Pula (Croatia) is the end destination on this vacation, no Curry reported there, yet. Meanwhile, Hector and Marg have left the Greek Islands and have flown to Venezia, our third visit here. There had to be Curry-Heute, Sources suggest that the only Curry House on the Lagoon is a no-go venue. Three venues popped up on Google Maps in Mestre – Mainland Venice, two would not open until evening which is not in keeping with the plan. I cannot ask Marg to have Curry for dinner every other day, lunch I get away with. This left Ristorante Indiano Bombay Spice (Via Forte Marghera, 129, 30173 Mestre, Venezia VE Italia) as the only Opperchancity. However, the Best Curry I have ever had in Italia is only187km away in Brescia at Bombay Tandoori, just under two hours by train.
We took the Tram across to Mestre which dropped us moments away from Bombay Spice. The Restaurant is easily found adjacent to the Canal which is cut into the Mainland. Arriving @12.30, we were the first diners of the shift and were shown to the far room beyond the bar area.
Having not eaten much since my last Curry at Platanias (Crete), Hector was hungry. My Fish Bhuna at Krisna – Authentic Indian Restaurant was truly Outstanding, I looked at the Fish Curry on offer at Bombay Spice... Swordfish? Prawns? None of the descriptions had me convinced, back to Lamb.
Hector has had so little Lamb, comparatively, in the last month. In the USA this was not by choice, in the last week in Hellas I could not face Quantities of Meat, no Kleftico for Hector. I was pleased to see the Menu at Bombay Spice had the Lamb Classics, including Keema. Bhuna Gosht (€10.00) avoided the – dreaded Green Mush. Also, I was not risking the Karahi turning out to be – Stir Fry. To accompany the Bhuna, I would risk a Zeera Paratha (€2.00). I liked the price, I have also eaten very little Bread lately. Cumin seeds, me like.
Marg as ever would snack, Keema Samosa (€4.00) her usual choice. Sparkling Water was not obvious on the Menu, so a 750ml Bottle of Still Water (€2.00) it would be. The Chap came over to take the Order. As I reopened the Menu I glanced through the Sabzi – Vegetable – Dishes. Daal Makhani (€5.00) – this is too often charged at the same price as a Meat Main Course. The Mediterranean Diet has aggravated an ongoing condition since my return from USA, this should hopefully restore – Kosmos.
I delivered the Order to the Waiter with perfect Curry Clarity.
Where are you from, Sir? – he asked.
The reply brought a smile. One suspects he knew this Order was a Perfect Balance of styles. We asked that all the food be brought simultaneously. He took this literally it appears. He came to ask where Scotland was, and did we use Euros or Sterling. He departed, content.
Another diner entered, he must have been a very naughty boy because he was shown to the small table in the corner. From my vantage point I could see all. He was presented with a Poppadom and Dips, we had nothing. Maybe he was not so naughty after all. The Background Musik was Piano, Jarrett-esque at times. I could have summoned Soundhound, but the last thing I needed to do was open another App on my rapidly failing LG. He had Chicken Korma.
Two cone-shaped Poppadoms with embedded Cumin Seeds and three Dips were brought to the table with the assurance that our food was arriving imminently. I only had time to dip the smallest piece of Poppadom into the Tamarind when the Curry arrived. Marg would take care of the Complimentary Starter.
*
Two small Samosas sat on a bed of tired looking Red Cabbage, Marg was not for trying the Ballast, her pleasure was forthcoming. Marg offered her half eaten Samosa for photographic purposes. The compactness of the Finely Ground Mince with Peas was very much to her liking. The Samosas were taken care of, the Poppadoms and Dips, then Marg took a good sample of the Daal Makhani. Didn’t she do well?
The Zeera Paratha was served Quartered, never a good start. It is difficult to judge the precise size when Bread comes in bits. For €2.00, this was OK. The Cumin Seeds were visible in the Layered but tending towards Crispy, yet somehow Limp, Paratha. The Bread was a disappointment.
Bhuna Gosht
Normally I would have eaten straight from the karahi but with two courses at once, I had to decant. The next few minutes were somewhat confusing. The Bhuna Gosht looked to be OK when it arrived, not Soupy, a not too Excessive Masala. When I spooned the majority to the plate, the thinnest of runny Shorva ran out of the mass. This looked terrible, very off-putting. I dipped some Bread, Cloves. At least there was Flavour. The Spice Level felt non-existent, I could not get a grip on the Seasoning. 
Daal Makhani
Presented in a Bucket, the Daal Makhani had a Rich Tomato-coloured Masala. The Dark Lentils stood out, this looked like a Worthy Daal. There was a Strong, Earthy Flavour. The Consistency was Perfect, this was as good a Daal as I have ever experienced. I was pleased to have spotted it.
Back to the Bhuna
The Masala which was left in the karahi looked better than what I had on my plate, I could see Tomato pieces cooked in, it was thick with Onion too. The Onion had not been cooked down to a Mash, nor had the Masala been blended. Ginger was coming on to the palate.
The Meat was in double figures, though the sizes of the bits varied considerably. The Meat, possibly frozen Lamb, required a lot of chewing. I could taste the – Lamb – but this only highlighted the lack of Spice and other Flavours coming from the Meat. The Bhuna Gosht had a – Two Chilli – rating, where was the Spice? I was still quite ambivalent towards this Curry, but the second half was a marked improvement on the first. With the Daal Makhani out of the picture, the palate found more happening, Tomato was next to emerge. I was warming to this Bhuna Gosht. Perhaps Bread was the wrong accompaniment, a Vegetable Rice may have been better. I had ordered the Daal, it therefore had to be Bread. At the end I felt quite replete, this Bhuna Gosht had done enough, just.
I gestured to the empty plates when the Waiter cleared the table, there was not a morsel left.
The Bill
€27.00 (£23.89) This included a €4.00 Cover Charge. So the Poppadoms were in effect not free.
The Aftermath
Having paid, I took my Calling Card and dreadfully slow LG up to the counter. The expression – hundreds of restaurants – appeared to go down well. Well, it’s not an exaggeration.
Columbia 1 v 1 England
Who’s been practicing penalties then?
Even Hector could not support the antics of the South Americans. Sverige should surely defeat the Auld Enemy by means – Honourable?
Menu – extracts
