Karachi

Not been to the Karachi for a while, and I am glad to report all is fine - just as good as always.

A little unusual this visit - we actually got the menus to look at!  I set about with much gusto trawling all the options and thinking I would - should - try something different.  However, although I sure anything I could have picked would have been great, nothing jumped out at me, and I went for my usual Rick Steins Lamb and Spinach.  Yawn - I hear you ermmm... yawn!

No, 'if it in't broke, don't fix it' - as they say round these parts - and I had kind of spent the morning with my heart set on it.  I promise next time I will have something else.

The Lamb and Spinach was without fault in my opinion but, to be ultra fussy, I felt it did have an ever so slight taste of undercooked chilli powder?  However, we are dealing with perfection here, and this small criticism is all I could level at the dish.

As per usual the dish was inclusive of chappatis, and these were indeed... chappatis!  Plain, warm and fresh, they are all that is really required to transport the curry to the mouth.  However, we did get a spoon each...  with which I spilt curry down my front!  Not a drop was lost using the traditional chappati method.  Lesson learned.

Amaan's Grill House

Location

Amaan's Grill House,

12 Legrams Lane,

Bradford,

01274 733971

http://www.facebook.com/AmaansGrillHouse

Time

4th April 2013 - Lunch time.

Attendees

Big Tone, Izz Whizz, John the Bradford Curry Blogger.

Expectations

It seems like ages since trying somewhere new - the laziness strikes again - so I was really looking forward to our long over due trip to Amaan's.  You see, Ajaz, from Amaan's, has clocked the Blog in the past, and commented on a couple of posts.  He suggested we visit him at Amaan's, and I promised to.  I regarded the Facebook page, and decided that Amaan's looked a pretty groovy place with huge photos of singers and musicians of the wall the colorful decor.  This was eight months ago!  There's that laziness again!  But, seriously, where does all the time go?

The Reality

Amaan's is indeed groovy.  The glass fronted shop goes straight in to an area boothed down one side, and with a few steel 'patio style' tables and chairs down the other.  To the back is an open kitchen, where the satisfying clatter of pots and pans could be heard, and a small breakfast bar with high swivel chairs.  The decor is firmly in the trendy cafe style, with no particular frills as such, but colorful, clean and cool.  The large photographs down one wall are a nice touch, and add cool.  First impressions count for a lot, and I was liking Amaan's a lot before even sitting down.  

A few people were in chowing down,  and we took one of the large booths, in the hope of being able to pin Izzy in a corner - didn't work - and were enthusiastically greeted and handed  menus.  Some popadoms, pickles and water soon followed.  As per many of these new breed cafe style eateries, you are not necessarily restricted to curry alone, and here at Amaan's, breakfast, 'Subz' (sanwichs to thee and me), steaks and snacks, were all on the menu, along with the more traditional curry fare.  One excellent offer which caught my eye on the menu was a  Credit Crunch Much special.  For just £5 you got Chicken, lamb or vege curry, 1 seekh kebab, 2 vege pakora,  2 chicken tikka, 2 chappati or a naan, salad and sauce!  Bargain - but for today, seen as how it was our inaugural visit, we dined a la carte.

I went for Lamb Karahi, off the bone (there were both on/off bone sections to the menu), which I have to say was rather excellent.  A generous portion of thick, meat rich and steaming curry.  Seasoned well, and with a nice warming sensation from the perfect spice, but smooth too, was pleasing to the taste buds.  It was soon apparent, coming back from my euphoric haze, that I was stuffed and sweeping around the pot with my nann!  The naan, of the garlic variety, was fresh, fluffy and warm, and was also very good.  Big tone said his Jalfrazi was brillant.  A man of few words, I have yet to hear him say anything negative about any curry - this is not to take anything away from Amaan's Jalfrazi, which I am sure was as wonderful as Big Tone said it was.  Likewise I didn't hear any complaints from Izzy regarding the popadon, chip and mango lassi combo!  Don't ask!  However, she was more interested in the swivel chairs!  Oh and counting for the umpteenth time, the number of milkshakes on the poster in the window!  Bless!

Drinks Policy

All soft drinks on the menu.  Pop, Lassi, Milkshakes, Teas, coffees etc.  No alcohol - and forgot to ask about BYO - often forget crucial boozy queries during the daytime - not on my mind.  I'll find out next time.  NB.  Amaan's is just up the road from the legendary Fighting Cock... every cloud...

Highlights

Every aspect of our visit was a highlight.  From the decor and ambiance of the restaurant, to the friendly and efficient service, to the quality of the food.  Thoroughly enjoyable eating experience.  I'm not even going to add the usual 'Low Lights' sub heading beneath this paragraph - what's the point?

The Damage

A very reasonable £17 all in.  For mains off the Specials Menu too, we thought this was value for money.  The Credit Crunch Munch would have saved some pennies - which is what it's there to do ultimately.

Aftershock

Overwhelming sensations of joy and happiness were apparent on leaving Amaan's.  We were pleased to have visited, and already timetabling our next visit!  I've heard the breakfast is good?

Overall

Very good and enjoyable.  Amaan's is now definitely on the list of 'regulars'.

I have recently been moaning a little in my Blogs about perhaps being stuck in a little bit of a rut, and the need to be trying new venues.  Well Amaan's has certainly been a revelation, and was good to the extent that I fear it has just formed a new rut for me to jump into...

Happy days.

St. Patrick's Curry - Sheesh Mahal

Box Fresh Trainers and Rain!  Aarrrggh!

Bradford Irish Center

Now, I'm not Irish, or religious and, to be honest, I don't really know who St. Patrick is/was!  Apart from he was a Saint - what ever one of those is?  Nor, to be totally brutally honest, do I really care!  However, he does seem to like to throw a good party.  

For a good number of years now we have always, in some capacity or another, gone out for a good number of drinks on St. Patrick's Day.  Searching out the 'craic', the best Guinness, and the folk music has become a tradition in this household.  This year St. Pat's fell on a Sunday - a school night - and not ideal.  After intense negotiations with Mrs Bradford Curry Blogger, it was 'decided' we - meaning my Dad 'Big Tone' and me - would celebrate Paddy's Day the day before!  Madness!

Also, this year saw a deviation from the usual raucous shenanigan's in favor of a leisurely gallon or so of the  'black stuff' at the Bradford Irish Center - reputed to serve the best Guinness in town... followed by a curry.  Conveniently the Bradford Irish Center is directly behind the Sheesh Mahal - a coincidence?   No.  This match made in heaven was engineered from the start.

The Remains of my Methi

A mucky night ensued as we alighted the train at Forster Square.  Being dry all day and, indeed, further up the valley when we set off, I'd opted to wear my new, yet to be worn, Christmas present trainers!  Big mistake.  I could almost feel the dirt being sucked up my boot cuts and transferring to the shiny shoes.  It was upsetting me, and I was glad to fall through the doors of the Irish Center.  Troons tucked into socks, to halt anymore necessary damage, the Guinness began to flow.

Pondering Perfection

The Bradford Irish Center itself was pretty large, and comprised a section with snooker tables, another section which was more like a function come dancing room, and a third, where we sat, more your traditional bar area.  There may have been more, but we didn't venture.  This being St. Pat's eve so to speak, the place was a touch quiet, but did slowly fill up during our short stay.  Traditional tunes were spun by a DJ in the next room, and a general air of relaxed 'craic' wafted about the club.  Old, young and family's were all present, and the Guinness was indeed good.  Smooth, bitter and irony.  Nice.  The Bradford Irish Center will be added to our pub crawl that's for sure.

Chicken Jalfrazi

Onto the Sheesh.  We've been there a lot recently - because it's been that good recently - and tonight was no exception.  Busy as usual, we were sat and immediately had popadoms, pickles and menus placed before.  We opted to skip starters and concentrate on the mains.  I selected my usual Lamb Methi and BT Chicken Jalfrazi.  With Rotis and Chappatis respectively.  What we received was as near to perfection as I can imagine ever receiving.  The crisp aroma offered by the fenugreek (the methi) is intoxicating, and the texture of uber dry textbook Bradford Curry is basically what we are all here reading/writing this page for.  The Jalfrazi was equally bone dry and was supplemented with egg and garden peas.  It tasted slightly sweeter and milder, when compared to my Methi, and was remarked as being excellent.

Sheesh Mahal really are on top of their game at the moment.