Marg and Hector set foot in Kabana (43 Trinity St, Huddersfield HD1 4DN England) late on January 1st, 2014, not – to Dine – but just to check it out. We had already eaten at Chilli Lounge.
The place was stowed, everyone sitting at tables eating from the largest – Tawa – I had ever seen. The Curry appeared to be – Desi – I would have to return. In the last couple of years, Lahori Taste has proven itself to be an outstanding venue, it has been difficult to resist.
With the main part of Howard’s 60th Birthday Bash #2 taking place in the reportedly improved and extended Grove, tonight, it had to be the turn of nearby Kabana. This was despite Curry-Heute earlier at Sarina’s (Queensbury). It would take something Very Special to titillate the Hector taste-buds after that. We left t’Car opposite t’Grove and walked the block along.
A Waitress, clearly not from these parts, showed us to a table to the right of the doorway. The long open kitchen runs almost the full length of the left side of the room, a reception area to the left of the entrance takes up the remaining space. Stairs and where they led would remain unexplored, a much larger seating area lay beyond. Three out of the four tables in our bit were already occupied, Chaps tearing into food-laden Tawas. Chips evidently were part of the Fayre on offer.
Two Menus were brought, one for deals on Tawa, the other a Main Menu. On another day, in other Company, the Tawa Menu may have attracted, there was Chicken in there. The choice on the Main Menu was either Daigi Lamb (£7.90) or Lamb Karahi (£7.50). Did I want a Kashmiri Stew? Again, on another day I might have jumped at this. It felt better to stay with the familiar. Marg would follow suit. I was determined to eat from the Tawa, part of the reason for being here.
The Eastern European Waitress took the Order, and assured us that Karahi could be served on the Tawa, a bit of a contradiction here for any purist. Spice Level and the offer of on-the-bone or Boneless were never discussed. Three Thin Chapattis (£0.50) and two cans of Mango Rubicon completed the Order.
I grabbed a photo of the abandoned Tawa at an adjacent table. Marg was somehow convinced we would receive refills on Drinks. A passing Chap advised us that we could help ourselves from the Salad Buffet. I declined, I know what happens every time I sample the Salad Buffet at our local Pizza Hut, Marg accepted the offer. We shall see.
With my back to – The Action – I could not watch the Chefs perform their magic. This made me all the more determined to get decent photographic coverage of the kitchen later. I went to investigate what lay beyond, alas, there were too many Diners to sneak a photo. Kabana is doing well.
Marg had disappeared momentarily when the Tawa was presented. The Waiter humoured me, the Steel Dome was captured before all was revealed.
The Chapattis were halved and surrounded the Dome. These proved to be Traditional, well made Chapattis. One and a half is my limit, why can I never buy half a Chapatti? With Marg restored and rituals completed, it was time to appreciate the Lamb Karahi.
It was fun to have two discrete portions on one eating receptacle, this was Zusammen Essen. The Meat was cut – Bradford-small – and was shrouded in a Minimal and Thick Masala. The Seasoning was well below what I had enjoyed earlier at Sarina’s, that I had described as – Perfect – this, therefore could not be. That really was the only – Negative.
The Chapattis worked well with this Dish, the Lamb was Suitably Tender, there was a lot of it. Marg was still alternating between Curry and Salad and was even ahead of me in the Chapatti halves. Marg was hungry, she had not eaten a Large Portion of Curry already.
I was amused, then worried again today for my t-shirt. The more I ate, the further the Curry was from my mouth. I could hardly pull it closer, if I was finding this, how was Marg coping?
It’s Good without being Wonderful – was my statement to Marg.
There was a slight Sweetness, a Minimal Topping of Coriander, no obvious Methi here.
I like it because it’s not too Spicy for me – said Marg.
The more we ate, the more the size of the Portions became apparent. We had a – Plateau – to get through. Mountain – cannot be appropriate today given the relief of the Tawa. We both knew when we were defeated.
The Bill
Marg went up to get The Bill and returned with the news – £19.70.
I looked out The Calling Card and some Cash, leaving the latter under the lip of the Tawa. It was only then Marg announced that she had paid at the counter. We nearly paid twice!
The Aftermath
Two Chaps stood mid-room. One in full Chef’s outfit, the other in formal Waiter attire. I approached.
Introductions out of the way, we then discussed the Curry tonight and then Bradford. I had to admit to having Curry in Queensbury earlier today.
How was it? (here)
It needed more Seasoning to bring out the Flavours.
How do you find Mumtaz (Bradford) ?
My reply was as Diplomatic as possible, but why visit Industrial Curry Shops with high prices when one can have better, cheaper? Mumtaz remains on my List of Recommended venues.
I reinforced my love of the Sheesh Mahal and the International with – sometimes – as the caveat.
I asked permission to photograph the Chaps in the Open Kitchen, they were summoned – to their places.
We are being reviewed.
I hope I have the Cashier’s and Chef’s better profiles.
We didn’t quite disappear out into the night. It was chucking it down. Hector had no jacket, and couldn’t drive anyway. Marg was sent on a mission…Hector was offered refuge, and gratefully accepted.
