After our Tour of Special Places in Leeds, Dewsbury and Huddersfield, Jonathan and Hector met up with Ricky, Our Man in Bradford, at Haigy’s. One Pint was all that was permitted, another Chap called Mick (Half of Yorkshire is called Mick?) dropped us off at the Sir Titus Salt from where we could decant to The International (40-42 Morley Street, Bradford, BD7 1BA). We arrived far sooner than I anticipated.
Good Evening Mr. Bashir, Khalid – Hector was on form, using his recently acquired information. The Other Waiter, now resplendent in Mature Beard, was all Smiles. Ali – that’s the set complete.
Poppadoms, Pickle, Dips were brought immediately. Now to choose something different. Well, it would still be Lamb, but not Karahi. Two Visits ago Clive and Hector had a Superb Lamb Chops Achari, a Variant from the Krahi Lahore Lamb Chops on The Menu. I negotiated this with Khalid who was taking our order. Or was it Ali? Here lay the origins of the Problem that would manifest itself.
Keema Spinach Bhuna was Ricky’s Masterful Selection. Jonathan was up for this too. Chapattis for Jonathan and Hector, a Plain Naan for Ricky. These are included in the Price of The Main Meal. A Point I have made many times before but shall insist on highlighting.
Ricky and Jonathan would share a Seekh Kebab (£2.00). I wonder how many times we declined the offer of Salad? There must have been an abundance this evening.
The Distractions
A Group of – Ladies – shall we say from an area South of Pakistan and Bangladesh, came in and were sat in the alcove beside us. An Eighteenth Birthday Party – the Matriarch explained. Poor Doris, who was Eighteen Today, may not remember much of the latter part of her Birthday. Was she ever Conscious?
The Breads arrived, courtesy of Ali. My Lamb Chops Achari in the Glass Trough and One Keema Spinach Bhuna arrived. The latter was set before Ricky, so that was his then. We started.
What is This?
It wasn’t so much that The Lamb Chops only Numbered Four, maybe Clive and Hector had ordered a Half Kilo last time. It was the Masala. Bradford Curry is Dry. Where did this Soup come from? I have never seen this in Eighteen Years of Visiting The International, or any Bradford Curry House for that matter. Apparently I took a long time to finish the First Chop. One suspects Ricky was already anticipating my defeat? Hector was distracted by The Soup-Masala. Dipping the Chapattis, First of Three, it was most apparent that the full Blast of Achari-Pickle was there. The Flavour was Intense, the Seasoning, ah The Seasoning. Yes, I would have preferred a Thicker, Bhuna, Bradford Masala, but this is what I had, make the most of it. Chops Two to Four were despatched thereafter with Great Efficiency. The Chops were Large, maybe Four was enough. Seven would have been Wonderful.
Meanwhile Ricky was well into his Keema Spinach Bhuna. Jonathan still had no Curry. When Ali brought the Two Curry Dishes he made no attempt to apologise for the oversight. Khalid had to be called in. The Order was Repeated, Confirmed. Jonathan suggested that he might – … do a Robin…
Well Spiced, Real Spinach, not from a Tin – was Ricky’s Verdict. He also said he could have done with more. The Sauce was Spot-on.
Jonathan eventually received his Keema Spinach Bhuna. The Wait had spoiled his Dining Experience. As there was No Apology, it did not matter how good the food was…
Ricky suggested that the staff were too busy looking after a Celebrity rather than getting the order right.
Ricky was referring to Hector!
The Bill
£27.40. The Bill was split Three Ways despite Hector not having any part of The Starter. Your Ridiculously Posh Course – was Ricky’s justification for this. Indeed, Mine was £2.00 dearer.
The Aftermath
We went our separate ways.
Before my next Curry, some very Sad, but not Unexpected News would reach Hector.
That this was The Deli and I have walked past The Restaurant at the bottom of Great Horton Rd. next to 
Jonathan and Hector arrived at 
What would normally be written as The Aftermath was actually The Prequel. As I photographed The Salad, Taj said – You are still spying on me!
The Aftermath
Hector has been served some very poor Bread this week, in 
The Karahi Portion was Substantial. Portions here tend to be so. The Dish was Steaming Hot which enhances the Verdict on the Paratha. With less Oil than I have seen in any Curry served on these premises, this was Bradford Dry. The Fish was Flaked as expected. The Distinctive Bradford Flavour was there – just. In no way was this as Attention-Grabbing as the December Version. Pot Luck of which Chef on duty perhaps. Still, Spicy, Dry, Bradford, it ticked many boxes. It did not have the – Wow – that I have already experienced Twice this week in 
This should go down in the History of Curry-Heute as the most up-to-date Curry Report ever written. I decanted around the corner to The Fighting Cock. With a below average Sheffield Ale for Sustenance, the employment of both Trusty Samsung Devices have enabled T’Internet and this very write-up.
Actually, the last rain Marg and Hector endured was as we boarded the easyJet flight to 
As we completed our circuit of The Acropolis, we found ourselves in Plaka, the restaurant area on the northern, steep side, of the asymmetrical mount where we enjoyed traditional Greek Food some years back. Marg reckoned Geros Tou Moria was the very taverna visited previously and so we took a roof table opposite the restaurant proper. It was mid-afternoon, too early to eat, again. The Menu said Stifado. The waiter wanted to bring two portions immediately, we said we would be back. Just after 21.00 last evening we returned.
In keeping with The Cunning Plan, Hector was having Curry for lunch. Kohenoor Indian Restaurant (Triptolemou 41, Gazi/Keramikos, 11854, Athens, Greece) is a stretch beyond our usual bit of 
Meanwhile Marg also cleared her plate. The Chapatti was smaller and thinner than those served in the better Glasgow and Bradford Curry houses. It did look like a Chapatti. Chapattis have not necessarily been on the Menu this week. Creamy and Tomatoey, without a Kick – was Marg’s Verdict on the Chicken Butter Masala. Pleasant!
I took two Menus, large A3 cards with three columns. Chicken was clearly listed. Was that it? There was no way The Hector was having Chicken Curry. A Mix Vegetable Curry it would have to be. I would check. Keema Nan? This suggested Lamb on the premises. Marg fancied no more than a Snack, she had been down for breakfast. The Indian Souvlaki sounded like a suitable merging of genres.
There was a sign that the Naan was puffy, not by a huge amount, but it had a bit of puffiness. With Garlic embedded the major point of interest was the interior. If Keema served in Bread in Glasgow ends up looking like Donner Meat, then this is what was expected in Greece. There was no Donner in Mirch Masala. This Naan had discrete Minced Lamb. This was better than anticipated. Not the best Naan by any means, but the best Bread served in an Athens Curry House this week.
Hector has been here. He ate a Vegetable Curry and enjoyed it. The Naan was also not a disappointment.
Kebab?
We entered around 15.00, two other tables were occupied. The Kitchen is at the front of the restaurant behind a glass screen. Two Chefs were on duty. A young waitress permitted us to sit anywhere. Hector chose a table for two towards the rear, just in case we became in smoking range of any future diners. Yes, the Smoking Ban of 2010 is ignored by all who choose to do so. Research says 40% of adult Greeks smoke. They don’t give a ….
Nondescript? Well my task unfortunately is to describe it. The Paratha was Thin, far too Thin. Small, far too small. Flaky? – Not a Single Flake. It was neither Roti or Paratha.
The 
It was as much Pitta as Naan. A Tawa Production, no sign of a Tandoor here. Bone Dry, no Garlic Butter here. Instead Garlic Cloves had been Sliced and Embedded. This packed a Punch Taste-wise. Still, too Peely Wally. Rice is the Better Option at this Venue.
Thereafter we wandered beyond Omonia in search of a Potential Fun Indian Venue. If Barba George’s Indian still exists, then this is the location. This has to be an Evening Visit.
As we headed to Bierhof this evening we passed close by. Barba George’s Indian is either closed over the winter, or it has gone. A pity.
There was so much Curry, and I had made a Baby Curry too. The only difference was not sprinkling fresh Green Chillies on top of the Mashed Potato. Yes, the Potatoes were mashed, they were cooked, no repeat of the Great Potato Disaster.
Craig ate his Baby Curry and went back for more. I think Robin helped him. Jonathan was in the kitchen watching Men run around with a strange shaped ball. He was encouraged to keep eating. I guess he did, eventually what was served was done. There was still the reserve for the Takeaways.
ent. Substantial but Oily was my first take. The Chef appeared from the kitchen. They watched me take the ritual photos. Simple cooking – is how The Chef described their Style. Different from the other places around here – was also his claim.
