Curry-Heute

With Marg in Aberdeen on Hockey business, Hector was at large on the Southside for the third consecutive day.  Like last Sunday, Kofta was foremost in the mind.  This Post was intended to be Sheerin Palace, Part 2, alas the required dish was not available.  Yesterday’s Lamb was still on display, but the whole point of Curry is the vast range in styles and flavours so there is no need to eat the same thing everyday.  The Chicken dish was still there too but Hector does not seek Chicken, there must be different Lamb around the corner.

And so for only the third time, Hector entered Yadgar (148 Calder St, Govanhill, Glasgow, G42 7QP) unannounced.  Today’s Lamb dish was not obvious, I asked at the counter.  Lamb Karela?  Well, yes please was the obvious reply.

I took my usual seat about 17.00, there were other diners and on occasion the doorway was wedged with people ordering Take-Aways.  Shkoor appeared from the kitchen he had obviously been told I was in the house.  He was pleased that I had turned up to try something different.  I always said I would, today is the day.

I declined all offers of Salad, Starters etc.  I shall eat my Karela Gosht and two Chapattis and concentrate on what pleases me most: eating Curry.

Regular readers will know that Karela, the so called Bitter Melon, has featured quite a bit in the last couple of months.  This Vegetable gives Curry something different.  The New Karahi Palace is where I had my first Karela experience.  Karela was also the key ingredient in my last home-cooked creation.

The Chapattis and the Curry arrived.  Today I had something to dip.  Shkoor reappeared to check it was OK.  It is much better than OK.  It was not the best Curry served in Glasgow, that title must be given to the Goshat Karahi served on these premises.  This was very good, but not outstanding.  The Masala was dark and thick, not dissimilar to that served on Friday evening.  The Lamb was on-the-bone, great.   The two Chapattis were the perfect accompaniment.  The fork was never used.

Dessert? No way!

Shkoor is of the opinion that a main dish is a prelude to a great Dessert.  Hector would not mind if he never ate another Dessert.  Let the flavour of the Curry linger as long as possible.

The Bill

£7.50.  This included a Coke.  People were almost queueing out the door as I left.  One Chap had a large Take-Away which included the spectacular Goshat Karahi.  Next time.

The bones were creaking, the throat throbbing, there was only one thing for it, a Curry-Heute!

Shkoor, Mein Host at Yadgar (148 Calder Street, Govanhill, Glasgow G42 7QP) was texted and the order set in place.  The Flu symptoms were not going defeat this commentator.   Hector would again dine alone, Dr Stan has been laid up with Flu-plus for the last ten days.   With boredom in place, he may even be reduced to reading about Curry, even this Blog.

I took my seat, there were three other diners at two tables, the Carry-Out business was in full flight.  Shkoor came out from the kitchen to give me his customary greeting.  I described my plight.  People don’t really expect anything but fine when they ask how one is.  Hector has never understood this ritual exchange.  I know someone who says fine – fine as he asks the question himself.  I digress; it must be the rising temperature.

The complementary Poppadoms, two of, with the chunkiest Onion Chutney on the planet were soon presented.  I was now worried about doing the meal justice.  Ten minutes later I would have welcomed my Curry, but suddenly another platter was set before me: Chick Peas, Chicken Pakora and a rather posh Side Salad.  The latter has certainly evolved into something attractive in the last year or so.

The remaining Poppadoms were removed, and Shkoor offered to make a Doggy Bag for this new feast.  I like Chick Peas when I do not prepare them, this was cool and refreshing.  The Chicken Pakora was blow your head off – hot!  Chicken in Batter, nothing else was evident, how did they do this?  I ate the lot.

Later than I had anticipated, the main even arrived: Lamb Karahi (on-the-bone), Vegetable Rice and a Chapatti.  How on earth could I eat all this now?

The Vegetable Rice is as always a treat in itself.  Potato, Peas, Mushroom mixed in with Rice that owes more to Biryani than Plain Basmati.  The Chapatti was exactly what a Chapatti should be, none of this Edinburgh rubbish.

The Curry

I have always meant to have something different at Yadgar.   I have never strayed away from the Goshat Karahi, but that is not what I ordered today.  This was different.  Was it because Mr Shah was not on the premises?  I know not, but this was not my usual fare.  The Meal was darker than the norm.  This could be a comparison based on the very red Curry I had last week in Clydebank.  The Masala was not the dry thick way I usually ask for, but I had not asked for that.  This was how I would like my Nahiree to be served. Perhaps this was not the best Curry I have ever been served at Yadgar, but it was different and it did have the underlying distinctive Yadgar flavour.  This Curry was still light years ahead of most Glasgow outlets.

Less than half the Chapatti remained at the end of the meal, a modicum of Rice and a pile of Bones.  Hector had been sated.

The Bill

I cannot disclose the Bill as I only know what I  paid, and this was nowhere near enough.

Shkoor is happy to have Hector come and eat his Curry, he knows it is loved and he knows that yet another web page will appear raving about the quality of the food served here.  Let us hope this symbiotic relationship will continue for many years.  We need a Yadgar t-shirt, I trust people have Googled the definition of  Yadgar?