Three days after Hector’s #1 visit to Balti BLVD (36 High Street, Crawley RH10 1BW England), Dr. Stan sneaked back to savour the much elusive Lamb Qorma (£11.99). He pronounced it to be authentic, as Charming Daughter had claimed previously. Today would be Hector’s turn, and the lesser Chicken Qorma (£9.99) was foremost in mind. Enough Lamb this week already, and the Hector knows what awaits in the diary for next week.
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The rendezvous was 12.30, Dr. Stan was in situ on my arrival, seated at a small table to my left. Down the right, a large multi-family group, weans and all.
Having had time to observe the in-house happenings, Dr. Stan declared that he was having the Breakfast. This was due to the breakfast at t’Travelodge being deemed inferior to an Ibis breakfast, such that Dr. Stan appears in Curry-Heute for the fourth time this week. Dr. Stan enjoys a good, four course breakfast.
On visit #1 to Balti BLVD, Hector did ask why only Coffee & Croissant (£4.99) were being served at opening time – Why no Desi Nashta?
Tuesday’s visit to nearby Tandoo’s established that they were doing a good trade in Desi Nashta. Did Curry-Heute first spot the opperchancity in the market?
Ready to order, Charming Daughter came over, there was an immediate air of recognition, after all, her image has been previously posted in these pages.
I’m here for your Desi Qorma!
No main courses until 14.00.
Hereafter she shall be referred to as – Daughter of Disappointment.
Only Breakfast was being served and what mains were ready. This turned out to be two Chicken Dishes, items which were not Curry, and Achari Lamb (£12.99). Another Lamb Curry it had to be, plus White Rice (£3.99).
And so to Dr. Stan and his – Special Breakfast.
Daughter mentioned Nihari, in fact so often was Nihari mentioned that I feared she had me down for Nihari. Who has Nihari for Breakfast? Dr. Stan!
Presumably, having seen an Omelette, Dr. Stan was keen to have this added to his Special Breakfast.
Then there was the Thali that even the Hector had seen being taken to the large table.
We’ll need a larger table – I proposed – that lot will stretch to the counter.
We were duly relocated further into the room.
Drinks were sorted: Sparkling Water (£1.50) for the Hector, who established earlier in the week that Crawley tap water is not potable for a Scottish palate. A soft drink (£2.50) for Dr. Stan.
We settled, in gentlemanly, companionable silence, for the wait. However, a little brat had a different idea.
Mummy, Mummy, Mummy!
For the second day in a row, this unnecessary triple, incessantly loud interruptions to adult conversation by a three year old, filling the room. Is this the sociological depth we have reached? Middle class mothers having to respond to every trivial question with an indulgent answer, before attempting to continue their own conversation. Is this what follows on from letting two-year-olds constantly bang the table with their spoon? Hector is perhaps long in the tooth, but recognises that certain Victorian standards should retain their place in a modern, peaceful society, or restaurant: children should be seen … or exterminated!
(Hector subscribes to – The Daily Dalek, one solution to all problems.)
In time, they departed. Daughter started the assembly of the fayre.
Nihari
Lamb Shank, always served on-the-bone, everyone should try this. With a Ginger Strip garnish, the full portion, sat in a traditional Shorva-esque Gravy, a meal in itself. I once witnessed three chaps sitting with a pile of Naan to share one plate of Nihari. Today, Dr. Stan would have to manage with just the two Naan, which were part of the Special Breakfast.
The Naan was magnificent. Served whole, as risen as any Naan ever seen, study that central blister. Light, fluffy Bread, there was no complaint when the Hector helped out a bit. The Naan had its own distinctive Seasoning. Between us, we managed to leave only one half. This is not the end of the Bread saga.
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The Thali
A breakfast in its own right, behold two Puri accompanied by Aloo Sabzi, Chana Masala, and Halva. The Potato and Chickpeas were soon dealt with. Dr. Stan had not encountered Halva previously, I warned him it would likely be Sweet. He tackled the Halva carefully, then left it to the end, Dessert. Just the two Puri to accompany the Curry elements. Anda (sic) there’s more.
Was it the Omelette which had first caught Dr. Stan’s attention? Sat beyond the Naan, but not to be ignored. How many Eggs? A fine example of a freshly made, Spicy Omelette, a classic component of Desi Nashta.
Dr. Stan – I had intended to have a Breakfast. With two soft Puri, Aloo Sabzi consisting of well cooked Potato, Chana Masala with lightly spiced chickpeas, and Halva which was rather sweet.
I also had an Omelette with tomato and a bit of chilli making a good tasty breakfast, nothing much like a Curry.
However, I managed to order a Special Nihari as well. This was a lamb shank with meat falling off the bone, cooked in a highly spiced and tasty sauce. The sauce might have been rather thin but was very good when soaked up by the Naan. I only managed one of the two Naan, I’m afraid.
I should have made a movie: Dr. Stan Does Breakfast.
Hector was having fun too.
More Basmati than would fit on the medium-sized plate was provided, more Rice than a Hector could eat. A bit messy.
A Salad arrived too, part of my Curry order. Having spent a good hour this morning preparing Peanut Masala Chat for later today, the presentation of Tomato, Cucumber and Onion was quite ironic. I toyed with it.
Too spicy! – said a lady, at Maggie’s – not a BBQ. I should download more -Daily Dalek memes.
Achari Lamb
This was special, and Clive told me later that it is his go-to Curry at Balti BLVD. I can see why. Served on-the-bone, Sucky Bones too, thus the Masala was enhanced.
A possibly blended, quite Soupy Masala, or just cooked down, a beautiful Texture. The dark brown hue was class.
The first dip of purloined Naan produced the definitive – wow! – moment. The Seasoning, the Spice Level, spot on, glorious Flavours. Yet, in terms of Achari, there was but a light tanginess, I could neither see the customary Pickle elements, never mind taste them.
Eight pieces of Meat, a standard restaurant portion, with just the right amount of chewing. Importantly, the Lamb had been totally infused, and was therefore giving back the Flavours from the Masala, complementing its own meatiness.
As I ate on, another Flavour emerged, one I recognised. Here was the same background sense of – slightly burnt Onion – as featured in my last home-cooked Achari. Well, mine was certainly burnt.
A glorious Curry, one should not tire from having this every week.
Hector has still to taste the Desi Qorma at Balti BLVD.
The Bill
£45.45 Now the individual components of Dr. Stan’s Special Breakfast are revealed: Nihari Special (£12.99), Halva Puri (£7.99), Omelette (£2.99).
He only wanted a Boiled Egg.
The Aftermath
There was a lengthy chat with Daughter of Shaheen. Firstly, that I was not aware of Pickle in my Achari, yet was still thoroughly impressed. That Balti BLVD do not use the standard tub of Pickle was already evident. Whatever Mother-the-Chef, who we met last year, employs to create her remarkable Masala, shall remain her secret.
The infused Meat commanded a special mention. That so many venues cannot present a Curry at this standard raises the question: how are they getting away with it? The profusion of so-called Chicken Curry might be at the root of the answer. I admitted that today I would have ordered Chicken, but did explain why.
Wholemeal Flour, as used in the Roti at Balti BLVD, was condemned. Today’s white flour was highly praised, hence the outstanding quality of the Naan. And just how much Bread is one expected to eat with a Curry?
Do I have to wait a year for another visit to Crawley?
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