Wet, cold and miserabl!

But not in the Sheesh Mahal.

Just getting a warm after being soaked to the skin on site, and what better place is there to get my warm but in the Sheesh?

Sheek kebab, lamb methe and rotis. All done to a tee. Magnificent.

Going for a Curry...

Having recently received a bit of bad news, the perfect antidote was clearly to go for a Bradford Curry, and to include a few sherbet's en route.

With this in mind I recruited the long suffering Dad into the scheme, and off we ventured:

As with so many of my Bradford Curry eating adventures, they start here at Guiseley train station.
Only a 20 minute train journey to curry Nirvana.

First stop was the Sparrow Bier Cafe.
A fine cafe bar just behind Bradford Market there.
Lots of speciality beer including
local real ales as well as continental brews.
I had some Belgian loopy juice - La Chouffe!
They stock some nice wines too.

Next up the classic Fighting Cock.
Nestled down side streets, it's easy to walk by -
as did I for countless years -
but it's a place not to be missed.
Ask any local and I'm sure
they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Inside t'Cock is very pleasant, so don't be put off by it's perhaps
rather intimidating exterior.  A swift Chimay Blue was the order of the day.

Bradford is very photogenic too.   Here is a shot
of Lumb Lane Mills.  I can only imaging what these
places must have been like when they were in full swing?

The Barracks Tavern on Lumb Lane.  Not for the faint
hearted it must be said.  The smoking ban seems to be
more of a guide line here than a rule!



Finally to the Sweet Centre - this is after all a Curry Blog
not a drinking Blog!  Starters of lamb chops and fish pakora.
My lamb chops seemed a little soggy, as if microwaved
rather than tandoored?  Tasted good though with an
excellent and strong blend of spices.  Quite sharp on the
tongue as if marinated with plenty of citrusy juices.
Fish pakora was brilliant.  Soft flaky fish in a delicately
spiced batter.

Main courses left us feeling a little deflated.  My meat on the bone dish (see above) was just too hard core for me!
Grisly meat, bones and offal (!!yes there was a stray kidney in mine I'm sure of it) swimming in oil/ghee, was just not nice to eat.  I'm not normally too squeamish but on this occasion, it made me feel ill to eat it!  I think it was my bad dish
selection rather than a reflection on the Sweet Centre in general.  I have always enjoyed Sweet Centre curries.  This dish
may be authentic, for want of a better word, but, if so, then I fear I will have to stick firmly to my westernised curries
in the future!  Gutted!  Just when I needed the best curry in the world to cheer myself up I pick this one!

One final pint in t'Shouder helped somewhat to put behind
me the curry I'd just had.  However, my stomach had been
turned to such an extent that all I want ed to do was go home
and wallow in my own miseery!

Well, this trip to the Sweet Centre is one to put down to experience I feel.  Please don't be put off, and if you search my blog you will see I have raved about the retaurant on several occasions.  Just be careful of the meat on the bone is my advice.

John

I just can't stop myself...

A friend, and Bradford Curry Club member, Pete's birthday, and an invite to his bash at Westbourne Spice in Otley.  An offer not to be missed, and surely an opportunity to just go out an eat curry... just for fun... just like the olden days.  You see, with Westbourne Spice being in Otley* - not Bradford -  I can take off my Bradford Curry Blogger t-shirt and just relax for the evening.

However, I just can't stop myself.

So here goes but, as with other posts on here for restaurants that aren't directly associated with Bradford, I shan't dedicate many column inches to their cause.  Westbourne spice is worthy of note though. 

The restaurant is sizable, clean and modern - and the trendy 'mood lighting' gives the whole lot a purple hue.  From what I could gather all the food was highly regarded. I initially ordered a lamb and spinach Balti, but was advised by the knowledgeable and friendly waiter to go for the Karahi version instead. Whether he was right or not, I don't know, but the dish served, in a searingly hot metal bowl, was delightful.  Just the right amount of heat, good meat count and generally decent texture to the whole dish, in that kind of modern deconstructed style.  It was an all round top notch dish.

For starters, I went for another staple of mine - Sheekh Kebab.  These were excellent too, and were full of meaty and spicy flavour, and come highly recommend.

So all in all very nice.  If in Otley, Westbourne Spice are well worth checking out I reckon.

* NB  Westbourne Spice is on Bradford Road in Otley, so kind of counts after all.

Well done to Bradford Curry

Well done to Bradford for being crowned Curry Capital for the 2nd year on the bounce.

Awadh Restaurant and Bar

Location

                                                        

Awadh Restaurant and Bar,                                                                                                          

1060 Manchester Road,                                                                                                               

Bradford,                                                                                                                                     

BD5 8NN                                                                                                                                   

Tel:   01274 725565                                                                                                                    

Web:  http://www.awadhrestaurant.co.uk/                                                                                     

When

Friday 12th October 2012 (evening)

Attendees

Lynda and John

Expectations

'tis a bit bleak outside

With Awadh being a little off the beaten track, what with being right up Manchester Road, it had falling below the radar somewhat, and my expectations were of indifference really.  However, the restaurant had been spotted during Bradford Curry recon trips, and through various internet searches, and was deemed suitable to receive a Bradford Curry Club visit... During National Curry Week too - what could be better? 

Perusal of the on-line menu increased my expectations with the fact that award winning chef Zahir Khan was formerly Executive Chef for Sheraton Hotels in India, and also with Gordon Ramsey name drops.  I'm such a snob!

The Reality

Stairs up to the first floor restaurant

Our sensations endured on the dank and miserably chilly evening outside, were emulated, some what unfortunately, once inside Awadh, with our first impressions of the restaurant being similar!  The restaurant is approached from a spooky rear car park to a side door.  From here, a flight of stairs are climbed up to a sticky door - that needed quite a shove to open - before entering the first floor restaurant.  The decor was a tad tired, and reminiscent of maybe a previous Italian Restaurant incarnation?  All kind of terracotta in colour and with areas of polystyrene brick clad walls. There was also a strange fake rock cliff feature in one corner!  Anecdotal evidence suggests it was formerly Fryer Tucks Fish n Chip restaurant - of which the takeaway is still operational beneath.  However, the overwhelming sensation was one of cold!  Lynda dare not even take her coat off!  A few tables were taken, but the place was far from buzzing, and seemed a little atmosphereless.

We were initially seated in a lounge area, were given menus, and drink orders were taken.  A large bottle of Cobra for me.  The menu read amazingly well, and was essentially all Specials split into geographical sub menus of north, south east and west.  Very clever.  All the 'old favorites' and mild/European dishes were relegated to the back page.  In addition to the menu was a chalk board of daily specials, which was a nice touch.

Both Lynda and I spotted the Achari Paneer Tikka, on the Northern Menu, straight away, and it promised home made cottage cheese steeped in spices and finished in the tandoor  but she bagged it first.  Therefore, I plumped for Dhungar Maans Ke Sulle, from the Western Menu, which were grilled, spiced and smoked lamb scallops from the Rajasthan region. 

The Acharia Paneer Tikka was fantastic.  Two large cubes removed from a skewer with peppers, onions, etc.  The Paneer was soft and actually tasted cheesy  and was a far cry from the small, squeaky and flavourless chunks often served.  The spicing was subtle -  perhaps too subtle, but, on the other hand,  I guess just right not to mask the flavour of the Paneer.  I feel to cover the flavor of the actual cheese would have been a crime in this instance.  The Dhungar Maans Ke Sulle was much like a sizzling lamb chop dish, without the bones - lamb scallops seem to be the eye of meat from a chop - and were pretty good.  A touch on the dry side with a prominent taste of ginger, and a fair old kick, are my lasting thoughts.

For mains we both selected from the Northern Menu.  Lynda the Khan's Special Khorma, and me Lamb Chops Punjabi.  The special Khorma - Chef Gordon's (Ramsey?) favourite apparently - was slow cooked lamb shoulder in brown onion, garlic, ginger and spices... oh and a LOT of oil/ghee. Poor Lynda went a little green when it arrived.  Taste wise is was good - Lynda commented so - with a deep dark sweet flavour.  The meat had almost disintegrated into the loose sauce, forming a fairly smooth homogeneous mass, but it was difficult to see past the copious amounts of oil.  My Lamb Chops Punjabi was certainly better on the oil front, but to the layman both dishes looked pretty much the same - except mine had bones sticking out of it.  My dish did taste different though, and suggested that appearances are deceiving sometimes.  It was billed as char-grilled chops, tossed in onion, garlic, tomato, ginger and kahari masala, and I liked it a great deal - it was finger/rib bone licking, lip smacking fun to eat. Our accompanying garlic naan and chappati's were pretty bog standard, so nothing much to discuss.  However, after ordering I did spot a garlic, coriander and chili naan, on the Specials Board, which I wished ordered instead - oh well.

Drinks Policy and Range

A full range of beers and wines are available, along with softies of course, but only Fosters is on tap.  Cobra and Kingfisher are by the bottle.

Highlights

Tucking in to the Lamb Chops Punjabi

The Achari Paneer Tikka was head and shoulders the stand out moment of the evening.  Light subtly spiced and tandoored cheese was exquisite to eat.  Next would have been my Lamb Chops Punjabi - it was an overall decent dish.

Low Lights

The generally cold restaurant and out of place decor lacked a welcoming feel.  Lynda found her curry oily - which it was - but overall we thought the food was good.




The Damage

Dear!  £43.  However, the biggest problem with the price, which I've just noticed while re visiting the menu whilst writing this, is that I think we were charged more for for everything than was printed on the menu!  For example, both our mains were listed on the menu as £7.50 each, but we were charged £8.50?  I have thrown the bill away but I pretty sure this was the case with everything we ordered. Surely, price increases can't be implemented until a menu re-print has been undertaken?  I wished I'd been more switched on during the evening.  We feel a little miffed at that to be honest.

The Aftershock

Lamb Chop Punjabi

Nothing fun, just home to bed.  Not wanting to be overly graphic, but we were a little 'windy' the day after.  However, the real aftershock is just the niggling 'being charged more than the menu price', that has cast a shadow over proceedings.

Overall

Well, Awadh certainly are trying to push the boundaries of your average Bradford Curry, and are doing things a little differently.  I liked the north, south, east and west menu's, and overall the food was very good, if locally a little oily. Apart from the slightly bleak atmosphere in the restaurant, Awadh is all round pretty good.  If it was on my door step, I would go most weekends I'm sure.  However, for me, I don't think it quite has the attraction to pull me so far from the town centre on a regular basis, but certainly every so often, I will be a repeat visitor.

The Kashmir

Once in a while I like to pop into The Kashmir.  It's like my home away from home, and the place I have eaten most Bradford Curry in over the years.  Although in my youth I never ever really went anywhere else, now, with my new found Bradford Curry knowledge, I no longer consider it the best, except for the bhaji's and naan that is!  Recently too, curry has improved a great deal.

However, the Kashmir soft spot remains to this day, and still remains the place I would take a newbie to experience hardcore Bradford Curry.

Old Kashmir sign overlooking the car park to the rear.  If I told you they
were bullet holes* would you be surprised?

'WELCOME TO THE KASHMIR'.  Down these stairs, into the bowels of
t'Kash, where perpetual night reigns, is one of THE all time
Bradford Curry eating experiences. 

No windows!  It's forever any time of the day you like in the Kashmir.

The Kashmir's Onion Bhaji - My favourite.  Crispy onion shards give way to
softer doughy insides.  Not overly powerful on the onion flavour front, I
like to much them with the raw  onion salad and dipped in the mint sauce.

The Meat Karahi excellent too.  Rich but not overly oily.  The dry(ish) texture
of the dish is also and meat rich, and gives you something good to gnaw at,
and very garlicky. 

* I elaborate for dramatic effect.  I don't think for one minute they are!

World Curry Festival 2012

For 2012, the World Curry Festival was to roll into, surely it's spiritual home, Bradford.  And to the recently unveiled and excellent City Park.  The Park provided a brill location for the Festival, and I thought a vast improvement on last years Leeds city center venue.  Here there was room to move, peruse the stalls, and also plenty of safe space for the children to scamp about, and get wet through with gay abandon.

Bradford City Park

Alas, this year, due to other commitments, we didn't get chance to visit the festival until late Sunday afternoon.   When we arrived there was still loads of people milling about, and some lengthy queues at the stalls.  However, the rain soon came and, by about 14:30, most of the lingering folk had started to depart, and the atmosphere some what went with them.  Rain and cold, and no people resulted in some of the stalls calling it a draw and shutting up shop.  I understand the festival was due to shut up shop about 4pm anyway.

Street from Huddersfield

 Therefore, we made it our mission to make sure we sampled all we wanted to before being turfed out.

First up was Street, from Huddersfield.  They were offering a 3 course meal in a box for £5!  Sounded too good to miss really.  In my box was Spud Scallop, Channa Chaat Spring Roll, Chip Shop Fish (??), Seek Kebab, Tandori Roasted Wings, Chicken Karahi, Creamed Daal, rice and puri.  Also an afters of Falooda was included.  Sounds like quite a feast, and it was.  A bit cool, but all excellent.  I felt a little underwhelmed with the potato scallop, and the Fish Shop Fish (which was just like (nice) Fish Shop Fish - fine on a Friday, but not what I was expecting at a Curry Festival?).  The chicken Karahi was a little watery, but was tasty enough.  The highlight was the Falooda.  Not something I've had before, and was a sort of pink, sweet, noodle, soup.  Quite irresistible.

Lahori Grill

With many places starting to pack up, Lahori - not sure where they are based - started doing a roaring trade.  I went for Samosa Chaat to start with, before moving onto a Seekh Kebab wrap.  Thew Samosa Chaat was OK I suppose.  It was a bit dry, and lacked a bit of punch.  The chickpeas were a touch 'loose' and firm, and the dish just lack a bit of punch.  The Wrap on the other hand was good.  Cooked on the grill in front of you fresh kebabs were meaty, firey and well seasoned.  All wrapped up with sauce and salad made for a tasty snack

Just time for a quick nosy around the theater.  Some bloke was doing a demo and cooking Fish Karahi I think.  We were all cold, wet and tired by now, so we headed for home.

I wished we'd made it to the festival a little earlier on in the weekend, when perhaps a little more enthusiasm and atmosphere may have been apparent.  I got the impression a very busy weekend had been had though, and loved the venue.  I'll be back next year, that's for sure.

The Sheesh Mahal Study Continues...

Right then.  The study of the Sheesh Mahal's Lamb Methi rumbles on.  Another opportunity to sample this splendid dish presented itself just the other day, and was an opportunity not to be turned down. The Sheesh's new early opening times now allows such indulgence with ease.

Being hungry, I thought I would treat myself to a starter - onion bhaji.  It was a fair old portion, and, being a lone diner, with no one to help out, I rather wished I hadn't ordered it!  However, for me at least, the portion size was the only notable attribute to the dish!  Yes readers, I think I may have found a chink in Sheesh Mahal's armor.  Their onion bhaji was not exactly to my taste, to be honest, and comprised large slithers of onion coated in a flimsy, brittle batter.  The batter tended to fall from the onion if handled too vigorously.  However, this did not stop me from eating the whole lot!

On the other hand, the Methi was, without question, another lesson in perfection.  A little more open textured than the super heavy version served on my last visit.  Here, it was possible to identify herbs, veg, etc  within the sauce.  Still thick and sumptuous, it was a delight.

So, another successful Sheesh Mahal visit done and dusted.  No one would ever accuse me of being stuck in a rut!

The Breakfast of Champions

The Sweet Center on Lumb Lane serves a proper proper breakfast. I am starting to get too used to this and just love it. Unlike the other week, where we pogged ourselves out with three puri's, I showed restrain and stuck to two.

Much better, and left room for a seekh kebab. Good kebabs. Very meaty tasting with subtle seaoning and heat. Also coarsely ground so providing good eating. The chana was good and spicy and tasted great. £3.30! What a steal.

Sheesh Mahal

STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS

The Sheesh Mahal is now open from 11:30am daily.  Well, I presume daily?  Top draw.

Not being one to turn down a curry lunch, and on hearing the news of the Sheesh's new opening times, I just had to pop in at my earliest opportunity.

I'm glad I did dear readers.  Because, what I experienced was as near to perfection as I ever thought possible.  From the off, service was excellent, with the complimentary poppadon, pickle and mint sauce.  And even though there was a table taken with a party of approximately 20 people, all receiving their dishes, prompt service was still on the cards for this diner.

My Lamb Methi was verging on perfection.  A little different to the dish I was served late the other night, and was super dry dark and rich.  There was little to see in the dish except the thick sauce clinging the abundant meet.  I opted for the 2 roti's - either 1 naan, 2 rotis or 3 chapatti's are served with each main - and they were not only huge, but also fresh and fluffy.  I was stuffed after this little lot.

I can't wait for my next visit.

International with Hector

‘Fancy the International on Saturday at noon say?’ The text read.  I paraphrase.

It was Hector Curry Heute from Glasgow – long time internet friend but, up to now, never a friend of the flesh… if you pardon the expression!  Hector was on a flying visit through Bradford en-route to Rotherham for a rock festival.  He simply couldn’t bypass Bradford without popping in for a curry or two.  Me being a longtime fan of his web page and enthusiasm for everything curry, it was going to be an opportunity not to be missed – and at the International too… I knew he was a gentleman of style and taste.  So, after ironing out a few details, the date was set.

Being a shy and retiring type of guy, meetings such as this would usually make me slightly nervous.  Not with Hector though.  Having read his webpage at length, I sensed a familiarity that set me at ease.  I amassed some family to join us too, but strangely no members of the Curry Club?  They clearly were unaware of whom we were to be dining with.  Or perhaps it was a little short notice?

Twelve noon struck, and the curry mobile pulled up outside the International.  Hector was already seated at a large table in the window, and popadoms and pickles were in place.  Hellos were exchanged.  What, a Scottish accent?  I don’t know why I was so surprised – I knew he was Scottish.  It was just that, in my head at least, from only ever reading Hector’s words, he had a Yorkshire accent.

Talked moved along to Bradford and Glasgow curry – both loves of both of us, and the waiter took our orders and sent them to the kitchen.  Hector baggsed the Lamb Methi, so I opted for Lamb Achari.  I had an excellent Achari on my last visit, so was keen to give it another go.  Nobody had a starter and all, except me, went for chapattis.  I had a naan.  All, of course, are included in the price.

What’s going on Hector?  Taking notes and photos already?  What a pro. I feel I need to up the ante.

My general thoughts of the Achari were that it wasn’t quite up to the International’s usual high standards.  My dish was a little oily, and the meat was a little grisly.  If cooked for longer the meat would probably have cooked out.  The taste was there, but just not quite as lip smackingly sharp as an Achari perhaps should be.  I understand Hector was also of the opinion that his Methi was not quite there.  However, the food served at International is so good, that even with our little moans, the curry is still head and shoulders above many other establishments in town/country/World even, and should not for one minute put you off.  Our views were not representative of the rest of the table either.  Both Big Tone, and the Mrs John the Bradford Curry Blooger Lynda, thought there dishes were excellent.  And indeed Lynda’s was.  The rather theatrical copper bucketed Lamb Balti was as per usual Bradford Curry at the International.  Izzy enjoyed her chips too?  Chips!  I know - don’t get me started!

So there we go – another great trip to the International and it was great to meet Hector.  Next time Glasgow…

But first – Bingley Music Live

Life doesn’t get any better.

World Curry Festival

It's back and promising to be bigger and better than ever... oh and this time in Bradford too.  Bonus!

http://www.facebook.com/WorldCurryFest

http://www.worldcurryfestival.com/

Sweet Centre Breakfast

As people may probably know, I'm a big fan of the traditional breakfast, and since my last post regarding the subject, a few more restaurants have come on line offering the much overlooked aspect of curry eating.

The traditional chana dal and puri breaky, served from about 08:00 to lunch time(ish) at The Sweet Centre, on Lumb Lane, is fantastic, and a brill way to start the day.

Not being a big British fry up fan, I'm more likely to be seen tucking into cappuccini and croissants.    However, I do find the bowl of spicy chickpeas and the accompanying puri  very agreeable.  I noted last time I was in the Sweet Centre, for a breakfast, that the chana was rather plain (here) - but in a good way - but not on this visit.  The tender pulses had a fair kick to them, and certainly fired up the engines ready for the day.  As per normal, the puri's were very greasy.  They taste great, but we did over face ourselves with three each!  They are very rich, and we felt two each only would be more fitting.  As with our last visit also, no menus are evident?  I just ordered 'two breakfasts' at the bar.  The chana is scooped into a bowl from a large cauldron behind the bar, the puri's come from the abutting kitchen.  Other 'things' are available... but what I'm not sure?  Kebab's, Samosa's, etc, I have seen people eating

Next time you're passing in the morning, give it a go.  Curry isn't just for night times.

K2 getting a refurb.

The mighty K2, next to the Sweet Centre on Lumb Lane, seems to be in the throws of a re fit. Watch this space for more news.