International

For my first Bradford Curry Blog post, post festive period, I wanted somewhere familiar and comforting, and not too demanding.  The International ticked the boxes this time, as is one of my favourite Bradford Curry eating establishments.

I think pound for pound International might - and I stress might - be my favourite all rounder, as it's consistently good across the whole menu (the bits I've tried at least)

So here we are.  Sat down in the corner.  Our Thomas strapped in his seat, and popadoms and pickle tray arrive swiftly with the menu.  It really is excellent service...  and soon the waiter arrives.  

Lamb Methi for me, with garlic nann (plain naan/chapatis/rotis are included in the price of a main course).  Lamb Methi isn't on the menu as such - a chicken version is - but I often order it and the waiters never seem phased by a request beyond the listed fare.  To be honest, seen as how a Chicken Methi is listed, I can't imaging it beyond the wit of man to rattle a Lamb Methi up but, yet again, another tick for International.

International

Recently I was approached (via the Blog) by some friends from out of town who were interested in learning more of the famous Bradford Curry. They asked primarily about the spicy aspect of Bradford Curry... "Is anywhere famous for doing really spicy food", "Where does the spiciest?" They asked.

I had a think, and eventually had to rather sheepishly admit to not knowing?  I couldn't think of anywhere necessarily 'famous' for doing spicy (or hot I guessed was what was being alluded to).  Once I had pondered further, I concluded that Bradford is the best in the country for many reasons, and doesn't need to do the gimmicky/food challenge type of thing at all.  However, I did stress to my friends, that in Bradford most restaurants will tailor their dishes to your tastes.  More often than not one is asked as to preferred spiciness.  You can probably have any dish you prefer as hot as you like!

Having said that, I did reminisce, about the days when me and the Mrs first started going out, and how I used to impressed her with my abilities at eating Vindaloos etc, and how it must have worked because we are still married!  But, more recently, actual taste has taken over as the driving force when it comes to enjoying a curry, rather than the laddy bravado "I can take double anything you can!" Type of thing!

However, I thought I'd best reacquaint myself with the hotter, bog standard, end of the curry scale... And to this end, to the International I went.  I bottled the Vindaloo though!  So instead went for Lamb Madras.  In the early days of my curry eating career, a Madras was my staple, and thought, therefore, a fitting benchmark.

The Lamb Madras was initially hottish, but not too bad. It was, however, a builder, and by end my nose was running and my tongue tender! I was glad of the final mouthful!  It possessed the consistency of loose gravy with chunks of meat swimming about. No determinable elements to the gravy, except for welcomed flecks of herb, and all in all it looked a little bit old fashioned.  The curry sauce did have a sharp peppery taste and the meat was tender, and the two crispy and fresh rotis were ample bread for the dish.  As expected from international it was very good and of high quality.  But is was perhaps a little one dimensional when compared with curries from the Special Menu.

As a post meal treat I sampled an Asian Tea - no 'pink tea' at the International so the recommended Asian Tea would suffice. Visually more like a traditional English tea, it was rich and milky and was gently spiced with cardamon etc.  It was served unsweetened and with a bowl of sugar. A couple of teaspoons of sugar for me made all the difference and the tea really took on a more decadent feel.

So to sum up.  It was good to revisit the Madras, but I feel my taste buds and expectations have moved on somewhat.  The International provided a superb Madras, no question, but I was left feeling like I'd missed out a tad.

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.

Doing the Rounds

Just a couple of quickies to a couple of my faves.  The International and the Karachi.

International

Bradford Curry lunches are becoming more and more regular in my curry eating calendar.  The International offers the perfect curry lunch.  The fantastic curry goes without saying, but choice of chapatis or naan, and included poppadon and pickles, make a meal from a single dish.  Today I thought I'd try something new, and opted for the Lamb Achari.  Achari is not a dish I select often, but here I'm so glad I did.  The addition of lime pickle in to one of Bradford's finest curry's added real zing to the proceedings.  I'll be going down the Achari route again soon.

Karachi

Back to old faithful - Karachi's Lamb and spinach.  The Karachi again was quietly buzzing with a few tables taken by midday.  Just went straight for curry today due to just popping in for a quick lunch.  Soon arrived and was the usual verging on perfection quality, with no evidence of skimping on the early diners.  It soon disappeared and I was on my way.  Until next time...

International Yet Again

I managed to squeeze a quick trip to the International the other day.

Strangely I was the only diner on this occasion?  Although I did visit mid-afternoon, so may be just a funny time.

Always top notch, I was soon breaking into my complimentary poppadom and perusing the menu deciding what to treat myself this time… Garlic Chili Chicken jumped out at me.

The dish did exactly what it said on the tin.  It was strong in garlic and also offered sufficient heat to let you know you were being spoken to!!  It was simply great.

This was yet another fantastic dish and overall experience from the International.

International #2

Snowy scene from The City Vaults

And two days later I am back again!!  Eating Bradford Curry in the International – it’s a hard life.

This time, however, the visit was on official duty as self appointed Chairperson of the Bradford Curry Club.  No relaxed dinner time curry eating with my baby daughter this time.  Networking, hard drinking, socializing, hard drinking, hard curry eating, oh and hard drinking were required.  It really is a hard life.

However, the original plan wasn't to visit the International at all, on this chilliest of snowy evenings.  No, the original plan was to visit the newly refurbished Sheesh Mahal.   However, on the said evening, the birthday celebrations of an esteemed member were also occurring, and a few drinky poos were on the cards to be consumed.  It became apparent, following an earlier phone call to the Sheesh, that this wasn’t going to happen - not there anyway - due to the confirmed strictly no alcohol policy!  Not wanting to be a party pooper, I proposed a Plan B, which entailed the Markaz in Centenary Square.  It was snowing quite heavily by now, resulting in no one wanting to walk too far, and I was sure Markaz sold booze – and sheesha, and it was also timetabled for a visit later on in the year – Top Draw.

Bum – closed… What now?

We’re stuck in the middle of Bradford, on official Bradford Curry Club duties, and Plan A and Plan B are both out of the window…  What shall we do?  Under such trying circumstances, the normal plan of attack would be… “Let’s just go to the Kash’.”  But no, the first name mentioned was International.  Everyone agreed, so we trotted up the hill, and picked up some wine in t’Witherspoons en route.  That was a bit of an ordeal - and a tale for another day…

We’re finally here… Sitting down with poppadoms, pickles, water and menus was met with some relief.  It seems like every blog at the moment is banging on about the International.  This is for good reason though – it is very good.  And even though I had visited only a couple days earlier, I could not withhold my excitement.

For starter I opted for Tikka Paneer.  Lovely it was too, displaying all the hall marks of quality tandoor cooking.  It was bob on and tasked wonderful.  However, if the paneer was good, it was nothing compared to the lamb chops, one of which I managed to steal from the Mrs.  It was about the best tasting lamb chop I ever encountered.  As with the paneer, the seasoning, quality, flavor, texture, smell, everything was verging on perfection.  I could have eaten them forever.

Curry Heaven - Near perfection.  Lamb Methi

To the main course, and with my heightened elated feelings of general well being, it was with tingling waves of goose bumps I savoured the first few mouthfuls of my Lamb Methi…  Yes, I was in the throws of having a ‘moment’.  I'm not sure I have ever had a curry ‘moment’ before?  But I must admit I quite liked it!  The Methi was Bradford Curry personified and I'm going all goo goo again just thinking about it.  The dark, dry, rich stew, with abundant, slightly disintegrating, meat and the underlying fenugreek flavor - giving the now understood slightly ‘dusty’ (for want of a better word) taste - melted in the mouth and was persuaded into my mouth with gusto utilizing the included garlic naan. 

Curry Heaven.  No other words do it justice.  Curry Heaven

International #1

Last Thursday it was deemed an appropriate time to once again pop to the International to eat Bradford Curry.

International

After arriving in Bradford a little early for their midday opening time, Izzy and me cruised the streets of Bradford scoping out possibilities for future Bradford Curry easting opportunities.  Some were spotted and noted – watch this space.

Izzy and Naan

Well, we were through the door of the International just about bang on midday, and there was already a table of six girls and a further table of six workmen – how these people always beat us I’ll never know?  They must sleep there or something?

A quick dinner was the order of the day, and no time was wasted perusing the menu, or any such nonsense, and our fish pakora and Special Karahi (lamb, chicken and prawns) with naan order was efficiently dispatched to the kitchen.

Mixed Karahi

No significant time passed before our piping hot, wonderfully aromatic and fresh fodder arrived.  On this occasion, the food seemed a little spicy for Izzy, but she persevered – bless.  To the more sophisticated mature palate however, it was business as usual.  The Mixed Karahi seemed a little more ‘saucy’ than the usual rock hard bone dry Trad Brad Curries we usually experience at The International, but ultimately this simply offered more naan dunking opportunities. 

The International is simply a wonderful Bradford Curry eating Experience.

However, all this quick dinner time curry is nothing more than an hors d'oeuvre to the main course – which we didn’t know at the time was going to happen – but did - a Saturday Night International Curry.  Whoop Whoop!!!

More on this later…

Din Dins at the International

Since reading my new friend Hector’s (The international curry guru from Glasgow and of Curry-Heute fame – check out his website) account of his recent trip down south to Bradford – and especially his near curry nirvana experience at the International, I simply had to re-visit.  But when?  Sneaking in a ‘Billy no mates’ lunchtime curry whilst in transit through the centre of Bradford, offered the perfect opportunity to take in the International. 

The 'Currymobile' outside the International

We at the Bradford Curry Club are big fans of the International, and rightly so – what with excellent curries, nice environment, efficient service and VFM, it has all the ingredients to make it a winner.

Hector’s weapon of choice was a Lamb Karahi Methi and he considered it one of the finest he’d ever tasted.  I thought it’d be rude of me not to indulge – so that was to be choice also. 

Billy no mates

I was sat straight away and provided with a solitary poppadon and sauces, and a jug of water.  The laminated menu was also presented for my perusal.  However, as already discussed, I’d already made my decision, and the waiter arrived to take my order with prompt efficiency.

Not spotting Lamb Karahi Methi on the menu did not deter me from ordering it, and the waiter was un-phased by my suggestion of a dish not officially offered (NB. I only glanced at the menu, and I could’ve easily missed it – I spotted Chicken Karahi Methi).  Included with all mains is either a naan, 3x chapattis, 2x Rotis, or rice.  It was naan for me.

Lamb Karahi Methi - Bradford curry at its best

I’d barely started the crossword before my meal arrived – piping hot in a little balti style dish.  I say little, but it was a fair old portion, and, being a lone dinner, I was pleased at my decision not to attempt a starter also.  The Karahi is a traditional Punjabi curry – thick and dry – and the Methi part is fenugreek to the layperson.  My Kahahi was indeed thick and dry, with plenty of melt in the mouth lamb.  It was really good, but I couldn’t help but think mine had a slight ‘dusty’ taste to it, like a powdered spice had been added and not cooked out properly?  Still gorgeous though, and with a naan to boot, I was more than satisfied.  There was little evidence of excessive oil left in the bowl or plate either which is nice.

All this for £7.50!!!  Makes you wonder why you would ever bother going to McDonalds really?  Bare in mind that my Karahi was off the special menu too, and a simple curry could be ordered for £6 – and I guess would still include the same popadoms, water etc – that’s a bargain.

The International 17/10/2009

Attendees: Pauline, Big Tone, Lynda and John

The International is a little just up the road from the mighty, and famous, Kashmir and is perhaps a little overlooked due to its geographical position. However, overlook The International at your peril, because here, I am pleased to report, the BCC has uncovered a little gem.

A full menu is available containing all the usual type of stuff. I chose from the specials list, the curry that was described with works such as ‘chilli’ and ‘garlic’. It certainly was garlicy, but not too hot. Nice. One issue was the amount of oil floating on top. I did have to sit my balti dish on its side to let the oil drain to one side. One good thing though was, having heard rumours of a ‘salty chef’; I was pleased to receive a perfectly seasoned dish. Chapatis were included with the main courses so I simple stuck with them, rather than ordering an additional garlic nann.

Before the mains we indulged in poppadoms and pickles, which were presented with the menus as soon as we sat down – top marks – along with a bottle opener too, for our beer (The International is a BYO), and a jug of iced water. A+++. For the starter proper, the table shared the mixed grill and some onion bhaji. There were both very good and tasty. The mixed grill included portions of fish.


The decor is kind of basic but nice – plain tables and strangely coloured walls were the order of the day. It isn’t proper trendy or anything but is certainly a step up from the basic cafe style. The staff were excellent, and really friendly and attentive. A little too friendly maybe – at one point the waiter had his arm around Big Tone like a long lost friend!!! And it was handshakes all round when we left. The restaurant was really busy and had a good mix of clientèle – always a good sign.

All round it was pretty good and ‘another’ contender for best of the year. We need to go to some poor restaurants for a change. All these good restaurants month after month is making life difficult....It’s a hard life isn’t it?

John