Paisley Beer Festival + G-RAF
This morning when I was in Poznan… yes I did leave my Poznan Accommodation at 02.00 B.S.T. To commence the journey back to Blighty. Unfortunately despite offering my time at the Foreign Bar, there was no Polish Bier on sale at this Fest. Piwa should be available at G-RAF, the Glasgow Real Ale Festival at the end of June, see you at The Briggait.
Hector chose to split his shift to enable Curry-Heute. Jim told me where not to go, I had pretty much decided that the choice of venue would be the Koh-I-Noor (40 New Sneddon St, Paisley PA3 2AZ), less than a ten minute walk from the Town Hall.
The building is Substantial. The ground floor has a Bar and reception area. A Gentleman sporting a Turban manned the Bar, I saw comparatively few Turbans in India. Oops, Hector has mentioned India again. In a few weeks I shall stop dropping – The India Trip – into every Blog. A few weeks?
The Restaurant is upstairs, it was comparatively empty, the Good People of Paisley were either at the Beer Festival or queueing to get in.
I was given a small table at the rear of the room. There was a assumption of – Buffet – I asked for the Menu. Methi Gosht (£8.95) was listed under the Karahi Dishes. The Ubiquitous – Green Peppers – were listed as the Unnecessary Ingredient. Rogan Josh (£7.95) would be the fallback.
The Waiter returned, the Sparkling Water was ordered, £2.20 for 500ml. The question had to be asked. All was well, The Hector Tweaks were acceptable. A Mushroom Pilao (£2.95) would be the base. I am not ready for Bread yet.
I did not manage to take a photo of the Fish Tank, however, this was a symbol of the available space upstairs. There was a sense of Light and Space, so I was therefore amused when four American Gentlemen were sat at the adjacent table. They opted for the Buffet. Here I learned that an Array of Starters would be prepared Freshly and brought to the table. They enjoyed their Starters.
When one orders Methi Gosht it is hoped that it is Masala with Methi, and not a Palak by another name. What came this evening was Perfect. I have not seen such a Dry and Thick Masala since…
Decanting the Rice, it was pleasing to see Fresh Mushrooms and a Sensible Quantity of Rice, the colour Orange was puzzling. The Curry was carefully arranged, the photo captures the Thickness of the Masala, nothing Runny here. The Spice Level was exactly as asked – Hotter than Medium. The Seasoning was a tad under. The Waiter returned to once again assure me there were no Green Peppers. The Lamb was plentiful, into double figures. What happened to the – Methi Blast? I could see the Herb Presence, but could taste nothing distinctive, the only let down.
A Pleasing Curry overall, way better than that served yesterday in Poznan. It is fair to hope that a Mainstream, West of Scotland, Curry House would be able to serve up something more than – Decent.
The Bill
£13.65. Bang on the Typical Price.
The Aftermath
The Calling Card was left, the place was filling up, Buffet customers. How many staff does it take to run a Buffet?
Meanwhile back at the Town Hall, the queue was even longer…
With the Slightly Creamy nature of the Masala, no Chef would Season this Curry to Hector’s Standards. The search for Spice began, that I had to look for it speaks volumes. The Lamb was the Source of what little Kick there was. The Ginger Strips at least added a Blast of Flavour but this Dish suffered from a lack of Complexity, no Surprises. The appearance made me anticipate Coconut, but none ever made its presence known. Have the tastebuds been Rowing Jack-ed?
I was asking myself why this Curry was considered to be a Handi, Pasanda is how this would be rated in the West of Scotland.
I have had better Curry in 
The Bill
Tavaa is no more.
Restauracja Indyjska Shivaz (Mielzynskiego 16, 61-829 
Hector ordered a la carte
This was a much more sensible Portion than I had been given on 
Seven Large Pieces of Mutton, which varied from Tender to a Good Firm, had to be cut, making fourteen. This was enough Meat. There was an Aroma of Dark Red Chillies yet I found none. The distinctive South Indian Aroma was there. As I ate, the term – Chettinad – came to mind. The Dish was – Spicy – as asked for. The Masala had a Decent Thickness, the Cream Content was not overdone. With the Ginger Strips and the Vegetables this was a Very Satisfying Curry Experience. Dare I say, this could be the Curry House in Poznan I should recommend one visits first?
Chicken Madras
Ricky would never have ordered this in 
l) are on the Menu for a reason.
The miming, the Wicked Uncle, adverts, and so it went on.
The Masala was Thick, Creamy and thankfully not to Excess. The Spice Level never really registered. The Slivers of Onion added to the Melange of Vegetables, as the Seasoning crept up so did the Experience. The Quantity of Lamb was well into Double Figures, Seriously Tender, I was enjoying this Curry. Not Perfect by any means, but providing the necessary enjoyment. There would be little need to eat again today.
The Bill
The 
I found myself sitting under a balcony, there is more to this venue than the off-street location would suggest. Was there ever an entrance from the official address?
The Bill
Hand Cannot Erase was played, in order, and in its entirety as the first part of the concert. SW, speaking in English informed the audience that some of the back projections were shot in Poznan. There were breaks between the – Songs – I would have preferred continuous Musik, however, when IQ unveiled Subterranea at Bury, it was approaching two hours before anyone spoke to the audience. Weird.
The Album varies in style. The first twenty minutes are songs, melodic, catchy, emotional with the necessary SW Heavy Chords blasting. The album progresses through the more Instrumental Phase, some of the Keyboard and Guitar interplay makes the hairs on the neck stand up. The classic – Moog – solos, this is The Perfect Rock Album, and it’s Prog!
Najadacze (Nozownicza 40, 50-147 
Kofta (17 Zl) and a Sparkling Water (4 Zl) would form my Breakfast/Lunch. It was now 13.40, I had been waiting for the rain to stop.
I could have been given anything, what came was a feast. The Kofta was accompanied by Assorted Salad-like Distractions.
Initially, the three Kofta were considered to be the Weakest part of the Melange. They had been freshly made, they were Light, without Meat, lacking. Apart from Air, Cumin dominated. The Kofta improved with the infusion of the Chilli Dip, or was it a Tomato Dip.
The Menu was provided. Mutton Palak (45 Zl) was considered, especially the chance to eat Goat. The thought of the Standard Creamy Spinach version did not appeal. Paneer Palak (32 Zl), let’s avoid Cheese, 
A Shorba with Lamb and Onions by any other name. The Lamb was Too Chewy, the Texture was what I can describe as European, wrong. How do they achieve these Cubes of Meat, is it the Butchers? This was very much a Standard Euro-Curry, the overall Flavour approaching Bisto, Gravy rather than Masala. Imagine the disgust when one Piece of Ballast was unearthed.
Indian Buffet #4
The Waitress who was by now dealing with me exclusively, came over to ask the Customary Question.
It was on a Favoured Social Medium that Hector first encountered a seemingly new Glasgow Southside Venue 
The Handi Gosht was tempting, however they require forty minutes notice to prepare this, or as I have come to appreciate at nearby 
Lamb Chops Masala Karhi (£9.95) – too soon, let’s see what their Basics are like. Many Dishes tempted, Desi Karahi Gosht (£8.99) on-the-bone is what I had hoped for on entering the premises, here it was. A Plain Paratha (£2.70) would accompany.
The Calling Card was given this early, I felt I had to justify the photos. Ambala seats around fifty, the tables are separated by partitions, the painting of which is ongoing. Two Dips were provided at the start, but as I ordered nothing to accompany them, I wondered. Leave them alone. I now had five Fellow Diners, a Ridiculously Large Bowl of Ice Cream was presented to one. Methinks Marg may be happy here. A glass was provided for the Mango Rubicon (£1.10), the wait was over.
Those who have read these pages previously will know that this is a Classic Hector Curry. Topped with a forest of Fresh Coriander Leaves, the Masala Mash on the surface appeared a bit Watery initially, with the Oily Residue collecting around the periphery. This is how it is, enough Moisture, no more. There appeared to be Loads of Lamb, more Meat than I have eaten in the last couple of weeks. Some of the Lamb had gone to Pulp, the Texture of the Majority was Sound. The Seasoning was right on the limit of acceptable, the Spice Level was Perfect for Hector, others may have been taken by surprise.
There was a New Flavour, something that would make this standout out from The Mainstream. Mr. Arshad at 
Fun was had. The Hector was sated.
r. Stan and Eleanor enjoyed Hospitality at 
There is Aloo Gobi served Desi-style in Favourite Venues. This was too Sweet, and an Unhealthy looking Red.
Which should come first, the Keema or the Aloo? Topped with Liberal, Fresh Coriander, this most Simple of Curry Dishes is ironic for one brought up in the West of Scotland. Without the Spice, this is Marg’s Favourite Meal. With the Spice, Curry! There was a Significant Kick today.
The Meat appeared to be Chicken, Yay! Who was caring? The Dish was Very Dry with minimal Oil residue, the Antithesis of Curry served in