This afternoon was spent on the Severn Valley Railway with one or two distractions at either end. The Curry House in Bridgnorth was not open early afternoon on this August Bank Holiday Weekend Sunday. On the return to Kidderminster the Punjabi Curry House was open, Hector had his heart set on Punjabi Curry. However, the cancellation of the train before 22.00 meant a two hour gap in service, Kidderminster is not that exciting, back to Birmingham.
A Taxi took The Hector from Birmingham Moor St. to Broad Street, the first time Hector has seen this hive of night-time activity. The taxi dropped me at Pushkar which Sources suggested was the must-visit Punjabi Restaurant. Cocktail Bar & Dining – this is so far removed from the preferred Curry Cafe style of dining, Hector took the photo of the facade and walked on.
There was a backup – eastZeast (197 Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1AY England) is also a Punjabi outlet, a Chain.
Greeted at the door with a welcoming smile by a Chap in a Turban, eastZeast is again upmarket but hopefully the focus would be on Curry. Hector was marched through the Restaurant, past a succession of raised booths to the far right. Here lay more traditional tables. My table for two was most certainly in the corner.
The Menu was brought, the Poppadom Ritual was played out, no I shall not pay for Poppadom and Pickles. A quick glance at the Menu made The Hector feel at home: Peshawar Gosht (£11.95), Lahori Lamb Chop Handi (£12.95), Lamb Jeera (£11.95), Gosht Ginger (£11.95), and Gosht Potatoes (£11.95).
Handi, Lamb Chops, Aloo Gosht, all very tempting; at the top of the Menu, the first item – Lamb Sookha Bunah (£11.95) – was available both on and off the bone. Lamb on-the-bone, how could I resist?
A Keema Paratha (£3.95) would accompany. FYI, a Chapati here is a mere £1.00, a Sensible Price assuming one has to pay for these at all.
Lamb Sookha Bunah on-the-bone please, Spicy.
Medium?
Hotter than Madras.
The Napkin listed Manchester, Liverpool and Preston. I asked The Waiter to confirm this was a Manchester-based Chain. He informed me that their first Branch is under the Manchester Central Ibis, of course, Charles Street! I have seen this venue, but Dera in Cheetham Hill plus the Curry Cafes in the Northern Quarter are where The Hector hangs out.
Everything Hotter than Everything Else
To say the Curry and Bread were Hot would be a decided understatement. The joy of being The Lone Diner, the Food comes when it’s ready, not when all one’s Fellow Diners’ Dishes have also been assembled.
The Near Perfect Paratha
In the current week of Curry Exploration, Hector has been served some dubious Parathas. The Keema has been the unwelcome Dodgy Donner, Red, ugh. This Flaky Paratha was peeled open to reveal Brown Mince, a classic example of – Less is More. The Paratha was annoyingly Quartered, or was it. Having consumed the largest quarter, there was decidedly more than three quarters of a Paratha left. It’s a mystery. Anyway, there was plenty of Bread, no way could I eat all this.
A couple of Young Ladies were sat at the table immediately in front of me. I couldn’t help but observe their progress. Their Mains appeared to be Nibbles accompanied by Whole Parathas. (as Hector prefers)
I don’t like the Paratha – said the Younger to The Waiter.
He was puzzled, the thought bubble was obvious – wtf not? Both Weans exchanged their Perfect Parathas for Poppadoms. I blame the parents.
A Feast, not a Famine
Once I could actually touch the Paratha and so Dip, the Lamb Sookha Bunah was tackled. Slightly Under-seasoned was my first reaction, however, the Seasoning in the Paratha counteracted this.
Lamb Sookha Bunah
Chef was showing no mercy, this was a Spicy Curry and some, nay problem. The Oil collected around the edge of the plate as I observe in the Curry Dishes I enjoy most. The Minimal Masala was Thick and Familiar, it was identical to the Masala Mash served in the heyday of Glasgow’s Cafe Salma. Then there was the Lamb.
A Young Waiter approached.
Everything OK?
I could only raise my thumbs.
He dropped off a pile of napkins.
No more needed to be said.
I have researched the term – Sookha, the translation is Famine, this portion was huge. The Quantity of Meat justified the £11.95 charge. The Flavour of the Lamb itself came through, Sucky Bones were to the fore. The Marrow was present in some bones adding extra Flavour. At times I could sense the pleasure that Glasgow’s New Karahi Palace can create, the highest of accolades. With Methi it would have been a cross between Cafe Salma and New Karahi Palace. Instead the Chunky Green Chillies were the Source of alternative Flavour. The taste-buds were being worked hard, this was a Joyous Experience.
What a difference it makes to be find Lahori/Punjabi Desi Cuisine served properly.
The Bill
£18.40. Above the average, however a Pukka Establishment. The portion was well worth the extra.
The Aftermath
The Calling Card was issued, there was little interest. It was approaching closing time.
How do Restaurants survive being open only six to seven hours a day?
Nobody else was up for Curry-Heute two or three days in a row. Even Hector was questioning his sanity, however, what are the alternatives? This is the Food I prefer to eat and would do ad nauseam except at home where I have to cater for someone else.
Both Achari and Paratha were served Piping Hot, Great! The Achari portion appeared to be small in the large white bowl, this was deceptive. The Meat was easily in double figures.
The Masala was far from the Soup I had seen so much of last night in 
The Paratha was already Quartered which spoiled the fun, I prefer to tear off strips from a whole. The Paratha was Layered but not Flaky, resembling a Large Tattie Scone.
I congratulated Husban on the Quality of the Dish served. I had to mention my preference for Whole Paratha. 
With three Lamb Methi there was less of a photographic intrusion, still the Sides and Accompaniment had to be recorded. Where was the Aloo Gobi?
Yvonne was far from impressed with her King Prawn Balti.
I was worried for Dr. Stan when I saw his Lamb Handi. Shorva, not Masala-proper.
When the three Lamb Methi Dishes were brought I asked which was the Spicy one. They were all the same. The Delivery Waiter offered to take one away and sort it. I was not having my Curry taken away from me.
Howard inevitably had to compare today with 
Curry at a Beer Festival? Surely not. At this year’s Great British Beer Festival – GBBF – Hector was well impressed by the 
If The Hector finds a choice between three Dishes on a Standard Menu then the hopes are raised. Five Dishes could have been the Hector Curry this evening, I called them out as I found them.
This is stunning – he remarked as soon as he dipped his Naan. A piece of Meat was placed on the plate beside my Karahi. This is stunning – he said as he plopped the Meat. Another Piece of Meat (apologies Mr. Rarebell) was given to Mark – This is stunning! – said Howard.
Pretty damn good – said Mags of her Anarkali Balti Speciality, though she did spot that the Prawns were so small they were Shrimps, for those who classify Seafood in this manner. One may also conclude that it was the presence of Seafood which raised the price for this Dish.
I studied Mark’s Lamb Karahi with interest. The dreaded Large Chunks of Capsicum were not present, though there were Large Pieces of Onion. The final preparation may well have involved a Stir Fry judging by the appearance of the Masala. The Masala was Thick and Minimal, still, I was glad I had not ordered this. I have seen a lot worse, I have had a lot worse, but this was far removed from the Karahi as served in Glasgow where we are well spoiled.
The Root Ginger hit Hector’s Palate from the start of the Adraki. These are Ginger Strips.
The Masala was suitably Thick with Onions to the fore. The expected Kick was not there, this was not – Spicier than Madras. After the initial Ginger Blast the Dish became a bit nondescript, maybe this was partly down to sampling Howard’s Stunning Kesuri.
Having checked into the Travelodge bang on Noon, the search began soon after for Lunch. Orissia, directly across from the Travelodge was closed, still, the plan was to walk as far as Brangwyn Hall, to assess the distance on the ground, and take in as many Curry Houses en route, before deciding where to have Lunch. Simples. Not.
The prices here are rock Bottom, there was clearly activity inside. Methi Lamb (£6.00) was beguiling. 
The – Naashta – Pakistan Breakfast – was available in various Deals. The Waitress suggested their most popular, however I heard Halwa, – Halwa Puri. If this is anything like the Halva served in the Middle East then it is not for Hector, far too Sweet. Potatoes and Chickpeas was the next suggestion. Chana may not be my favourite Interesting Vegetable, at least I would be avoiding – Daal.
To accompany, a Bread was required. Paratha was on offer in many guises. Gobi Paratha would be a first. This was not available.
Suddenly Chickpeas became my Favourite Vegetable, for the moment. Served in a Spicy, Well-Seasoned Shorva, the Chana vastly outnumbered the Aloo. A Slice of Onion offered yet another Texture.
The Second Portion of Aloo Chana arrived, well-timed too. Hector rarely finishes a whole Paratha, today would not be an exception. I now had enough to consider a Meal. The anticipated second blast of Achari never came, my only disappointment, other than the Full Menu not being avaialable.
Spice Quarter (8B, Brewery Quarter, Cardiff CF10 1FG, Wales) is one floor up in another post industrial conversion. Why is Glasgow’s Riverside so Spartan? Spice Quarter is quite a labyrinth inside, screens dividing what would have been a huge bare room otherwise, Sound Decor. A Young Waiter was at the serving area, he took me back to a window table. A family of four, two weans, were the only other customers at 17.15.
Rogan Gosht, not Josh, Lamb understood. Ten pieces of Tender Lamb were buried in a fortunately not too Excessive Masala. The Masala was 
Very Good, thank you.
The Bill
Let’s not overlook that the 
The Motivation
A Chap had just finished his meal, that was it, a quiet night at the 
The Meat was a mixture of Lamb Chops, Ribs and Suckey Bones/Leg. The Flavour from the Masala Mash was once again right up there, a perfect Blend of Herbs and Spices. Having impressed myself at least with Hector’s 
That was the easiest Kilo I have ever shared – was my remark to Stewart as the remnants of my Chapatti were used to scrape the side of the Large Karahi. I was hungry.
Curryspondent Archie reminded me as soon as I had my 
It was approaching 12.30 as I entered 
Karahi – Methi – Keema – Kofta – all the options one would expect to find in a good Glasgow/Bradford Curry Cafe. As Lamb Bhuna was my 
Providing the Sparkling Water (£2.95) caused some difficulty. A passing Chap advised The Waiter serving me that there was none. He went to check, a Warm Bottle arrived, I asked for Ice. A Chilled Bottle replaced it, a Litre too, success.
This looked the proverbial Bee’s Knees. The large Karahi had a huge portion of Meat in a Masala Thick with Methi. One tends to know that when it looks this good it is usually wonderful, usually. I felt as if I had been given an extraordinary long time to marvel at what lay before me, no Bread. Eventually my very Light, in fact, peely wally Naan was ready, I would have given it longer. Light, edible, yes, but could have been better.
The Masala was very well Seasoned, the Spice level was not remarkable, I could have asked for – Spicy, it wasn’t offered either. Although – Familiar Tasting – the impact of this Methi Gosht – was not the same as at 
The first half of – the eating – was Satisfying, then I realised that the enjoyment level was diminishing. One expects the excess Oil to collect at the base of the karahi as source of sumptuous Flavour, instead I had a watery residue. The metal karahi had also cooled quite dramatically, the last quarter was decidedly – cold. Here lies the irony, if I had been given less I would have been finished by this point. The Naan, which had been too hot to touch initially, was also past its best. The pleasure coefficient was in free-fall. A disappointing end after a magnificent beginning.
It is a pity the Calling Card did not achieve the intended objective, I was hoping to ask about the Specials, which I spotted well after I had ordered. Dry Lamb sounds right up my street. Lamb Chop Curry – both of these still £7.75. On the bone – please – always when available.