Asha’s, a Birmingham Curry House

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Hector

A visit to the land of Balti

There was a four hour stopover at Birmingham for those of us returning to Glasgow. The Bad Boys’ Club decided to convene a meeting of Bier today at the Wellington on Bennett’s Hill. Hector accompanied them to the centre of town and decided once again to trust Google maps.  With more time I would have gone to the more outlying districts which other sources recommend.  This was pot luck.  Asha’s – Contemporary Indian Cuisine (Edmund House, 12-22 Newhall Street, Birmingham, B3 3LX)  was the closest to my present locus.

It is possibly ten years or more since Hector last had a stopover in Birmingham.  Then I selected the first Balti House outside of New St Station.  Hector has done Balti.

The venue was most impressive.  The size and set up suggested that clearly this was a city centre establishment of some note.  A charming lady greeted me and took me to table.  She offered me the laminated lunchtime menu.  Now why was this?  I established later that the a la carte was available, so why presume?  I would probably have chosen differently.  There were set menus on offer and I missed these.

The Kebab Platter was ordered as the starter and the Panjim Fish Curry to follow.

Poppadoms and a yogurt style sauce were brought almost immediately.  This gave me the chance to see more reviews of where I was.  Many people like this place.  The lunch menu at £12.95 was looking as though it could be good value.

The music being played was great, not the usual Bollywood high pitched vocals but a mellow almost Indian Jazz meets Progressive Rock.  I wish I knew what it was.

Kebab Platter

The Platter arrived: The Chicken Malai Kebab was a single piece of almost Tikka Chicken, very white but effective.  The Lamb Seekh Kebab was small but spicy, I was enjoying myself.  The single King Prawn Tikka had to be kept until last: this was succulent, excellent.

The main course came. 

Panjim Fish Curry

Hector was immediately disappointed: why make a sauce so thin?  This was  typically close ot that which features in a  Nihari.  It was effectively a stew sauce but not necessarily of the poor – Bistro – type.

The Pilau Rice had a slight edge to it, perhaps added Cumin?  The portion was excessive for one person.  The Chapatti was more like crispbread: why this was served so brittle Hector does not know, unless they think Rothi is something decidedly different?

As I ate the Fish there was a modicum of taste.  The experience was pleasant but by this time I was wondering what else I could have ordered.

 In the intervening hours since completing the meal two things have happened.  The sauce did have Curry leaves in it.  The taste of these has lingered for hours.  If it is possible for the taste of a Curry to improve on the palate in the aftermath then this is what happened.  I became much more appreciative of the meal as time passed.

Secondly, having had the chance to look at Asha’s website, it is evident that I would not have chosen any other dish.  The menu is decidedly straightforward.

The Bill

£12.95.  My Sparkling Water was included in the £12.95 charge.  The number of places that rip customers off on soft drinks is outrageous throughout the land.  This was another positive note.  The meal was certainly value for money and in the end enjoyable.

Update 2011

Tom Cruise, an actor, visited Asha’s and ordered Chicken Tikka Masala.  He enjoyed it so much he ordered it again. Was this a stunt?

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When is Curry not a Curry ?

Posted on September 26, 2010 by Hector

When it’s a Thai!

Today Steve and Hector left our suburban accommodation and found ourselves once again  in the Hauptbahnhof.   The main stations of Germany offer an array of food way beyond anything available across the UK.  Burger King, Salad Rolls, Wurst (assorted), Pork, more Pork or the Asian outlet?

A Thai Green Curry was ordered and the platter presented.  There was minimal Chicken and an abundance of Cauliflower and Bamboo Shoots.   The Coconut sauce took Hector back to Sri Lanka.  Steve added some fiery Chilli, this did the trick.

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Stuttgart – Prince of India

Posted on September 25, 2010 by Hector

Another very wet day

 The previous afternoon there was a Bier at the former Memmingen Tandoori house.  Google Maps yet again gave bogus information: there is apparently no Rita’s Garden in Stuttgart, so no Friday Curry.

Saturday lunch inevitably became finally time for a Curry-Heute.  To say it was wet in Stuttgart would be an understatement.  The Canstatter Wasen went ahead, and Steve and Hector headed out in the rain in search of a Curry.

Prince of India (Urbanstrasse 38, 70182, Stuttgart-Mitte, Deutschland) can afford to advertise on the escalators to the U Bahn, they also appear on the giveaway city map.  Hector would have preferred seeking out somewhere more remote and even down market, but it was wet…

We were the first customers of the day at 13.00.

 The venue is evidently a genuine Indian Restaurant.  The menu was familiar.

Hector ordered a Lamb Bhuna with Aloo Paratha to accompany,

Steve went for the Palak Gosht and a Nan.  When they came there was a bountiful portion of Boiled Rice served too.

Lamb Bhuna

The meals looked to have been well prepared, however there was far too much sauce for a so called Bhuna.  The initial taste raised my expectations.  Had I discovered another outstanding meal?  In the end I concluded not: good but not outstanding.  Indeed the eventual conclusion was that this was actually a Rogan Josht, or it would have been anywhere else.

Palak Gosht

Steve’s meal looked promising: a thick, dark sauce as one would expect with Spinach.  Steve’s verdict : Pleasant, the sauce looked the deal, but there was too much of it, an OK taste.

The Aloo Paratha is worth a special mention.  Served in quarters is something I find annoying.  Give Hector the whole thing and let him tear it up.  However this was not just piping hot at the start but it retained its heat longer than I have ever encountered.  How did they achieve this?

By the time we left 15 more people had come into the restaurant.  I have never witnessed this many people in a German Curry Haus this early in the day.

The overall verdict has to be a positive one.

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Clydebank – Diva – and no Dumpling

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Hector

A very wet dayAn after school meeting followed by a wild goose chase around the Gareloch meant a Curry-Heute treat by Marg was inevitable.  This must also be the wettest day this year in the West of Scotland.  Helensburgh’s weather forecast even rated a mention in the main BBC Breakfast TV bulletin.

The menu for Diva (7 Stewart St, Clydebank, G81 4AD) came through the door a few weeks ago.  Last year Marg and I paid the premises a visit, it was closed.  We established at the end of the meal whilst chatting to the owner that they have only been re-opened a matter of months.

This is a cavernous venue with a tiny entrance.  They advertise themselves as selling Indian and Italian Cuisine.  As we walked down the narrow ramp to the main room it was evident that despite being midweek and early evening, there was a crowd.  A fortieth birthday party was underway featuring an extended family with loads of wee girls ranging from tots to teens.  Enough to ruin any meal out.

No, we are not having The Buffet!Vegetable Pakora was ordered, to share.  We were ravenous.  The Pakora inevitably arrived with a very large portion of Onion Chutney and two Poppadoms, complimentary of course.

Marg decided that Chicken Tikka Masala was her dish of choice for the evening.  She also managed to pick out my selection: Tender Lamb Pardesi (hot).  This was the standout dish on the menu: a rich Curry with additional fried Onions & Mushrooms, cooked with Spinach & a hint of Ginger & Garlic.

Three Chapattis and the Special Pilau Fried Rice were to share.  Of course this was far too much.

Chicken Tikka MasalaMarg was impressed with her Tikka Masala, it was thick, creamy and had a kick. 

Tender Lamb Pardesi

We could smell the Pardesi before it arrived.  This was a good sign.  The appearance was superb.   Indeed the Masala was thick, dark, and the Vegetables were evident in the mash.

On dipping the first Chapatti Hector received a good blast of the burnt Spinach.  A Curry with taste, and not in a café!  Not only this, but a Clydebank Curry which is not a clone of every other outlet in the town.

Without the freshly cooked Pakora we would have demolished the lot.  However, we had been that hungry on our arrival.  The meat content was most impressive.  Only at Papa Gill’s can Hector remember receiving a larger portion of Lamb.

The offer of complimentary drinks on asking for the bill was appreciated and declined.  It is midweek after all: we are professional!

Hector has to recommend  Diva as being the provider of the best Curry he has tasted in Clydebank to date.

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To The Village, and step on it

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Hector

Time to Wolf down a Curry Heute

After the Wolfer Strassenfest the perfect end to the weekend had to be a lunch at The Village (129 Nelson St, Glasgow, G5 8DZ).

Two consecutive early rises: what a man has to do to get to the Mosel.  Bier today will have the account of the best wine festival on the Mosel.  Marg collected Hector at Edinburgh Airport and dropped him at The Village as she sped off to play hockey (she won 8-1 today).

The Board is back ; Lb Aloo


Selecting my favourite table for one I spotted there was writing on The Board: Lb Aloo.  The waiter assured me it was indeed Lamb.  A ‘Spicy’ Lb Aloo and Vegetable Rice was ordered.

I am back home, I know this is going to be good.

Hector was quite surprised by the meal when Mr Baig himself brought it to the table.  The meat was Lamb Chops and the Masala was in the Nahiree (thin) style.  Hector has yet to have the Lamb Chop Curry that has appeared on the Board.  Or was this it?  The sauce was not oily as in the other Desi dishes.  It did have the signature Village taste.

Hector does not normally eat this close after noon at the weekend.  The meal appeared to be mountainous.  Lamb and Potato are a classic combination.  This was sheer pleasure.

Minding one’s own business and eating at The Village on a Sunday lunchtime, perfect.

The Village ‘In the Park’

Hector had a fairly lengthy chat with Mr Baig after the meal.  The new premises are coming along, the windows are in place and the façade is going to match the existing stonework on the original building. ‘Soon’ was only date forthcoming for the new opening.

There was an event at Bellahouston Park on Thursday.  Hector had pontificated on the day about the ringing of the cash register as the massed hoard assembled and departed from their sermon on the mount.  Mr Baig stated that they did not have a single customer on Thursday; he had anticipated big business and had set the place up accordingly.  In the end he lost a lot of money.

How could this be?  Blessed are the Curry eaters.

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Masala Night in Bishop’s Stortford

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Hector

This is a night Hector will not be repeating

At present Stelios and Mr O’Leary are unable to provide a Friday evening flight to Deutschland.  Hector had to spend the night at Bishop’s Stortford so as to get an early morning flight to Hahn for the Wolfer Stassenfest.  The accommodation was fine but somehow I managed to book a location half way between Stansted Airport and the town centre.  The proprietor collected me from the airport so I had no real idea as to just how far it would be to find a Curry House.  In the end it was a twenty five minute walk at a Hector pace to the Masala Café (10 London Rd, CM23 5ND).

It was 22.30 when I took my seat and began studying the menu.  Two meals stood out: the Hari Ali (Chefs special sauce) and the Sylhet E Bolti.  The menu rated it as two chillies and the instruction was to ask a member of staff. Hector did and the latter meal was described as having a thick sauce and sizzling.

Sylhet E Bolti, a visual feast

The Sylhet E Bolti it was then with a Vegetable Rice.  The meal was brought and placed on a metal stand.  It was indeed sizzling, very impressive. The Sauce did look thick.  The Sylhet E Bolti looked wonderful and so did the Vegetable Rice which had potato, excellent.  The ‘Curry’ had strips of Lamb and large slices of assorted Vegetables: Onion, Tomato and the inevitable Capsicum.

To say the meal was hot would be an understatement.  The first piece of Tomato nearly burned the palate.  Hector was hungry.  The meal was eaten with my usual fervour.  Sadly there was simply no taste, none at all.  It was in effect a stir fry, the type you could make at home when you stir in a jar of supermarket sauce.  Hector would never cook lamb in this way: I still think it was beef!

A Blandness Scale?

As I ended the meal the thought of a scale of blandness came to mind, or would this be a non sequitur?

It was too late for a Bier today; having located the station there was a taxi back to Woodlands Lodge on the edge of the airport complex and an early night.

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Glasgow – Sheerin Palace – Perhaps Glasgow deserves the Curry Capital accolade

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Hector

Just how do they do this?

On completion of our Biertoday activity, Dr Stan and Hector descended upon the nearby Sheerin Palace on the Southside, (300 Allison St, Glasgow, Glasgow, G428HQ).  This place was first spotted whilst parking in Daisy St en route to the Yadgar a few weeks ago.  This part of the city has a high immigrant population, it was inevitable that such places would evolve.

Aesthetically Sheerin Palace does not live up to its own name; however the food served is certainly fit for a king.

We took a seat in the small café section of what is clearly more of a take-away outlet.  Two couples were already in situ, a large table had plates on it and a sign suggesting a large party would arrive imminently.  Having sat for a few minutes nothing happened.  Hector went up to the counter and looked for an on the wall menu or a card.  There was nothing.  The chap behind the counter made eye contact, here we go…

This is what we have – he said gesturing to the metal trays under the glass on the top shelf of the counter.  OK, what is all this? – replied Hector.

There was a Rice platter with pieces of Chicken on the bone, but evidently not the choice cuts. An unmemorable/unpronounceable name was given for the next platter: Bird! – he said, it was later established that it was Quail.  There were also platters with Okra, Chana and Daal as three separate Curry dishes.  The Okra did look interesting, next time.  Mince is about to arrive. As supplementary information.  It did.  Kofta with hardboiled Egg, very interesting.

By this time Dr Stan had come up to the counter.  Hector was in full flight – I shall have the Rice-Chicken with the Bird and two Chapattis.  Dr Stan could not resist the Kofta, he also selected the Rice-Chicken and Chapatti sides.

Plates and napkins were brought to the table.  So there is a waiter service of sorts.  A small Salad plate was the provided along with two portions of a yogurt sauce.  The Rice-Chicken arrived and we got torn in.  Minutes later the main dishes came.

One instantly could tell that this could be special

The Chapattis were dipped into the red, oily, onion-rich sauce.  Hector’s taste buds were transported Tardis-like back to the 1960s.  This is magnificent!  Dr Stan made the current nasal noise of agreement which is currently the norm in the West of Scotland – Mmmm.

A Kofta frenzy!

When I remarked that we would have to bring Mr Holden here for a Kofta, Dr Stan replied – Once we could not get Kofta in Glasgow, now there is a Kofta frenzy!

Dr Stan almost became exuberant!

How the food was heated to a temperature that was fit to eat was a concern when we saw the food on display.  It was fine.  Another chap, a Chef? appeared halfway through our Fest and asked if the food was hot enough.  They care.

Of course we had ordered far too much food.  We only left half a Chapatti each.

Hector had never eaten Quail before.  There was sufficient meat in the two pieces of Bird that were served.  The sauce was just sublime.  I wish I knew how to capture this.  Had it been Vindaloo hot it would have been like the early Curry of Glasgow.  Curry in Glasgow restaurants does not taste like this.  (The previous Blog is testimony to this.)

Superb value

£10.50 for mine and £9.50 for Dr Stan is all we were charged.

On relating the experience to Marg she of course pointed out that – ladies like ambience.

Hector was out for a Curry-Heute:  Sheerin Palace has to be recommended.

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Giffnock – New Turban Tandoori, after a walk through Rouken Glen

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Hector

As regular readers will know, on the odd Sunday that Marg is free of hockey commitments we go out.  Yes, Hector is not a paid up member of the Bad Boys’ Club, he normally stays in on the day of rest and shops and cooks and watches a Fest of television.

Lunch at St. Louis was the obvious place as finally we have found a place in the West End with suitable ambience and a decent menu.  The Wee Scottish Breakfast with Stornoway Black Pudding went down a treat.  This was about 13.30.

Yes, Curry-Heute was planned!  The New Turban Tandoori (2 Fenwick Place, Eastwood Toll, Giffnock, G46 6UF) has been on the radar for some time.  But first there was an extensive walk around Rouken Glen Park to work off the breakfast.

It is many years since Hector set foot in this park.  Marg was in charge of navigation, help ma Boab…  We did find the waterfall and retreated to the garden centre for a refreshment, it was too early to eat a Curry-Heute.

For our own amusement we also hung around the xmas section of the Garden Centre… check the date.

Hector phoned The New Turban Tandoori just after 16.00 to ascertain that they were indeed open.  The place is well set up with a membership card which guarantees 10% off the bill.  We arrived at 16.50 and were immediately told that we could have a main meal at half price as part of the pre-theatre menu.

The Desi Lamb Handi – a traditional home-made Lamb on-the-bone dish.  Finger licking 

good – was obviously going to be Hector’s choice.  Marg opted for the Punjabi Mint – a tangy dish made with Patia sauce and a hint of mint – clearly this would have to be Chicken as we both know Patia simply does not work with Lamb.

Mushroom and Zeera Rice and two Chapattis were the accompaniments.

Attentive staff and efficient service is one thing, but our dishes (no Starters) arrived at 16.05.  We had hardly been in the place.  How could they prepare a Desi Dish in this short space of time?

We both looked at the Desi Lamb Handi, disappointment was clearly written all over Hector’s face.  I can tell you what this will taste like before I even put it in my mouth – declared Hector.  It was the classic and awful- – what happened to the Onion – runny sauce, Soup!  Indeed, a typical German Curry!  The level of blandness was off the scale – and the portion was so small!

This was such a letdown.  Is this the shape of things to come – Glasgow Curry houses just stick Desi on the menu and deliver nothing special?  One cannot believe that this is what the Chef eats at home.

This place states on its menu it has been called – the best restaurant in Scotland – by the Press.  In days gone by perhaps, but certainly not on this presentation.

I was still hungry and in the mood for a real Curry-Heute.

Hector tasted the Patia, it was ridiculously sweet.

Another one bites the dust.

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Aloo-Palak Gosht plus Mühlen Kölsch

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Hector

There were to be no babies in attendance at the Curry-Heute and Bier today Clydebank extravaganza.  Babies do not drink ‘mouthwash’ as one of the non attending company likes to describe Kölsch. They do not eat hot Curry either and so the Palak Gosht was announced in advance and there were no discerning voices.In the end the inevitable potato was added so it was officially an Aloo-Palak Gosht Curry-Heute!

The recipe for the Palak Gosht is published on this site.

Hector enjoys receiving praise for his efforts, who doesn’t?  The Curry was described as ‘excellent’ by one or two intelligent critics.  ‘Not the best Curry in the World’ by another who wanted to keep Hector’s feet firmly on the ground.  ‘But still very good’ was a general consensus.  This will do.

Dr Stan had three portions to everybody else’s two.  He always has to be different.

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Cafe Salma, then The Planet Gong

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Hector

Well it must be the Fish :  ‘Ravi Machi’.

What is better than a Curry-Heute to celebrate the day that the Website curry-heute.com takes over from the old Blog address?  There is a distinct need for a proper Homepage but hopefully Bob will help build it.  Everything that was on the original Blog is now here, and more!  Hopefully the beautiful orange hues (Hector’s colours!) will in time replace the chocolate you may be experiencing.

Hector and Marg out midweek?  We are off to see Gong, it is some 35years since Hector saw the Steve Hillage band at The Kelvin Hall.  The Gong experience would be new.

We received the usual warm Cafe Salma welcome  (523 Sauchiehall St, G3 7PQ).  The complementary poppadom and chutneys arrived as we took our seats.  Marg spotted the Lamb Lahori Karahi (off-the-bone) and Hector ordered the planned Ravi Machi: Garlic, Ginger, Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions and Fish Special Masala.  They were of course able to make this without the dreaded Capsicum.  The Mushroom Rice and  the always impressive Garlic and Coriander were ordered to share, perfect.

Hector has rarely seen Marg demolish a Curry so quickly and in its entirety, so I can make no comment as to the quality of the Lahori Karahi Curry-Heute as there was none to spare.  The Ravi Machi certainly looked the part.  This is my first Fish Curry in a restaurant since the outstanding Chettinad at the Mango in Muenchen.  Fish changes the entire nature of a Curry.  There is an expectation of Salt but they usually end up with a very pleasant sweet aftertaste: this was no exception.  The sauce was relatively thick; there was a decided presence of Onion.  Perhaps this was more evident since I had the meal to suit my disgust at Capsicum.

Hector will order this again.

In six visits to Cafe Salma I have yet to be anything but impressed.  The welcome by the staff and the efficiency of the service is possibly the best in Glasgow.  There was disappointment on Hassan’s face when we asked for the bill to make our escape.  No time for coffee and dessert: we are off to see Gong!

This is how to make a Happy old Hector.

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