This is Day +1 of Hector Bounces Back. The Düsseldorf Six have gone their separate ways. Hector has tagged a Day in Amsterdam on to The Trip. There is an Amsterdam Curry House which made such a positive impression in the Summer of 2013 – Hector’s Holländische Hootenany, so what on Earth is Hector doing at Ganesha (Geldersekade 5 HS, 1011 EH Amsterdam, Nederland) ?
Moti Mahal reportedly does not open until 17.00, yet it was afternoon when I was last there. The Sky was turning Dark, the Forecast Downpour was imminent, I had a choice of Two Venues right outside Amsterdam Centraal, both were rated highly on other Websites, Ganesha I came to First and it had Lamb Karahi. Surely this would be better than the Fiasco of Two Days ago in Duisburg? Given the number of Curry Houses in Amsterdam and the Number that are Highly Rated, Expectations are elevated, but weren’t they on Thursday in Duisburg when I saw the word – Punjabi?
One of the Two Young Ladies on duty showed me to a small Table for Two. She took my Drinks Order.
Vodka with Gas? Eh?
We Scots don’t say – Woa’a.
There were Six Fellow Diners. There would be Six more soon when the Skies Erupted. A Classic late afternoon Convectional Rainstorm. Mein Host took the Order. I made sure there was none of the Dreaded Green Vegetable, this was not a problem. In fact when he served the new arrivals, I heard him say they will cook anything anyway you want. As it should be. Unless it is Puréed, how can Capsicum already be – in the Curry – as some Waiters have insisted over the years?
Methi Paratha, oh yes, I had to have one. Hector is having Methi Withdrawal Symptoms.
Do you want it Spicy or Normal?
Spicy is Good. I have changed my response it appears after the Ass-kicking in their Namesake Restaurant in Köln.
Two Dips, One of which was the almost Ubiquitous (currently) Tamarind, accompanied some Bits of Poppadom. This was the First Food intake of the day, it was well after 16.00.
Either the Table was High or the Chair was Low. It was like an Interview. With the Inclusive Boiled Rice and the Karahi placed on the metal warmer, it was hard to see inside the Bowl. First Impressions were Good. It was when I saw the Photo that I realised the Quality of the Masala and that the Oil was collecting, just the way I like it, Baby, I don’t want to live forever…
The Methi Paratha was Poor. Half Roti, half Paratha it lacked the Flaky Texture which is sought after. However, it was Permeated with hopefully, the Key Ingredient – Fresh Methi.
Methi in My Mouth
This was easily The Best Curry of The Trip. There was No Nonsense. A Worthy Quantity of High Quality Lamb. The Masala was prepared as it should be, a Thick Texture, Onion Based, The Real McCoy. The Onion Strips gave a Grittiness to the Masala. The Rice had been Sprinkled with Spice, possibly Cinnamon, and Other Bits, One suspects these were further adding to the aforementioned Gritty Texture and most certainly the Overall Melange of Flavours.
This was an Excellent Karahi.
There was a Side Salad which was also part of the Serving. This was never touched.
The Bill
€22.75. Spicy and Pricey indeed.
The Aftermath
Mein Host was busy serving other Customers and so the Calling Card was received by the Two Charming Young Ladies.
There are many Amsterdam Curry Houses still to explore, however, short of finding one with a Chef who has worked in Glasgow/Bradford, this will be hard to beat.
The Masala had a Puréed Onion Base, with the Yoghurt it was similar to a Spicy Korma, no bad thing on occasion and no Coconut. The Tender Lamb had a good Texture, not too Soft, not too Chewy.
As our Trip, yesterday, to Websters (Duisburg) reached a conclusion we decided to return today. This was the inspiration for Hector to discover if there is a Duisburg Curry House. Punjabi Pfanne (Oststraße 137a, 47057 Duisburg , NRW, Deutschland) was the only one. A Punjabi Curry House!
Expectation levels were tentatively high. A Source of Punjabi Food and a Full Café-Restaurant. As I spotted the Half Plate of Rice, Half Curry, I deduced that people were here for the Lunchtime Menu at €5.00. This included a Soft Drink, potentially Great Value. The Menu featured – Punjabi Breakfast – hence the 10.00 opening time.
wever there was Minimal Flavour. Well Under-seasoned, Steve added Salt to his Chicken Karahi. For Hector this is – Verboten. Hector eats Curry as it comes, well almost.
For the Mittagsmenu – Mein Host explained.
A basket with two round Naans were then brought, not huge, but an ideal size for one. No way would Hector eat all of his. The Naans had been properly prepared, we heard the Slapping. They had risen sufficiently and had the appropriate Burnt Bits. A Tandoor.
One does not walk in to a Curry House – Forty Five Minutes – before closing time to be harassed by a Waiter saying – Half an Hour. Half an Hour. Half an Hour. Yes, this was the greeting on entering Taj Mahal, (Oststrasse 143, 40210, Düsseldorf, Deutschland) at 23.15. Nope, that was not – A Welcome.
The Paratha was served Quartered. (Why?) Flaky and well-stuffed, this had the required Texture. The Seasoning in the Paratha carried over to the Curry, again a good combination.
Overall, I cannot fault what I was given today. Fine Curry, well-presented, with sufficient Flavour, and not Soupy at all.
I had been offered Lamb Tikka but stuck with my normal Tender Lamb. The Dryness of The Lamb when eaten without the Masala was Impressive. Again every mouthful gave a Spicy Blast. The Chef clearly knows what he is doing. The Seasoning was Technically Unremarkable, as it was Perfekt. The Fresh Coriander was there, The Flavours. This was indeed Quality Curry.
Even before I had presented The Calling Card, Mein Host had asked that I tell all my Friends about this New Venue. When I showed him Curry-Heute he was into Overdrive. He was critical of Venues where they give Half a Plate of Rice with a Half Plate of Curry. Ironically, these are the Venues I referred to above with this Identical Menu Format. His nearby Neighbour may also have been in his mind.
Joginder explained that he is responsible for fund-raising for cancer patients in 
Normally the Masala in a Fish Curry takes Flavour from the Fish, today I was struggling to establish this. The Fish itself was served in a sufficiently sized portion. How many venues have I reported minimal Fish with excessive Masala? No problems here.
The Waiter brought me a Plain Naan. A very Plain Naan. I was having Naan after-all. Now I could taste the Masala. The situation was improving. The Naan was as authentic as anything served in the UK, a proper Tandoor must have been employed. Puffy, with enough burnt bits.
A single Gulab Jamun arrived. Probably part of the Lunchtime Menu. Again, appreciated.
Eight decent sized pieces of Tender Lamb. There was enough stiffness to the Meat to require a chew, this was spot on. I was already wondering if this was The Best Köln Curry which has been served to Hector. I was certainly planning a return visit, tomorrow, for the Fish. Curry at Brunchtime, the best was to set oneself up for the day on a Hector Trip.
Mein Host came across eventually. He pointed to my orange polo. He thought I was Dutch when I entered, is that what he spoke to me? We were now communicating in English. I had to to tell him how much I was enjoying the Curry.
The 
A Basket with Two Poppadoms was placed on the Plate Heater in the middle of the Table with Four Dips. One Poppadom had embedded Cumin Seeds a positive feature of Poppadoms in Europe. I concentrated on this one and ignored the other. Plain Chopped Onion was a bit, em Plain. The Mango was out the same Jar as everyone else’s as more than likely was the Lime Pickle. The Latter had Bite.
The Lamb was Tender and Sufficient in Quantity. There was no Kick from this Dish whatsoever and Seasoning had been totally forgotten about. In terms of the Lamb and Minimal Masala this Curry had the basis of something worthwhile. If One was a Regular here, or arrived having read this Blog, I’m sure they could Spice up the Dish and make it more impressive.