The Oriental Emporium (Southern Ltd, 87 High St., Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1BA) was the First Port of Call today. Lord Clive of Crawley, on his Home Turf insisted we stop off here for Samosa before sampling the Local Ale. They used to serve the Best Onion Bhaji in Crawley – he reported to Hector and repeated to Mein Host as Two Warm Samosas were packed up. They were gone in seconds. A Pleasant Aperitif.
Samosas are featuring with alarming regularity these days. Hector does not Snack, normally.
The Downsman (Wakehurst Drive, Southgate, Crawley, RH10 6DH) at 18.00 was announced as I arrived at Chez Clive. Debs will meet us after work. Running late, we started without her, a Portion of Tandoori Lamb Chops – each!
Served on the Cast Iron Platter, on a Bed of Fried Onions, The Sound Echoed The Anticipated Pleasure. Burnt Exteriors belied the Slight Pink Interiors, nothing to worry about. Debs arrived and was allowed One Chop, of Clive’s Allocation, I believe. The Fingers were licked, time to consider The Mains.
Debs had phoned ahead and stated her requirements – Chicken Tariwala with Mushroom Rice. Clive has been working his way around the Downsamn Menu. Chicken Rambala – ding dong…(?) with his now customary Aloo Paratha and a Spontaneous Saag Aloo on the Side.
Hector had spotted The Chef that he had spent charming moments with back in May this year. Having followed the instructions given and enjoyed the Lamb Handi in the June Visit, a Challenge had to be issued. The Handi was most enjoyable despite the Thin Masala, let’s see…
Can I have Lamb on-the-bone with a Dry, Thick Masala with Methi and Extra Seasoning, please?
This was not a problem.
We need a Name for this.
Lamb Handi with Methi.
It is written.
I was not impressed with the Paratha last visit, too Flat, and not Flaky enough for The Hector. Keema Pilau? A must. After the enjoyment of Jeera Aloo at Indian Affairs (Roma) another Side of this was mandatory. This would amount to a Mass of Food. Belgium is next, Frustration is around the corner.
Debs’ Chicken Tariwala had a Thick Soupy Masala, the sort of Curry that Hector avoids but Others love.
I Take it you’ve had this many times?
This was verified. A bit of Heat, Pleasant. You know what you’re going to get.
Clive’s Uniquely Named Dish was definitely a Stir Fry. This meant it was Seriously Dry, but it had crossed the line from what should really be considered – Curry. Flakes of Meat mixed with Vegetables. A Tasty looking Dish.
Not Spicy Hot, but Spiced. – was Clive’s description. He thought this would be an Ideal Dish for Maggie.
Yes, here we are, Two Chaps, One Chapatti, married, but not to each other. When Jim’s Mate spots this Blog Entry he’ll be on the Phone to his Favourite Editor.
And so to the Lamb Handi with Methi. Again served in a Tall Pot the Meat was visible at the top. A Mixture of Lab Chops and Other Cuts, this was Quality. The Dish superficially oozed -Dryness, there was no Masala visible, Perfect. The Keema Pilau was the back-up plan to absorb any Excessive Wetness, no need, this was Dry and Savoury too. Classic Umami.
The Jeera Aloo is on the verge of becoming The Most Sought After Side. Potatoes with Cumin and No Masala. With the Lamb, Rice, and Potato and no Masala to speak of, Hector had won the Proverbial Watch. This could be The Driest Curry that Curry-Heute has ever reported. Congratulations.
It was a Game of Two Halves
Beneath the Meat in the Tall Pot, a Mass of Methi Masala was uncovered. The Dish changed its character significantly. This was closer to the standard Methi Lamb served at The Downsman. It was all getting a bit – Heavy – perseverance required. Remember, when it’s Wednesday, it will be Belgium.
The Methi Masala at The Downsman is Superbly Rich, a Slight Creaminess. Now the Rice had Moisture, easier to digest. Satisfaction was attained. Let me out of here.
The Bill
£22.35 for Hector’s Bits. The Lamb Chops at £7.95 are the same as The Main.
The Aftermath
Quiz Night at The Swan. A Pub that used to sell a Decent Range of Quality Ale, alas, no more.
Has Hector mentioned that he remains – Undefeated – in Crawley Pub Quizzes?
Has the Dear Reader realised – I am still on Holiday?
Hector may well have enjoyed 
The Kofta was served in a Thin Masala. The Flavours were Immense. Classic Curry. The Daal Makhani gave the required Balance. Small Dozes work better, I could never eat an entire Pot as is commonly served. The Joy of This Buffet. Where else would both these Dishes appear on a Help Yourself basis? The Haleem disappeared under the Rice and so was lost. Meat and Lentil Flavoured Rice is about it. The Aloo Gosht was on-the-bone. Black Pepper was dominant here, Very Tasty. Bring back the Specials Board!
I shall be making enquiries about the Battered Fish in Future Visits. The Chapli Kebab must be on The Menu.
The last train. There’s going to be Great Confusion on Low Level Glasgow Trains for the next couple of weeks.
The First Curry-Heute visit after Italia may have been to the 
To have eaten all of this would have reduced the Appetite Edge. Fortunately the Chapattis and the Goshat Karahi were ready bang on the agreed 15.00. This was indeed a Hector Portion.
We’re heading for home before the dawn comes…
Tonight would be the busiest I have seen 
The Array of Dates marked the beginning of The Starters. With Samosas, Pakora and some Baked Bits on display, Temptation reared its head. Overdosing on Starters means Minimal Curry. But there was a Platter of Chapli Kebabs, and the Fish in Batter looked enticing. The Mains were unveiled in their Tureens. Karela Gosht! This I have never seen at 
Kasif’s Sister, Irram was also in attendance. I hear you do a Good Lamb Curry – was my comment as she cleared some of the table. On-the-bone, this would surely impress anyone who has only ever experienced The Mainstream. A step towards the other Fine Dishes on offer at 
The Bill
Ironically, the First Home-Cooked Meal on the return from a Trip served at Hector’s House is traditionally – Spaghetti Bolognaise. It could still be however, for the next few days there is definitely going to be a Glasgow Curry Overdose. Maybe the Best Thing about going away is the Rejuvenated Appreciation of Home.
Websites reporting on faraway places can only be as good as the writer’s last visit. And so the sources who have four Curry Houses mapped in 
I had popped in on passing moments before the World Cup Final. It was the reality of this venue which had me suggest 
The Bill
We had spent the day at Ostia Antica and then the Lido. Somehow Lunch had been missed and Curry would be the sole Food Intake of the day. The Hector Saturday Norm. Today is Tuesday. Yes, Hector is still on Holiday, well that should be apparent already.
Maggie lost her reading glasses soon after our arrival in Roma, Clive sees little anyway. Add to this the Atmospheric Gloom of the Restaurants and Gold Shiny Paper, and well, they struggled to read The Menu.
Clive announced that his Keema Paratha was – The best I have ever had. Whilst he enjoyed the Curry, he remained convinced he had The Wrong Dish! He never did mention Capsicum again.
Onion Paratha? Maggie enjoyed this too. Lovely, lots of Onion. Like a Cheese and Onion Crisp without the Cheese.
Lamb Vindaloo, Very Spicy – said The Waiter as he placed it beside me. How did he know this was for me? A Reasonable Quantity of Meat, more than Six Pieces, most of which had to be Halved. There was a Potato content as a Vindaloo should have, but this was Minimal compared to the mass of Potato in the Jeera Aloo Dish. At first I noted the Masala to be Soupy and then re-evaluated. There was a Good Texture to the Masala. Onion-based Masala has been a rarity in Italia.
Five Shiny Metal Dishes showed the level of Overall Satisfaction.
Desert (sic)
€16.00. As One would pay at Home for a Starter and a Curry.
As a Bangladeshi Restaurant, there was no sign of Hector’s Favourite – Karahi. Vindaloo is sometimes a suitable fall-back. Clive was of a similar mind, no Dansak either. Our Hostess had already shown her charm, and so time to negotiate.
The largest platter of Boiled Rice ever seen, topped with Peas was placed on the table. This could have fed the entire street. The Parathas were not. These were Naans by any other description. Marg’s Garlic and Coriander Naan was missing the Coriander. Doughy – was how Marg described her Naan. Having accepted the Bread style I found it to be OK, but in no way a Paratha. Too Thick and too Heavy going perhaps.
The Bombay Aloo was the very last Dish to arrive. Again well Seasoned and with a Masala very similar to the Lamb Curry Dishes, this was a pleasant accompaniment. Indeed, the Curry Experience felt more complete when the Potatoes were combined with the Lamb.
The Rice did look like Basmati but had not been properly rinsed. Too Starchy – was Maggie’s verdict. Pudding Rice with Peas. One has become used to Rice being served with individual grains.
Our Hostess was clearly fascinated by The Calling Card. A good bit after The Bill was paid she came out to talk – Curry. We exchanged ideas on how to store Fresh Coriander. There was an apology for having none in the dishes today. The various Indian Cooking styles were discussed. I outlined my preference for Punjabi cooking. The History of Moon Indian was related. The venue has been here since 1999 though our Hostess had only been working here some six years. Her father, the Chef, had to learn ( Italian – offered Marg) to cook. She was interested to know where the Best Curry is to be found. 
We passed another Curry Café – Sonar Bangla. Also on Via Maqueda but North of Quatro Canti, this looked a bit more luxurious than the two café venues visited. Next time.
Samosa? Not a Town in Sicilia 
The Chaps previously. Marg opted for Vegetable, Hector Two Meat Samosas.
Touring around Palermo on the Bus, Clive and Maggie were made well aware of the Quality as #2 was consumed. Marg’s Vegetable Fayre was smaller, a different shape, Tetrahedroid? Milk Carton-shaped. Why she chose the Vegetarian Option she never revealed. This too disappeared without trace.
