It’s August Bank Holiday, the Scottish one. Our schools go back in a couple of weeks, there’s no no point having another holiday at the end of the month. A Bank Holiday, Civil Servants aside, nobody else seems to really know about it, unless one works in a bank.
Arriving at Shahi Mahal (452 Cathcart Rd., Govanhill, Glasgow G40 7B2) at 14.40, the Hector was surprised to see the mob who were ensconced today. Were they all bankers? Fifteen diners, plus a stream of customers wanting Takeaway, there were well over twenty people crammed in to this modest establishment at any given time. No sign of Zahir, Mein Host, today, maybe he was having the holiday also.
Hector was here for Bateera, Monday is Quail day. We studied the trays at the counter. One almost had me change my mind: a Dark Minimal Masala, rich in appearance.
What is this? – I ask Zaheer’s assistant.
Lamb Liver
I’ll stick to my Quail.
Chana Chicken was Marg’s choice from the array, not had this before.
Marg surprised me by ordering Rice instead of our customary Chapatti. Clearly she thought this to be the better complement for the Chana Chicken Curry which took her fancy.
Note I have not added prices for each element of our Order as what we pay at the end usually pays bears little resemblance to what is on the menu. Actually, neither Bateera or Chana Chicken is on the menu.
We took the table at the door, a table for two. I don’t think I’ve ever really been aware of this table before. It was either that, or sit in the centre of the room.
A mature chap we had never seen before, brought the customary Salad, Raita, and jug of water. The tap water this far south only had a slight taste of bleach. Seemingly the further one goes from Tradeston, the less of an issue this is.
Nibbling on the Salad dipped in some Raita, Marg commented on the Spice Level,
I find that Spicy.
It is.
That was the end of Marg’s intake of Raita. With a distinctive – kick – not bad at all.
Our main courses arrived a few minutes later. The Naan, served whole, had been perforated. Despite this, it had risen to create puffy parts and associated blisters. A decent Naan, but maybe one should look back to Saturdays glorious Naan at Shish Mahal, where a new standard was set.
Rice is on the menu at differing prices. This was more than just Plain Rice, and even more than Pilau. Had Meat or a Vegetable been added, this would have been well on its way to becoming Biryani. Clearly more Rice than Marg would manage, Hector hatched a cunning plan.
Chana Chicken
Two substantial pieces of Chicken on-the-bone, and lots of Chickpeas, sat in a Desi Shorva. The presence of sliced Green Chillies and Bullet Chillies cut lengthways, did not put Marg off. The solids were polished off. Marg:
When we arrived I knew I was hungry and I thought I would have Rice for a change. I chose the Chickpea and Chicken dish on the top shelf and added rice. The Salad arrived first, and we both nibbled on the onion, tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumber. I did not require any sauce. When the Rice arrived, it was huge and I knew we would not finish it. Both dishes arrived as well, Hector was having Quail, and I was looking forward to the Chickpeas and Chicken.
The overall taste was excellent, and full of different spices and flavours. There was an abundance of peppercorns in the oily sauce, as well as Green Chillies, and plenty of Chickpeas. The Chicken fell off the bone and added more texture and flavour. I had two large thighs, which was more than enough for me, when I placed a good topping of rice into my bowl. There was coriander leaves and coriander seeds throughout the Rice.
Overall a very tasty dish, with the Salad adding a different crunch to the flavours. Two small pieces of Naan Bread were also eaten with my sauce.
Bateera
Hector was in the mood for a proper Desi Curry having had some unusual outings since the return from Bradford. This turned out to be exactly what was required. Whenever one mentions Quail, people always talk about the bones: their size and how frustrating the eating process can be. After my recent Fish Bone encounter at Tharas Takeaway, nothing today was going to be a struggle.
A brace, the torso and the legs were separate on the plate. The quantity of Shorva was clearly more that would have come out of a single container on display at the counter. So much Shorva in which to dip, fun. Ginger Strips and sliced Bullet Chillies were present here too. The first big blast of Flavour was Clove. Such joy, tasty, a good level of Spice and well Seasoned.
Plenty of fine bones to suck, then discard. The Chicken Bones, in comparison, looked like ostriches.
On seeing how much Rice was going to be left over, I decided to break a habit and add some to my Curry. As is shown, the last piece of Quail was eaten with Rice, thereafter, there was still plenty of Shorva in which to soak the Rice and keep it interesting. This turned out to be a bigger feast that envisaged at the start.
As we ate, so two massive – Big Pots – were brought in, along with trays even larger than those on display. A function no doubt, dirty, could whoever used them not have the courtesy to clean them? I was glad we had not sat in the middle.
Fingers wiped, face wiped, the Hector was despatched to the facilities. As I went up to wash my face, I passed three chaps with a kilo of Lamb Karahi (£35.00) between them. On my return I made a point of interacting. It has been a while since I have had this. When someone suggest the kilo, it shall be done. No rush.
At the till, card payment was accepted despite a notice on the wall saying this had been suspended at the start of the year. I have had no issues on visits this year. One assumes the £5.00 minimum card payment maintains.
The Bill
£24.00 I have long known that the Salad and Raita are not complimentary.
The Aftermath
Did you enjoy the food?
Indeed we did.
The three chaps with the Karahi were the only customers remaining as we made our exit. It was good to see so many at Shahi Mahal.
While parts of England burn, Scotland has no water shortage. Apparently I shall be attending a BBQ next week. If West Sussex goes up in flames, it wasn’t my idea.