were in situ, Alan having his oft reviewed Desi Lamb Methi – Spicy, with extra Seasoning, on-the-bone, understood. Ian who admitted to still being a novice here, was tucking in to Truck Stop from today’s Specials Board. Or – something with herbs – as Ian described it.
Taking my place at the table, Poppadoms were being declined, Annaya’s have had enough of Hector’s Shekels on recent visits, having been coerced by others into partaking in this needless ritual.
Howard and Eleanor would share a Vegetable Pakora (£5.95), the only ones having a Starter. The rest of us may know better. Eleanor was also the only person to order from the printed menu: Nalli Gosht (£14.95) accompanied by Fried Rice (£3.50). Served – on-the-bone, I wondered why Alan has not highlighted this on previous visits? Howard, having seen Lamb Chops on the Board, was advised that this could become a main course Curry, but opted instead for Beef Lahori (£15.95) with a Garlic & Coriander Naan (£4.95). Steve asked Rocky what Lamb RaRa (£14.95) is. Has he not studied a well known and reliable Curry Blog? Earlier, he also seemed to be surprised when I informed him that the – search box – in the top right corner of every page, has been ever-present in Curry-Heute. Having accepted there would be Keema and Meat in his Curry, RaRa was duly ordered, along with a Plain Nan (£3.25) and Fried Rice. How Steve can manage both Bread and Rice is always commented upon. Also, with that quantity of Sundries, does the Curry not become an accompaniment? The Asian way of eating.
Having had this Curry here previously, Marg was sticking to Railway Boti (£14.95) with her customary Tandoori Chapati (£2.50). Now for Hector.
Lamb Kadhi (£14.95) has never been tried here. Indeed, Marg’s Curry aside, that is four new Dishes being added to the array of Annaya’s Curry. The conversation with Rocky went something like this:
Does the Karahi have Capsicum?
What Karahi?
The – d – and – r – are interchangeable on menus.
Despite having seen this on many a menu, Marg’s level of doubt was reaching biblical proportions. She went online to check: karahi/kadai, also…
However, Rocky’s description of Kadhi was in fact a different Curry altogether: a Yoghurt and Gram Flour based Masala. The mention of – Fenugreek – had me won.
In the spirit of the still missed Akash, I asked for – extra Methi on top.
Rocky said he would employ the Desi Lamb here.
The – search box – reveals that this could be similar to the Methi Gosht / Desi Lamb combo enjoyed here back in November 2019. On that day, Zak assured me that Capsicum does not appear in any Specials on the Board. This is worth noting, again.
Drinks: Marg and Hector would share a large bottle of Sparkling Water, Eleanor a small bottle of Still, presumably. Fresh Orange for Howard, Yellow, fizzy, Lager for Steve.
Marg and Steve spent some of the wait trying to remember the names of other diners. Helensburgh, between us, we have encountered many peeps over the last forty odd years.
Vegetable Pakora
Around eight large, Marg managed to purloin one. Assuming the double cooking, an opperchancity for Marg to fondly recall the halycon (sic, it’s a Lomond thing) days of Akash, who made theirs freshly to order.
*
Accompanied by four Dips, enough to amuse. Comments on the Pakora follow.
The portions of Fried Rice were hardly touched initially. Steve eventually got around to his, some of Eleanor’s would go home with Howard. Marg’s Wholemeal Chapatti arrived, needlessly halved.
Having seen Ian & Alan’s Bread earlier, I should have asked for Whole Bread, but somehow, the presentation tonight did not detract from the Naan experience. Cut into five, still large pieces, the Coriander toppings were abundant. No Garlic on mine, success. Risen, blistered, puffy, quality Tandoori Naan, as shall be outlined, I managed way more than my norm. Since when did Howard hold Bread aloft to have his photo taken in a Curry House?
Hot plates were provided, Marg and Hector would not be using them.
Lamb RaRa
The suitably Thick Masala was topped with Coriander and an impressive quantity of sliced Bullet Chillies. Steve had asked for – Madras – hot, these Chillies do not give off a lot of heat.
As mentioned, Steve concentrated on his Bread for quite a while, the Fried Rice was very much the end game. How can he manage all this? Steve:
RaRa lamb, (spiciness of madras requested) Tender chunks of lamb in keema. An exceptionally tasty curry, not quite the madras spiciness, nevertheless a glorious, flavoursome experience enjoyed with some delicious soft, perfectly cooked naan bread. Will order again.
Nalli Gosht
Topped with Coriander, Ginger Strips and fewer sliced Bullet Chillies, how – Soupy – was this? Maybe this is why this Curry has never been brought to Hector’s attention. I was not aware of this Curry having bones, but then, I was distracted by my own Curry.
Eleanor:
Very tasty. Lovely tender lamb – so flavoursome.
*
*
*
*
Lahori Beef
The Texture of the Masala here oozed – Tomato base. Topped with Ginger Strips and Coriander, this looked close to a Karahi. I would happily have ordered this based on its appearance. A Soupçon did cross the table, the intensity of Flavour that I was otherwise experiencing, did drown this one. Reciprocity, Howard agreed. Howard:
Our venue tonight offers the potential for some interesting and different curries. Each still needs an explanation from the owner. My choice tonight was Lahori Beef. Often with lamb dishes either the lamb has flavour or the sauce. The best lamb curries give you flavour from both. In this case with the beef it had flavour. The sauce looked excellent but didn’t release much flavour. The nan was good while the vegetable pakora shared with Eleanor as a starter didn’t offend. A decent curry without setting the world on fire. Some marinated leftovers for tomorrow might mean an improvement.
Yes, Takeaway required for the leftovers.
Railway Boti
This Curry is different each time I see it. The Cashew Nut Topping maintains, however, the Masala here was way Soupier than that served earlier this year. Then there’s the 2019 version… This interpretation would have better suited Rice, Marg stuck with her Chapatti. Marg:
Enjoyed one piece of Vegetable Pakora which was crisp, with onion & potato.
The main dish was Railway Boti with a Tandoori Chapatti. It arrived with chopped nuts and some cream/yoghurt added at the last minute. The sauce was piping hot and full of magnificent flavours which complemented the very tender pieces of lamb. I now enjoy the lamb on the bone as there seems to be more flavour in the whole dish. The sauce was thinner than a masala and allowed me to dip the Chapatti into this wonderful experience. I ate everything and wiped my plate clean. An excellent dish.
Again, the Lamb being served on-the-bone was not realised. I do not know where Marg and Eleanor had hidden their bones.
Lamb Kadhi
Tarka-Onion and masses of Herb topped the Yoghurt-rich Masala. Not Creamy, per se, this was along the lines of my favoured style of Methi Gosht.
Hot food, big Seasoning – were immediate notes. I could already tell that this Curry was going to be something special.
The flecks of Herb cooked in the Masala had to be Methi, the Flavours here evoked Bradford Curry. Just how good was this Curry going to be?
Dipping the Naan, and I seem to be doing a lot of this currently, there was a big – kick. Chillies from the Naan was my first reaction. I sampled the Masala alone, no difference, no prisoners. There was a significant degree of Chilli in the Masala.
Wow! – a definite – wow! … and I hadn’t even sampled the Meat. The Lamb now felt incidental, I could happily have carried on just dipping. This Masala was outrageous.
One Sucky Bone was eventually isolated and dealt with. The Tenderest of Lamb, super-soft. Eating directly from the karahi, I didn’t count, there was enough.
Back to the Naan, all but a scrap was managed.
Having served the final customers, in fact, we might well have been, Rocky had disappeared. No chance to congratulate. I must have this Curry again, soonest.
Alan had managed to nominate a free evening next month. How he knew our availability might be revealed later.
Same again please.
The Bill
£123.15
The Aftermath
The cats were herded, we were last to leave. Out in the night, Howard, Takeaway in hand, posed in front of his birth place.
Now we know.