Le Penjab – Strasbourg, Hector’s First French Curry

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Hector

Curry-Heute is two years old – today!

It is April 8, Hector is still on vacation, tonight it is Le Penjab (12, Rue de Tonneliers, 6700, Strasbourg). This is a significant date, it is two years to this very day when the first Curry-Heute report was written about the Indien Mango in München. Much Curry has been consumed since then and many words written.

Hector, with the ever faithful Marg in tow had a choice of four Curry Houses that had been encountered in the previous twenty four hours. The Bar Exils has proved to be a Hector Magnet. Le Penjab is around the corner, so the feelings were that the Omens had  already been written.

About four other tables were occupied when we entered around 20.00. A table for two it was then. The menu was quite limited. For Hector it was normal Lamb Curry or Gosht Vindaloo. The latter felt the better option. Marg went for the Lamb Roganjosh, the presence of yoghurt having put me off. I asked the Doris if there was anything else. I also asked if Dry Curry was possible. I was advised that all the Curry comes with Sauce unless I chose the Grill. I was tempted for a moment but then it was a Curry I came for. The thought of Meat and Sauce with nothing else made me order an extra Main Course – the Legume Curry. This was only €2 more than the Side Vegetable dishes. As usual we agreed to share a Vegetable Rice. Here it was referred to as: Saffron-flavoured basmati rice and vegetables.

The Roti and the Nan were both €2.90 each, so instead of two Roti we ordered one of each. This felt logical. What was illogical was Doris asking me if I wanted my Vindaloo to be mild, medium or hot?

The wait was not long and everything came together except the Nan which had to be re-ordered. The portions were adequate, the extra Legume Curry proved to be a good decision. The Rice was very much a portion for one and the added Vegetables were minimal. The Roti was not large but was quite thick. The Nan came quickly and was perhaps the highlight of the Sides, it was fresh, light and fluffy.

The Vindaloo quite simply was not. There was no heat to speak of. There was no Potato. We shall ignore the literal ‘Vin’ part of the definition, but come on, she did ask if I wanted it hot etc.

The Vindaloo was at least well-seasoned. The Masala was the classic below average Curry Sauce – pureed Onion and Yogurt/Cream. . There was nothing bad about the overall flavour, just nothing remarkable. The Lamb varied from tender to chewy.

Marg was enjoying her Roganjosh. Not being too Spicy suits her. The Creamier Sauce she likes too. Marg’s Lamb also varied from tender to being harder to chew. The Legume Curry became a disputed point. Marg found this too Salty and too Spicy, I felt it was again well-seasoned and was definitely hotter than my Vindaloo. Carrot, Cauliflower and Aubergine were the Interesting Vegetables which made up the Legume Curry. To me, this made the whole meal worthwhile, without this I think I would have been writing a much more critical report.  However, venues such as this should really look at what they are serving, they are living in the past if they believe what they serve up is a Curry fit for the Twenty First Century.

The Bill

€48.30. We did have three Main Courses between the two of us.

The Aftermath

Not much chat at all. Indeed, none.

So, where do I go next time?

Posted in Le Penjab | 1 Comment

Freiburg im Breisgau – Panjab Restaurant

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Hector

Hector had done some research before embarking on the eight day April Tour of Schweiz/Deutschland/Frankreich. Twelve venues popped up on Google for Freiburg im Breisgau, most of these may well have been places selling Curry Wurst when foot was set on the ground. Jaipur was easily found in the heart of the city, but we don’t want to go there. Panjab (Turnsee Strasse 13, 79102, Freiburg im Breisgau, Badem-Wurtemberg, Deutschland) had the only positive report in the English language. Here is a report in more detail than the Reader may find in any language.

The leg work was completed yesterday, Panjab was located with ease. The tactic was to return this evening as there was uncertainty as to to the extent of business closures on Pessach 2012. Arriving at 20.10 the place was stowed. We were invited to come back in an hour and made a reservation to comply. A quick Hefe Weizen at Der Kaiser around the corner passed the time. The anticipation was building, how many German Curry houses are ever found to be this busy, at any time?

Returning with the punctuality befitting our Host Nation our table awaited. The menu came, Butter Chicken for Marg, Bhindi Gosht for Hector. As Rice was inclusive this was the only way of guaranteeing an Interesting Vegetable apart from ordering a Veggie Dish. (But I did manage this last week at the New Karahi Palace, Glasgow.) A Roti and a Butter Nan were the Accompaniments. We had seen the size of the Bread on offer and knew one would not be enough. A Vegetable Pakora was also ordered as the main portions did not appear to be too generous.

Panjab was emptying with each passing moment. Our meals arrived, the Breads, the Curry, and enough Rice to feed a family of four. No Pakora: I forgot –  said the waiter. Well, did he actually write anything down?

Bhindi Gosht

By this time I did not care. The Bhindi Gosht looked the part. The portion size was decent, the Lamb was cut into smaller pieces than at home but not Bradford-small. The Masala was quite thick with a hint of Cream but not so much that it suggested blandness. The Roti was on the crispier side of the norm and dripping wet, good. The Nan came in two rolled pieces, butter? – where? Maybe it was the Roti that was buttered, what was written?

The first Dip revealed a more than competent Curry. I had asked for it to be Hot, it was and not excessively so. A Side Dish of something was set before us, I assumed this was to add an extra kick as is the German way, but this turned out to be Pickle. There was no obvious single flavour from the Masala but it was truly pleasant. The slivers of Ginger which topped the meal were testimony to the fact that this is a contemporary outlet that has not sat on its laurels. The Okra was also served in thin pieces, their presence did not dominate, it was the Vegetable Accompaniment I was looking for. The Lamb was tender and of sufficient quantity to confirm that was indeed a very peasant meal. Hector was happy.

Butter Chicken

Marg’s Butter Chicken had a major task to impress. The Tomato in the Masala was highly visible, Marg described the dish as – Tomato and Fruity. The Spice content was minimal so this may have suited. I have to report that Marg enjoyed her meal, it was not as outstanding in terms of Butter Chicken served at her favourite venue, Mother India’s Café, Glasgow.

By the end we had cleaned the Curry bowls, demolished the Breads and left half of the Boiled Rice. This was a waste, but how much Rice are people expected to eat?

The Bill

€36.00. The Pakora had not been charged for, good. A fair price.

The Aftermath

On offering my card it was questioned as to why a Glasgow Curry Website would have a German name. I showed my Homepage, I was immediately asked for a second Calling Card.

The waiter also asked if I wished to sign the Complaints Book. I declined. It took a moment to work out why it had been offered. The invisible Pakora!

Who knows when, or even if, I shall ever return to Freiburg im Breisgau, if ever I do, I shall return to Panjab, but make a reservation first.

Posted in Panjab | 1 Comment

Return to The Shenaz (via Akbar’s)

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Hector

Hector had Bradford Curry on his mind, Akbar’s was calling.  On entering the premises at 16.43 I was greet warmly by the waiter who has come to know me from my three previous visits.  The  reception turned cold.  I was informed that they do not open until 17.00 (so keep your doors locked!) but was invited to sit and wait.  Knowing that it would take a further twenty minutes to prepare my dish I decided that there is more than one Curry House in Glasgow.  I left.

The Café Salma next door would certainly be open but the autopilot took me south, not east.

The Shenaz (17 Granville Street, Glasgow, G3 7EE) is one of Glasgow’s longest established venue dating back some fifty years.  I knew they would definitely be open as there is a permanent banner advertising a pre-theatre deal.  Why more places are not open late afternoon remains a mystery to Hector.  The Village do a steady trade all afternoon.  It is much healthier to eat before meeting The Chaps than it is to consume late evening Curry.

Table cloths make the statement that this remains a restaurant above the basic.  The bar no doubt sells the usual array of liquid that many desire, Sparkling Water remains my preferred mouthwash.  I was shown to the same corner table as on my last visit.  I had time to consult my own Blog entry, the last visit was during the Easter Vacation as was today, Marg was away as she is today.  I had just found The Tiffin Rooms not to be open at 16.40, the same venue as Akbar’s now is, the same problem, same solution.

The menu as was written last year had three options to sustain a Hector.  The Lahori Gosht with Lamb on-the-bone was excellent on my last visit.  The Lamb Karahi was tempting but in a mood of experimentation I opted for the Lamb Desi.  This of course could be anything.  Two Chapattis (£1.20 each) were the Accompaniment of choice; I am actually starting to miss Rice. ‘That’s all?’ was the quizzical question posed by the waiter.  Who can eat more than this in a Glasgow restaurant?

A different waiter brought the bits:  main course, Chapattis, and two trays with fresh Tomato, Onion Chutney, Coconut and Pineapple.  Is there an African influence?

The Masala looked impressively thick with the Ghee forming at the base of the dish.  Fresh Green Chillis were very much to the fore so there was a pleasant, but not excessive, kick.   The flavour of the sprinkled fresh Coriander provided moments of pleasure.  This was an enjoyable dish but did not have the wow factor that I recorder on my last visit.  Next time it will be back to the Lahori Gosht.

Chapattis have been featuring prominently in recent reports.  Today these were good sized with suitable girth.  Two was the perfect quantity.  The Fresh Tomato turned out to be the perfect solution to consuming the last spoonfuls of Masala after the very tender Lamb had been consumed.  If the Lamb had been cut smaller it may have lasted a bit longer but there was no criticism of the portion, this was enough.

I was offered Dessert when the remains were removed from the table but informed yet another waiter that ‘Curry is my thing.’.

The Bill

£14.20.  This is 30p less than a year ago, oh I had Rice then.

The Aftermath

I showed my Calling Card and the waiter came around the counter to get a better look at my HTC.  He was pleased to see that he had been mentioned and hopes to see me back soon.  However, the infrequency of my visits to this establishment is simple to explain: Café Salma, Punjabi Charing Cross, Panjea, (Koh i Noor) and now Akbar’s are within one hundred metres of each other.  Difficult.

Posted in Akbar's, The Shenaz | 2 Comments

The Tenth Visit to The New Karahi Palace

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Hector

With Marg’s Hockey commitments over the next few days and both of us being on holiday,  it is going to be hard for Hector not to eat Curry every day. We shall see if resilience is a new byword or if the full OCD remains.

Having brought the wonderful Punjabi Charing Cross up to ten visits in one year it was only fitting that Hector should match this at the similarly impressive New Karahi Palace (51 – 53 Nelson Street, Tradeston, Glasgow, G5 8DZ).  Normally I hope that their excellent Karela dish is available.  Apart from this their Lamb on-the-bone specials are superb too, though a couple of commentators have used the term ‘plate of bones’ to describe their experience.

Today I felt that I would take whatever they had on display under the counter.  Mein Host today was a new Chap and so I was starting from scratch; however, the familiar Chef was in the background.

Chicken and Vegetables were the predominant meals from which to choose.  The Chicken Palak looked the business but there was lovely looking Lamb Shorva (on-the-bone).  I spotted a mean looking plate of mostly Okra at the far end, Vegetable Curry I was told.  I ordered a part portion.  No matter how stunning the meat, on its own it does not make a perfect meal in my book, an Interesting Vegetable always enhance a meal.  Two Chapattis (60p each) were the Accompaniments.

The somewhat basic, but Complementary Salad and excellent Raita were presented with a jug of Water; I was going to order something fizzy but changed my mind.

It took no time at all to reheat the portions I had ordered.  The Lamb was magnificently tender, it could be sucked from the bone with minimal effort. The Masala was the classic thin, richly flavoured, classic 1960s Curry Sauce.  Then there was the Vegetables.  The Okra was approaching mushy, the perils of being cooked and left to sit.  Onion was also part of the mix.  The flavour from this Vegetable mix was outstanding, Cumin was much to the fore.  When I liberally poured the Masala over it I had a very fine meal indeed.

Now, why did I order two Chapattis?  Turning the clock back to yesterday when a third Chapatti had to be ordered, how is it possible that the industry can present such disparate sizes, thickness and price for the same basic product?  The Chapattis served at the New Karahi Palace are among the very best.  The price is a fair reflection of what it is, a piece of Bread, and as we should all know by now, they are served free in Bradford.

The Bill

£9.70.  In a Café style venue this is a decent price for one and a half portions of Curry.

The Aftermath

We convened for our usual Saturday appreciation of Deutsche Bier at the Allison Arms.  None of us knew that this was Liz’s last day.  Jonathan, Michael, Neil, Mr Boyd and Hector stayed on to show our appreciation of great service over the last few years.  Now to convince Liz that I am not Howard!

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Larbert – Gulnar Tandoori

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Hector

Hector sets foot on Larbert soil for only the second time

Today was the opening day of the Larbert Ale Fest at the Dobbie Hall.  The first visit back in 1998 was in a previous life, I had neither Bier or Curry in mind that day.

Curry was not foremost in the mind of Hector today either, but as the company began to disintegrate around 20.00 and I was the only person who had not queued for food, the stomach was sending out signals.  [Stan.TB] my usual Friday co-diner had sneaked into Café Salma for lunch prior to meeting up, he had been sated by their excellent Punjabi dish.  Jonathan expressed an interest then somehow having consulted his phone, changed his mind – Jonathan had just broken Hector’s Fundamental Rule.

Mr. Google had provided the details of what appears to be Larbert’s only Curry House, Gulnar Tandoori (50-64, Main St, Larbert, Stirlingshire, FK5 3AR).  The reviews online were all positive, this made me all the more determined to try it out.  Located on the opposite side of the station from the Town Hall, it was only a few minutes’ walk.  The place was modern in layout; the red flock wallpaper had never been hung here.  A fountain in the middle guarded the entrance the to the central Buffet area.  The serving bowls were empty, no Buffet tonight – good, the chance of a serious Chef being present.

The menu suggested that they were offering something different from the norm, this escaped this commentator.  Indeed I struggled to find anything of real interest so settled for the Karahi Gosht (without the dreaded Green Mushy Vegetable).

The waiter came to take the order:

Karahi Gosht please with two Chapattis.

Do you want Chicken or Lamb?

At this point Hector was taken aback: You cannot have Chicken with Karahi Gosht!, there was a smile in response. 

Do you want Rice with that? 

Well of course I didn’t, my Asian advisors assure me that this dish is never eaten with Rice, I had not ordered any. Two Chapattis please –  I repeated.  More fool me as it turned out.

Whilst I waited for the meal Marg phoned offering me a lift home, however she did not expect me to still be in Larbert.  I had time to count the diners, we were ten.  There was another dining room beyond the main room.

The Karahi was presented along with the Chapattis.

Karahi GoshtThe appearance was worrying, far too red, therefore too much Tomato.  The Onion had not been cooked to a pulp, chunky pieces dominated the Masala, from this moment onwards the word Sauce prevailed in my mind.  The first dip, nothing, then a blast of Spice.

This was far too hot and any chance of the flavours emanating from the dish had been destroyed. More seasoning was certainly a fundamental requirement. The Lamb could have done with more cooking time, it was still too chewy.  Maybe I have just been spoiled by the excellence of the venues I have visited elsewhere.  I was amusing myself once more with the realisation that this dish was poor and there wasn’t very much of it.  However, I came to change my mind about the quantity, but not the ingredients.

The Lamb numbered about eight pieces of varying size, I had to rethink my strategy.  I ordered another Chapatti – three with one dish?  The Chapattis were fine but at £1.45 each definitely on the small side.  (Four large Chapattis included with one’s meal is the Bradford norm.)  I was doing my best not just to eat the meat but consume of what was a huge amount of Sauce. For this version of Karahi, Rice would have been a better option.  Halfway through the third Chapatti I called it a day.

Another Chap came to remove the debris away and took the time to ask if I had enjoyed my meal. 

Too much Sauce, not enough Lamb – was my reply.  He immediately apologised and stated he could have done something about this had he known sooner.  I wasn’t complaining, just relating my disappointment.

The Bill

£9.30.  Another waiter brought The Bill:

We have taken £2.00 off – he assured me.  In fact I had only been charged for one Chapatti so I reckon £2.90 had been removed.

The Aftermath

I gave my Calling Card at the counter and introduced myself.  The Card was passed to the waiter (Manager) who had originally served me.  I related once more my comment about too much Sauce and too little Lamb.  I now went further and stated that their dish really needs more Herbs, Methi, Coriander, something.  The Manager was quite magnanimous and said that he respected my comments.  I consider this to be honourable.

Gulnar Tandoori has its own website, under construction as best I can judge.  This  suggests they may well take the time to read this narrative.  If they feel they can cook me something better I would be delighted to return.  Else, Dear Reader, Stirling is a few minutes away and I have never had a bad Curry there. (But, Kenneth, it has been a while…)

Posted in Gulnar Tandoori | 1 Comment

The Tenth Visit to the Punjabi Charing Cross

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Hector

Hector and Steve had a swift half with the Chaps at Hengler’s Circus before the 19.00 rendezvous at The Bon Accord with some Colleagues – we are on vacation – once more – not again – oh yes!  Euan took advantage of the chain’s Thursday Night Curry Offer.  Hector has had one Wetherspoon’s Curry, it was his last.

The Colleagues Curry was for six, Hector went into The Punjabi Charing Cross (157-159 North Street, Glasgow, G3 7DA) in passing to advise that we would come in an hour or so and that the order would include four of the self titled Lamb Gurmeet (named after the Chef).  For those who are not familiar with the dish which is not on the menu, it is a combination of two Punjabi dishes, features Lamb on-the-bone, has loadsa Methi and the Capsicum is excluded.  It is the House version of a Bradford-style Lamb Karahi.

Marg, whose photograph will not appear in this report due to an incident at hockey on Monday, prefers her Lamb boneless so the Lamb Chilli Ginger was her choice this evening.  Louise the token Vegetarian ordered Vegetable Biryani.

The Complementary Poppadoms and Dips were on the table as we sat down, the order for the Accompaniments was efficiently dealt with, Marg and Hector would share two Chapattis and a Vegetable Rice as is our norm, the Biryani takes care of itself, Steve asked for a Nan and a Chapatti (?), Ian and Anne – two Boiled Rice and a Nan.  Anne also insisted that we have Vegetable Pakora, so we did.

It was a pleasure to have the company of Anne and Ian, the latter being Hector’s biggest critic.  (He is not my brother, but could be my clone.) He has taken my advice on places to visit over the years and has rarely been impressed.  His suggestions have been met with blank states by Hector.  We look for different things in a Curry.  Steve has not been back to the Punjabi Charing Cross since the opening night, he Marg and I were the first paying customers last April.  That I insisted on coming here and not the new Akbar’s around the corner was challenged by Steve.  I had to be in full Hector mode to convince him that the Lamb Gurmeet is one of the best dishes served in the City of Glasgow.  So no pressure on me then. This was Louise’s first visit; the last time the six of us dined together was at Café Salma last October for a certain 30 year Celebration.

With the Starters out of the way the mains appeared ‘Visitors first.’ is how Hari put it as he presented the far side of the table from Hector with their meals.  It was then that Steve realised he had not ordered Rice; Nan and Chapatti it would be then, somehow he ate the lot.

With the table straining, Hari appeared with another Karahi and opened with an apology: ‘This might not be as good as last time, we only had an hour to prepare it.’.  Behold a mass of Karela, the Bitter Vegetable – genius!  This was passed round the table for all to sample, The Vegetarian was reluctant, no comment.

The Vegetable Biryani did not look too dissimilar to Marg and Hector’s shared Vegetable Rice.  There was a Masala, but as it was described as sweet I did not bother contaminating the palate.  This end of the table was dry, with the exception of the largest bottle of Sparkling Water set before the Hector.

The Curry?  Dear reader, I have already related that this is one of the finest dishes served in the City of Glasgow so it was no surprise when the three novices all began to make positive noises.  Ian described the Lamb as ‘excellent’, praise indeed.  Methi is not a Herb that the rest of the table appeared to be familiar with, it is on their radar now.  The KRK grocer on Woodlands Road will no doubt be visited soon.  The thick Masala was sheer perfection, the quantity of Lamb as it should be allowing for the bone debris.  Those who had the Lamb Gurmeet (with extra Karela) were truly indulged.

Let us not forget the Lamb Chilli Ginger.  Marg was delighted with her selection, a piece of her Lamb did appear on my plate but in no way could it compete with the taste overdose that we, the eaters of Gurmeet, were enjoying.

The Bill

£80.90.  A tidy sum, some had Beer.

The Aftermath 

Ian said he would return – !!!!

The end of the first full day of the vacation, time to consider how best to spend day two, day three….

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Manchester – Shahi Masala and Al-Faisal Tandoori

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Hector

Marg announced a few weeks ago that she was planning a mini hockey tour for her First XI to Manchester.  I was invited to accompany her, nice.  A pity this may not be the last use of the term nice in this report.  The location of the opposition hockey pitch just happened to be one block to the west of Manchester’s famous Curry Mile, Hector became very interested.

The Travelodge on Upper Brook St. where I had resided back in January of this very year would once again prove to be the perfect place for nocturnal repose.  Speeding down to Manchester last evening at a steady 62mph courtesy of the restricting gizmo in the minibus, it was a somewhat late arrival – would you believe Pizza was the food of choice?

This morning there was an early rise leading to the game of hockey which the visitors won.  The drive back to the hotel gave the opportunity for Hector to see the Curry Mile by day.  One young lady asked if it really was – a mile.

There was now an hour in which the ladies could satisfy their need to shop.  Hector led Marg to Al-Faisal Tandoori (58 Thomas Street  Manchester M4 1EG) for Curry #1 of the day.  Somehow we had managed to park in Turner St, right in the heart of Manchester’s Curry Cafe scene.   It is strange how these things happen. Having eaten a substantial breakfast, Marg was content to watch Hector indulge himself in a Lamb Karahi.  A single Chapatti would prove sufficient, the lesson having been learned about ordering two on the last visit.

Served in an instant, the meal was brought with Marg’s milky looking tea.

The Karahi was very much in the Shorva style, not quite Soup, but with a very runny Masala.  The pedigree of this Masala was evident; the Onion had been well pulped.  This is the classic 1960’s style Curry which is wonderful to experience on occasion.  Well Seasoned Masala and an adequate portion of Lamb for this time of day, what more does one need for lunch?

The Bill

£6.00.  The Chaps may have noticed that Marg had left half of her cup of tea, too strong for the Lady.

The Aftermath

Bolton Wanderers 2 v 1 Blackburn Rovers

This was Bolton’s first match since Muamba’s collapse last Saturday, an emotional day.   It also involved the drive up to Bolton and back to Manchester, for another Curry!

Curry #2

Shahi Masala (18 Wilmslow Road  Rusholme, Manchester M14 5TP) is a modern venue on The Curry Mile that Hector had spotted by night back in January.      It looked a decent venue to take our young party of Hockey Enthusiasts, some of whom were already familiar with Curry-Heute having nominated Hector last year in his attempt to become Scottish Curry Lover of The Year.  Our table for fifteen was attractively set up.  Poppadoms and Dips were spread out in three batches.  The Poppadoms were evidently not Complimentary, nor were the Dips for which there was apparently a pro rata charge.  By my reckoning we were already £18 into our Bill, smart.

Thirteen Ladies of varying Curry Experience and tastes, inevitably Katy, sitting beside Hector, selected the infamous Chicken Tikka Masala.  Evie took advice and ordered the Chicken Korma on the basis that Spice would be non-existent.

Rogan Josh, Pasanda and Kashmiri were other mainstream dishes ordered by our collective.  Then there were the more discerning diners.  Sophie impressed most with her order of Lamb Chops:  – very nice – was her verdict.  I think our educational establishment should try and expand  the descriptive skills of our charges.  Morven also impressed by her selection of Kofta.  She found her dish to be a bit too Spicy for her tastes, but good on her for being so radical with her selection.

Initially I thought the girls were ordering Curry with no accompaniments; however they had efficiently worked out combinations of shared Rice and Naan.   It just took a bit longer for the accompaniments to arrive. Overall one has to marvel at thirteen willing Curry participants with no mumbles of discontent.  In the early 1970s when Hector was this tender age, there is no way this many homo sapiens of the female variety would ever have contemplated such a feast.  There is hope for mankind.

Marg went for the Lamb Punjabi Special which she was determined to share with those who were sitting nearby and had chosen Chicken.  Fortunately there was a couple of pieces of Lamb coming Hector’s way which enabled me to deduce I had ordered the correct meal, let me experience a second and ensure that the Curry Lust had be satisfied, pro tem.

Hector had been online before the departure for Manchester, the Lamb Desi Karahi, on-the-bone, is exactly the dish that made me believe that this could be a decent place to visit.  I ensured that it would not be served too wet, the waiter was not that convincing with his acknowledgement.

The meals had been brought on trolleys with admirable efficiency, the Rice and Breads did take a bit longer so we were mostly sitting looking at our meals with nothing to dip, hence the aforementioned concern.  Marg and Hector were sharing a Vegetable Rice and two Tandoori Roti.  The Roti were splendid and the Rice more than enough for two.  It was the quantity of my Curry that concerned me, when one takes the bone content into account, this was decidedly minimal.  The flavour of the Lamb Desi Karahi was very distinctive with a predominance of Cinnamon.  Hector loves this, and had tried to emulate this over the years of Curry Cooking but has never managed to bring the full flavour out.  In many ways the overall impression of this dish was an on-the-bone Rogan Gosht with Cinnamon dominating instead of Tomato.  I would certainly return here and order this again, but then there are one or two more places on the Wilmslow Road to visit.

*

The Bill

£177.55.  For fifteen people this is not bad at all, I am still not sure if the Poppadoms and Dips were included.

Laura was evidently more excited about obtaining a copy of the Calling Card than the staff.

The Aftermath

Ten Pin Bowling at the Trafford Centre.  Now there is a very silly building…

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Yadgar – The Vernal Equinox

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Hector

Consecutive Tuesdays, and Hector finds himself on the South-side again around tea time, there is only one thing for it: Yadgar (148  Calder St, Glasgow, G42 7QP).  Jonathan was up for the return, [Stan.TB] in his latest incarnation, wanted to be part of our midweek indulgence.

We arrived punctually for the 18.30 rendezvous, so punctual we were ten minutes early.  The young waiter brought us the Complementary Chunky Onion Chutney, Mango Chutney and Poppadoms.

The feast was underway.  A Salad appeared, [Stan.TB] and Jonathan got stuck in, Hector was more reserved.  We had no idea what was coming next, no order was placed.  I texted Shkoor at lunchtime yesterday asking him to feed three, no other communication was necessary.

A platter of Spicy Scottish Cod was then set before us, it looked even more magnificent than the pair of Fish Jonathan and I had consumed last week.  [Stan.TB] was taken aback, well that is my interpretation because as the readers know, he rarely passes a verbal comment.  The Cod was once again cooked to perfection with the Spicy Crust being the focal point of interest.  Tonight I added some of the Red Dip that had recently appeared.  Hector was finished the second phase and sat waiting for whatever creation would follow.

[Stan.TB] was still eating the Fish when the large Karahi and basket of Chapattis arrived.  Two of us were ready.  More Salad –  the restaurateurs of Glasgow  must unanimously agree we need more Salad.

We were given a pile of dry Lamb, no a mountain, thick with Methi.  So Methi Gosht it was we concluded.

Hector started, Jonathan joined in, [Stan.TB] was now ready.

The above gap represents the silence that followed.  Jonathan remarked on how tender the Lamb was, it was indeed.  [Stan.TB] said absolutely nothing.  Hector completed the mandatory photographs, we ate in companionable silence.

Shkoor made his appearance as we tried not to be out-stared by the last two pieces of Lamb.  Our enjoyment was confirmed.  Hector then spotted a familiar face, it was Hamsa, late of The Khyber, Scotland’s first Afghan restaurant.  It was good to see that he had found somewhere else excellent to eat.

Once more we sat, motionless and silent, stuffed.  When Shkoor took the empty Karahi away [Stan.TB] spoke: ‘Has he gone to refill it?’  Can we have our real Stan back?

Mr Shah has not been seen for some time.  It was Mr Arshad who has been cooking our still excellent meals in recent visits.  We wish Mr Shah a quick and full recovery.  He is The Man!

The Bill

£40.00.  A nice round sum, who knows what it could have been?  We were too polite to make the calculation, anyway the Fish is not on  any menu we saw.

The Aftermath

Three men waddled out into the first night of Spring.

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Glasgow – Kebabish Grill – Visit #1

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Hector

Kebabish Grill (323–325 Victoria Road, Glasgow, G42 7SA) is a venue I have passed often, especially when heading towards the magnificent Yadgar around the corner in Calder St.  The layout of this restaurant feels more like a Belgian Brasserie than a Glasgow Curry House, but it probably sells more Milk Shakes and will never sell Abbey Bier.  The place has the feeling of being in a chain franchise, but it has nothing to do with the similarly named Kebabish Original who have an outlet a few blocks away on Pollokshaws Rd.  The staff all wear uniform black, there were plenty of them.  It definitely has the air of a chain.

Hector obeyed the instruction and waited at the dias to be seated.  The young waitress seemed surprised that I was here to dine alone, she offered me a Takeaway.  As a regular diner at this time on a Saturday I was surprised at how busy the place was.  I was even more surprised to be sat immediately beside a party of six.  Why do they have everyone bunched up at the rear left of the restaurant instead of spacing their customers out?  I busied myself with the trusty HTC and tried not to hear the conversations beside me.

The menu was presented; I expected to see a Desi section as there is a sign in the window advertising Authentic Desi Cooking,  Karela Gosht on the first page caught the eye, this would be worthwhile test for any restaurant.

More people entered and were sat on the edge of the throng, amazing.  Am I part of some sort of Cosy Curry  Convention?  The meal did not take too long to arrive.  It was preceded by a Salad and Dips which I looked at and was somewhat baffled by.  The presence of Olives made me immediately not wish to eat it until the Curry arrived.  My only other Olive in a Curry experience at the Meghna in Blairgowrie came to mind, this works.

Today I felt like Rice, Mushroom Rice looked the most attractive choice, when it arrived there was masses of it, more than enough for two.  It looked a bit stodgy but turned out to be fine. 

Karela Gosht

The Karela Gosht looked bountiful in the karahi.  The thick and dry Masala looked perfect, there appeared to be a lot of Lamb but as I progressed through the meal I discovered the base of the karahi was all Karela, excessively so.

The texture was perfect, the appearance was perfect, where was the flavour? The wow factor was not there.  This was a competently prepared meal but it did not hit the spot.  What did impress was the varied texture the contents of the Salad provided, bits of gherkin along with the raw Onion and Olives did make the meal more memorable.

By the end I had a mountain of Rice and large slices of Karela.  This did leave a very bitter taste on the palate, but I suppose that it what is meant to do.  It also highlighted once more just how bland the Lamb and Masala actually were.

The Bill

£14.10.  The bottle of Sparkling Water must have been expensive. I presented my calling card to the waiter who took my cash. There appears to be no banter in this venue.

The Aftermath

An orange coloured seed was wedged in the teeth, just how bitter was this?

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Punjabi Charing Cross – another warm welcome, and excellent Curry too!

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Hector

The Punjabi Charing Cross (157-159 North Street, Glasgow, G3 7DA) is located next door to the Bon Accord.  With Tempest’s ‘Long White Cloud’ as the promised Ale of the evening, what better way to kick things off than the guarantee of an excellent Curry?

Ram was at the door to greet his latest customer.  I was shown to a small table on the far left.  The Complementary Poppadoms and Onion Chutney were set on the table the instant I sat down.  It is some weeks since I last ate here, a Bradford trip had been squeezed in and of course Bradford is very much on everyone’s mind in this area with the opening of Akbar’s around the corner.

My order of Lamb Gurmeet (‘why not Goat?’) and two Chapattis was almost incidental, indeed the words came out of Ram’s mouth, not mine.  He was definitely interested to hear what I thought of their new competition.  I gave a synopsis of my first three visits.

Hector ate one and a half Poppadoms; the second one was only started because I had so much Onion.  It is a strange custom throughout the land that two people get to share one portion whilst a solo diner gets the lot.

The self titled Lamb Gurmeet did not take long, it was different this evening.  Usually Lamb Chops are to the fore, if these were Chops originally then they were Gigot Chops. The Lamb was therefore on-the-bone, so the extra flavour the bones give was flooding  in to the Masala.  The Masala itself was dark and thick with fresh Methi, in fact the appearance was more Palak in nature.  The Lamb this evening was slightly more chewy than the norm but not significantly so.  Once again Chef Gurmeet has excelled in producing this well seasoned and moderately Spicy Masala rich in Herbs.  The Ghee at the base of the Karahi gave an extra dose of flavour when the wholesome Chapattis were dipped.  As regular readers now, this is exactly how Hector likes his Curry.

The Other Hari appeared as I started to eat, but realised I could not talk and chew.  Hari himself entered the premises at the end of the meal; he too was interested in my views on Akbar’s.  Hari had been and found it too Spicy for his taste.  This is the second Glasgow restaurant proprietor this week I have mentioned the dual menu system at Akbar’s to, it is difficult to believe that they serve their meals differently to the ‘English’ and the ‘Asians’.

The Bill

£12.65.  This is lower than the norm, perhaps because my Sparkling Water did not come from an individual bottle.

The Aftermath

The Tempest ‘Long White Cloud’ has become sweeter in recent weeks.  Why do brewers do this to a winning formula?

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