Fear not, proper Footae returns soon.
I had assumed that we would be watching the World Cup Final at home, last night, Marg suggested otherwise. We had been invited to The Wendy House for dinner afore, Curry had been mentioned. Marg knows the fundamental rule in Curry-Heute.
Dinner at The Wendy House could feature a cast of thousands. I phoned Peter, he accepted that I would bring a Curry. Marg questioned if this was actually de rigeur. One should not arrive empty handed.
This afternoon, I phoned New Cafe Reeshah (455 Shields Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow G41 1NP), the nearest Curry House to The Wendy House. An order for a kilo of their glorious Lamb on-the-bone, was placed along with two Tandoori Naan (£1.50), to be collected just before 18.00. It was neither Arshad or brother Amjad who took the Order.
Hector, you’ll know me when you see me.
Lamb Lahori Karahi (£11.00/£13.00) is only on the menu by portion size. This was new territory, and also my first Takeaway from Cafe Reeshah.
Are you sitting in or Takeaway? – I was asked both by the serving chap and a customer in the queue. As if.
The brothers arrived with supplies, greetings, Arshad whispered the sum.
The Bill
£43.00 I would have been cheaper cooking the Sunday Roast.
The pizza box amused. It contained the Curry whilst the Bread was in the poly bag.
Peter and Kim were sitting in the back garden, apparently we would dine al fresco. Wot, no BBQ? Fortunately being late evening, no wasps, and Glasgow midges are harmless, not the nuisance their West Highland counterparts would have been.
Wendy appeared with two large platefuls of Vegetable Pakora. These had been fetched from New Anand (76 Nithsdale Rd., Glasgow G41 2AN), once a happy hunting ground for Hector. There has been no Curry-Heute review since it changed hands at the end of 2019. Possibly open every day at noon, there has to be a return.
New Anand is 0.2km further from The Wendy House, yet regarding New Cafe Reeshah, I was asked:
Where’s that?
With the appetite forewarned, a Starter was just about manageable.
The Pakora was soft and tasty despite the low level of Seasoning. One assumes Wendy had reheated the Pakora after the restaurant had also done so. The only way to enjoy fresh Vegetable Pakora is to make it oneself. Always rewarding, and here’s the recipe.
How many restaurants actually make their own, or simply buy in from the Cumbernauld factory? Returning to New Cafe Reeshah, I saw a chap review their Donner Kebab on his video show. Really, as if they made their own. I have found three sources for the – elephant legs – in Central Scotland, and one is not far from Hector’s House.
Dr. Dawn arrived to complete the company. With the girls in España, a trip booked before the football team reached the final, small numbers at The Wendy House.
Peter had prepared Boiled Rice in the traditional way, i.e. a pot. For this I congratulate him, the Hector has never achieved this quality of outcome. A microwave Rice cooker is simpler, and always gives the desired outcome.
The Naan hadn’t died in the oven whilst we were having the Pakora. Still soft, some blisters had burst. Two turned out to be the ideal quantity.
Peter’s Curry
Sweet Potato, Chickpea, Tomato, a Vegetable Cury. Chana, I do not rush to, and this is certainly the first time Sweet Potato has appeared in these pages. Not a vegetable the Hector has ever purchased. There’s a simple reason for that.
Still, Sweet Potato cannot possibly be as awful as Liver.
There was but a threat of Spice, the Seasoning was low. Flavour, still waiting.
A case of what was missing, how nice is the Hector? I shall quote Lord Clive of Crawley after visiting Bahadur, once recommended to us in Berlin:
I would not use the word – Curry – to describe it.
When cooking for company, one has to cater for the lowest common denominator, else, one isolates a Baby Curry portion. Kim cannot tolerate Spice, so it goes.
Lamb Karahi Lahori
The Oil took me by surprise. The Masala had separated, a bit of stirring required. The Lamb was on-the-bone in part, as ever Marg’s magic spoon would find the Boneless Lamb.
Is it Spicy? – the Hector was asked by Dawn, Kim, Marg & Wendy.
It cannot possibly be – was the reply – they have to cater for medium tastes.
Cough – it’s Spicy! – uttered Marg, who typically has said this for every Curry ever set before her in the past two and a half decades. Moments later, she was fine. QED.
A Soupçon was had by Les Autres, well except Kim, for whom this was off the scale: Super hot – he declared.
In time the ladies had accepted there was nothing here to fear.
For Hector, let loose on a mass of Lamb Curry, and having deliberately limited the intake of this Meat in recent times, a challenge. Two pieces of Lamb and the Esophageal Dysphagia struck again. At least there was a Doctor to hand, a proper one for a change.
Only Marg was aware of my time-out. By the time the ability to swallow was restored, it had become clear just how much Karahi the Hector still had to eat. What would remain in the container could go to a good home.
The quality of the Lamb stood out, succulent – is not a word the Hector overuses, this evening, decidedly apposite. Sucky Bones, more fun. Medium Spice and well Seasoned. The Masala had a visible presence of Black Pepper, this added to the thrill. Quite a departure from the Lamb Karahi Lahori had in-house, no obvious addition of Yoghurt.
Was the Hector not glad he had brought an extra Curry?
In due course, Marg confirmed this had been a good idea.
The Aftermath
España 1 v 0 Argentine
What was that about? After Agent Tuchel fulfilled his mission on Wednesday night, nobody would be supporting Argentine tonight, outwith their own nation. That wasn’t football, and tonight’s match was worse. The rules are written, why are they not applied?
Fear not, proper Footae returns soon, and we’ll no doubt get to argue some more about the seemingly biased application of VAR in Scotland.