Canterbury – Spice Spree – After The Eclipse

After The Eclipse … a wonderful instrumental track by Prog legends – Twelfth Night. Today, The Glorious Twelfth, but not so wonderful for the grouse.

Having watched today’s near total eclipse via a pinhole in a Calling Card projected on to a concrete pillar, Dr. Stan was well impressed, we made our way to Spice Spree (87-88 Northgate, Canterbury CT1 1BA England).

There is no truth in the rumour that the three amigos had partaken in ye olde English banquet earlier.

Spice Spree was first encountered 365 days ago, the first time our collective visited Canterbury. The somewhat rundown exterior gives way to a large dining area which may or may not be palatial. An Indian and Pakistani restaurant, the menu posted in the window enticed. The Hector had resolved that if there was a return to this historic city, Spice Spree would be investigated.

After the eclipse, it was 20.15 when we entered the empty restaurant.

Have you booked? – asked the young waitress.

As I looked around the empty room, in disbelief I asked:

Did we have to?

Apparently there was a booking, we were not it. In time, two more tables, at least, would become occupied. We were allocated the window table, quelle surprise. In due course, the interior of the restaurant was surveyed. Maybe not so palatial.

After yesterday’s Lamb extravaganza at Tandoo’s (Crawley), tonight, a break. With no Fish Curry option, and Chicken Curry dismissed for obvious reasons, it was a case for – Hector-the-Vegetarian. Well not quite.

Aloo Gobi (£6.50) and Saag Paneer (£6.50) – Indian Style – would be accompanied by a Keema Naan (£3.95). Potato and Spinach, but separately. Maggie chose Saag Aloo (£6.50), Potato with Spinach. Having heard all the best parts of the menu, Clive went for his fallback: Chicken Dhansak (£12.95), plus a Keema Naan.

With Saag/Palak Gosht not on the menu, Dr. Stan did not order Palak! Wot, no Spinach? From – Desi Delights – Dr. Stan chose Gobi Gosht Lamb (£13.95), and a Keema Naan.

Note, Chicken Curry was being charged at the same price as Lamb Curry.

Maggie felt she needed more, a return to the days of ordering a Starter and not finishing her main course? Vegetable Samosa (£4.95) turned out to be a portion of three. Mini Samosas, Clive decided that two portions were required. Bring on the self-fulfilling prophecy.

Liquid seemed incidental. Once again, the Hector would expose himself to some English tap water, not that they have too much of it currently. Can nobody extend the aqueduct from Kielder Dam beyond the Tees?

Unlike the water in West Sussex, the water in Kent proved to be both clear and tasteless, almost like – water.

The wait was longer than expected, better than fast food.

Vegetable Samosa

Timed to arrive with everything else, the Samosas truly were as described. Maggie took a nibble, regular readers know what comes next – Too Spicy!

Samosas were now up for grabs, however, the rest of us had enough food. Clive wrapped three in a napkin, for later. Maggie:

Crunchy and small, I had to give Clive two. The Chilli was too much for it to be tasty, just becomes not enjoyable.

Keema Naan

Served whole, risen, puffy, with big blisters and ample Coriander, this ticked many of the boxes for a quality Naan. It was then a matter of appraising the filling: discrete grains of Mince, or a Donner-like slab of Meat?

I tore mine apart, the pleasure of whole Bread, where was the Keema?

An empty Naan? In a manner of which Euripedes would have been proud, I pulled the Naan apart. At the far end, a blob of Mince, definitely in the Donner-like category, and tasted as such. What’s more, the other two Naan on the table were the same. Clive had given Maggie half a Naan, he had the Meaty end, Maggie the plain. A veritable tragedy.

When the waitress returned to ask the customary question, the situation was described. She offered to change the Naan. Impractical, how long would that take? The rest of the food on the table would have been stone cold. My two Dishes were not particularly hot to start with. In reality, everything on the table would have to have been withdrawn. The Bread itself was fine, so how had this happened?

Saag Paneer (Indian Style)

Indian Style – is a Spicier version compared to – Mild Creamy – the next item on the menu.

Five large cubes of Cheese sat in the Mash of Spinach I tend to avoid when ordering a Palak Gosht. Tonight, different standards. The slice of Tomato, a feature across the board, was the respite from the Spinach overdose. Previously, the Hector had to take a notion for Spinach, but currently cannot have enough of the stuff.

As for Cheese, the first time I experienced this was at Omar’s Balti House (Bradford). Tiny cubes topping a Lamb Curry. t took a bit of getting used to.

Apart from being solid, and a bit chewy, almost no Flavour was being given off here. Conclusion: like Chicken, Paneer does not absorb the Spices. An experience that shall never have to be repeated, bring on the Saag Aloo!

Saag Aloo

The same Mash of Spinach, a much more wholesome creation, Potato does absorb the Flavours of whatever it is sat in. Less protein than Paneer, but surely more enjoyable? Maggie:

Lots of potatoes, lots of spinach, adequate portion, generally a good dish.

Aloo Gobi

Hector’s turn to have Potatoes. The Oil collecting on the periphery, and the slice of Tomato were noted. The Potatoes had been well cooked, as is required, the Cauliflower was way too soft. Cauliflower needs a bit of firmness else it becomes too close to mush, and the Masala Mash in which it sits. Other than its innate Flavour, the Cauliflower was giving nothing else back.

In the excitement of analysing the Keema Naan, Hector was missed out in the round of ritual photos. Never fear, A-One (sic) to the rescue.

The level of Seasoning was decidedly low, the Spice around medium. The Masala Mash, which also contained Onion, was the source of most Flavour, with the Potato not far behind.

How long this Aloo Gobi had been in existence shall remain an unknown. The Hector is used to seeing trays of – pret a manger – in the Curry Cafes of Glasgow’s Southside. A return to Yadgar (Glasgow) is overdue, the variety of Vegetable Curry offerings, and intensity of Flavour there, never ceases to amaze.

Chicken Dhansak

No series of Curry outings with Clive would be complete without a Dhansak. A Curry I cannot recall ever having eaten, perhaps in this period in the avoidance of overdosing on Lamb, it might make another appearance soon.

What appeared to be a thick, blended, Daal Mash, looked quite appealing. But how much of a – kick – could one expect? I can see why, as with Korma and Patia, Chicken may work best here. A Fish Korma/Patia, anyone? Doubt it. Clive:

Unremarkable, pleasant as a Dhansak should be.

The Saag Aloo was the best part of the meal.

He’s not selling it to me.

Gobi Gosht

Possibly the only – true Curry – on the table, one may deduce that the Cauliflower here was also cooked beyond its ideal level. An Aloo Gosht might have been a better option, but then one would be on the receiving end of a Mainstream Curry, not the Desi – Aloo Gosht complete with Shorva which pops up occasionally in Curry-Heute.

Dr. Stan: The Gobi Gosht was a mild Curry, but with a good blend of spice giving a very pleasant flavour to the tender meat and cauliflower.

The Keema Naan was spoiled by only having the mince on one side.

All but scraps of Bread were eaten. Whilst the fayre was certainly remote from creating any – wow! – moments, the Keema Naan was the only disaster, yet the Bread itself was commendable.