Cabin Caribbean Cuisine - Leeds

Well great stuff.  A quick Google search revealed this little place - Cabin Caribbean Cuisine - to be just up the road from my work.  Amazing what crops up sometimes - I never knew it was there.  And remember my old adage for not only curry based Leeds fodder, but also from my experience, most Leeds based fodder options - when in Leeds go Caribbean.  Although getting better recently, Leeds is still awash with chain/franchise eateries and, for me, generally offers little dinning interest.  However, a few miles north of the city centre, in the Chapeltown and Harehills areas, Leeds becomes alive with the sounds and smells of the Caribbean, and a number of such establishments exist. 

No kebabs/burgers/pizzas here.  Just
Caribbean classics.  Pumping tunes and a
BBQ outside too!

I am actually happier than I look.  Always a
bit weird sitting and eating alone and
photographing yourself!  I'm not a weirdo
I promise.

This small cafe is perhaps a little bit more take away than proper sit in kind of place, but there was a single table with four seats, and a small bar with stools around the window.  The table was presented with a table cloth and a few condiments, so felt fairly civilised.

Curry Goat, it just had to be.  £5 for a small portion (£6.50 for a big, but to be honest the small was massive), and served with rice, Rice and Peas or Hard Food(??).  The dish promptly arrived, and slightly took my breath away with it's size!

The classic Curry Goat with Rice and Peas.

Great flavour from the curry itself.  The goat was 'on the bone' but had been cooked to such an extent it had come away.  The goat was fantasticly meaty in flavour and high quality.  It melted in the mouth and had little to no grisly bits.  Lovely.  The sauce was of fairly thin consistency which mixed well with the Rice and Peas, and had chunky potato and carrot added also.  Spice wise it was just right.  Not too hot and had the lovely undercurrent of the mellow coconut milk to keep everything in check.  Hot clilli sauce was a table dwelling condiment if the need to spice things further was deemed appropriate - it wasn't on this occasion.  The Rice and Peas, were good too.  Perhaps a little on the salty side but once all mixed up, this was not an issue.

A great little place and is going to be a regular from now on I can tell you.

Bradford Curry Crowned Best in the Country

Bradford - Curry Capital of Great Britain 2013.

Photo courtesy of Akbar's

Congratulations to Bradford who have, for the third year on the bounce, been crowned Curry Capital of Great Britain.

Apparently a close competition this year with Bradford narrowly pipping the excellent Glasgow to second place.  Wolverhampton completed the podium.

Well done to all involved.

The Prince of India - Peebles

We ride... AGAIN... So we can eat MORE curry

I'll set the scene - A weekend mountain biking in the Scottish Boarders, and two very hungry Bradford Curry loving Brothers stumble into Peebles looking for a few cheeky pints and a curry.  The pints came without problem, but soon the rumbling tummies could no longer be quashed with Guinness, and the inevitable curry time beckoned.

Having been to Peebles cycling before I was aware of the end of the High Street sited Prince of India, and had indeed dined there previously.  I remember being pleased with my meal, and was the obvious place to head on this evening too. To be honest I'm not sure Peebles even has another sit down curry restaurant? We weren't prepared to look!

We entered a modestly sized but bustling restaurant - I think we were lucky to get a table.  However, it was getting late, and the punters soon thinned.  Immediately, BOOM... straight facing the door, we spotted a framed certificate declaring The Prince of India to be the winner of Restaurant of the Year at the Scottish Curry Awards 2013*.   WOW!  We'd we'd dropped on here - this was going to be interesting...  Two of Bradford's greatest curry eating aficionados pop out in Peebles for a swift curry, and end up in an award winning restaurant! Hmmm...  but how would it compare to Bradford, and more importantly Shimal Spice - Winner of Best in Yorkshire and Best in England too at England's equivalent awards ceremony?    

The menu was comprehensive and included many of the familiar dishes we know and love, along with mouthwatering Specials etc.  However, it was the prices that immediately caught the eye, and brought the proverbial tear forth to us short armed/deep pocketed Yorkshire men.  I've noticed in the past that curry in Scotland seems comparatively dear, and  I think the Prince of India is generally in line with this mark up.  

Ben and framed Scottish Curry Awards 2013 certificate.

But, for example, non-vege starters were just short of £5, most mains just short of £10 (unless you wanted king prawns in which case £15!), chapatis £1.55 (yes £1.55! Each!) and naan about £3.50. Now, I am always going to be biased but, in our beloved Bradford, and more specifically Shimla Spice, used here for comparison only due to recently winning the same Curry Award, starters are ~£3, mains ~£7 (£10 for prawns), chapatis 50p (and remember other places in Bradford chapatis are included) and naan £2.30! 

That's a vast difference.  But lets face it, it's all academic really, and essentially nonsense!  Folk of Peebles aren't exactly going to suddenly jump in their cars and drive a special 400 mile round trip just because the curry is a little cheaper in Bradford.  So fair do's, Prince of India is dearer - but it's all relative.  But ultimately how does the food compare to the best in Bradford?

I recall for starters I had Mixed Pakura (chicken, vegetable and cauliflower) and followed it with the North Indian Chilli Garlic Chicken (sounded suitably Bradfordian), and a Garlic Naan.  Ben had Lamb Sheek Kebab and Chicken Rogan Josh, plus Chapatis.

Well, the starters were ok.  I rather enjoyed the cauliflower pakura element of my mixed dish, which was crunchy, well al dente I guess is the preferred culinary term,  and provided the perfect transport to carry the delicate spices in the batter.  Ben's kebabs passed without note I'm afraid.  Mains... the North Indian Chilli Garlic was ok to good.  It was certainly lighter in colour, looser and saucier than a Bradford curry.  It had a sharp spike of heat in what was otherwise a fairly thin tasting sauce.  Strangely, Ben's Rogan Josh was exactly the same - could've come straight out of the same pan!  Hhhhmmmm??

Prince of India probably thought they had a couple of slightly tipsy mountain bikers here and they wouldn't notice if served the same dish!  Saves dirtying two pans I suppose.  So an otherwise satisfactory meal was a little marred a little by an apparent laziness.  But who knows? Perhaps the North Indian Chilli Garlic and the Rogan Josh were just too alike - but at the same time slightly different - and we simply missed subtle differences?

Overall though it was an decent enough dining experience - but not Bradford... obviously - and next time I am in Peebles I will be back in the Prince of India like a shot. 

*This was diluted somewhat when reading more closely, because the award is regional  Prince of India was winner of the southeastern region.  No matter, it is a prestigious award non the less.  

Leeds Cultural Curry Festival 2013

Lovely weather brought the crowds

Another Curry Festival!  This time in Leeds, and titled Leeds Cultural Curry Festival.  It catered for curry from around the world and included a few Thai outlets too.  Certainly varied.  Big too!  A lovely sunny day brought out the crowds and Millennium Square was stuffed.  Along with all the stalls, a stage provided cooking demo's and other entertainment such as music and dancing.  A small fair was present for the kiddies too.  A good family day out.

Bundobust Pav Bhaji

Although my best intentions were to sample some new and interesting food, the strong garlic whiff from Bundobusts Pav Bhaji pop up stall was overwhelming, and first port of call was here.  Although only a week previous I'd sampled this dish, it is so good I couldn't resist.  Bundobust is creating quite a stir about these parts - and definitely stood out from the crowd here at this festival.  I pressed again regarding any info on a venue yet but, understandably, they didn't want to give too much away.

Bundobust Pav Bhaji

Fish Pakora on Naan

Many of the other stalls were basically serving curry/kebabs on a naan - and this is what Lynda opted for.  Fish Pakora on a naan with salad.  Lynda is well through a pregnancy at the moment, so fancied something mild and not too demading. Her choice fitted the bill.  The fish was mildly battered and the salad and dressing were refreshing.  The naan was fresh, fluffy and warm. It was noted that many of the outlets had portable tandor ovens and were cooking naans fresh.  Very impressive.

Loads of curry everywhere you looked!

Later in the afternoon, once our initial meals had settled, we decided to share a second curry!  We liked the look of this stall (here on the right) and went for the dish simply entitled Meat Masala - on a naan of course.  It was ok - middle of the road and nothing special.  The stall certainly looked the part with the large hot plates all piled high with curry, but seemingly catering for a mass market - and who can blame them.  The Meat Masala didn't set my taste buts alight, and if I had had room for a third curry of the day would have gone elsewhere.

The Leeds Cultural Curry Festival 2013 offered a great family day out.  My only gripe is the same as with the Bradford Festival a few weeks ago, and that is that most of the meals were in the £5-£7 bracket, and offered a substantial meal.  Good value, but one is enough!  I'd personally like to trawl a good few stalls sampling bits and bobs at a reduced price en route.  Also, rather than everyone just serving curry/kebab on a naan, perhaps some more of this would be good?

Saffron Desi - Guiseley

Over the years I must have eaten more curry here at Saffron Desi than anywhere else!  It's my local curry restaurant you see - me living in Guiseley.  Eat ins and take aways, we've had them all. Sorry for not blogging sooner.

Saffron Desi, however, does have it's roots in Bradford, and is a genuine Bradford Curry eating establishment - see here.  NB.  Saffron Desi opened the Guiseley branch a good few years ago now, and I understand the original Leeds Road, Bradford Saffron Desi has now closed.

Naans on sticks - Excellent.

At Saffron Desi you get a very good quality meal, with excellent service and an overall splendidly trendy experience.  I have always been happy here.  Over the years the Mrs and I must have sampled the majority of the menu, but stand out dishes for us, and the ones we re-visit time and time again are, for starters, the Saffron Mixed Grill.  It is a massive, packed to the rafters sizzler with chops, fish, kebabs and tikka etc.  It is not for the people with weak constitution!  Rather for those with a bottomless appetite.  The Grill alone can fill you if you're not on top of your game!  But as with everything in life, size isn't everything, and the Mixed Grill is great tasting too.  All spicy and carcoaly - very nice.  For mains, the stand out dishes for us are the Vensi and the Saffron Ka Khana.  The Vensi is not a dish you'll come across very often - indeed a quick Google search produced very little info - but it is a brill dish.  It is a creamy dish - which I don't often favour - but it has heat and sourness, which gives it a real kick.  Comes garnished with peppers too, which add another dimension and flavour.  It is one of our favourites.   Secondly the Ka Khana, which is your more traditional Bradford Curry in a thick onion/tomato based sauce, and is a 'complex dish of many individually roasted ingredients' apparently - or something like that.  It is dark and rich and very tasty.   As always, the above are accompanied with a garlic naan on a stick (a nod to Akbars??) which is always warm, fresh, fluffy and, above all, bery garlicy.

Saffron Achari

The Lamb Saffron Achari I had recently was perhaps not in the same league as those discussed above evenif it was listed on the Saffron Specialities - Award Winning Dishes section of the menu.  Different to other Acharis I have had in Bradford recently, it ticked all the right boxes on the menu, with mention of yoghurt marinades, pickle masala and a dash of cream, but it was rather too creamy for me, and not quite as butt puckeringly sour as I would have liked either!  Having said that, it was still very good, a perfectly good take on an Achari - worth a try if you are a fan of this variety.  Perhaps ask for extra sour when ordering?

It is great to have such a quality establishment on ones doorstep.

Bundobust - a First Taster

Real Beer Tokens

Leeds Beer Festival and a Bundobust Pop-Up Bar just inside the gate.  Coriander Ale and Pav Bhaji - Boy I am really looking forward to this place opening in Leeds proper.  Still early doors though, and no concrete venue details available as yet.  You lot will be the first to find out.

The Bundobust Coriander Pils was very refreshing, not too fizzy, and definitely had a unique spicy flavour to it.  It was a great beer, and I think a perfect accompaniment to a curry.

Bundobust Pop Up Bar

Then to the Pav Bhaji (Pav means bread and Bhaji means vegetable dish), and it's fantastic.  Originating from Mumbi (I understand), it is a basic, but complex, quick, fast food dish.  Bundobust's Pav Bhaji was cooked in the traditional way on a large flat griddle,  and all the vegetables and potatoes mashed together with plenty of spices and butter.  It is pretty rich and very rewarding to eat.  The bread is generously buttered and warmed/slightly toasted on the edge of the griddle.

Prashad's Bobby (yes him from the telly) was on hand offering samples and some history about the dish. Bobby is great at this sort of thing, and talking about the dish, it's origins and about how many millions of portions of Pav Bhaji are served in Mumbai per day.  I quipped "Mumbai dish, Mumbai prices?"  A stern "no" was the response!  Never mind, Bundobust's/Prashads's Pav Bhaji was worth every penny.

Shimla Spice - English Curry Awards 2013

Congratulations to the mighty Shimla Spice for recently landing yet another set of awards.  This time at the prestigious English Curry Awards 2013.  But when will they stop?  There can't be many more awards left!

Post by Shimla Spice Restaurants Fan Page.

Announced as competition finalists in mid August, Shimla Spice went on to beat stiff competition and win not only the Best Restaurant in Yorkshire 2013 category, but also the Best Restaurant in England 2013 category too!  It is, of course, a great achievement for Shimla Spice, and an excellent reward for a lot of hard work but, thinking of the bigger picture, how fantastic is it for the Bradford area itself?  It says a lot about the quality of the food available in the city and surrounding area.  Shimla Spice have done themselves and the Bradford - The Curry Capital of Britain - proud.

So a massive well done Shimla Spice.  I am looking forward to my next visits to this award winning restaurant, and hope experiences such as these will issue forth... Bring it on!

Leeds Cultural Curry Festival

Another date for the is Leeds Cultural Curry Festival 2013:

Breakfast Study #2 - The Sweet Centre

The Breakfast Study continues with a trip to the Sweet Centre, arguably the finest breakfast establishment in Bradford.

And it is indeed great - and I have breakfasted here on many occasions, as regular readers to the Bradford Curry Blog will all to well know.

Today, the cafe was very busy - and showed obvious signs - uncleared  tables - of a very busy morning prior to my arrival.  The bar was rammed, and I was unsure of my place in the queue.

So why so good?  Well, it's a combination of many factors.  It's cheap and quick for starters, so can be considered as a rapid pop in when passing, and the the food is great too.  The chana has substantial chickpea and potato content in a thin sauce, which is excellently flavoured, seasoned, and spiced.  I find the level of spice can increase with depth, probably due the the spices settling out of the thin sauce??  Great though.  Then there's the kebabs.  50yr+ recipe apparently?  Simply gorgeous course ground meat and obvious onions, are certainly substantial in their texture and flavour.

Plenty of mint sauce is the order of the day for me.

My breakfast of choice at the moment, but from here the Breakfast study travels into virgin territory.

Breakfast - a Study

Enjoying Mughals

I'm a big fan of the traditional breakfast or desi breakfast or, I think, properly called Halwa Poori.  Therefore, I've decided to do a study.

I was first exposed to this delicacy during a trip to Manchester, many moons ago.  At the time it was a completely alien concept to me... "What?  Curry for for breakfast?"  At the time, it seemed certainly a rarity in Bradford - unless, it was just for people in the know?  In fact I need to stop banging on about this!

Anyway, thankfully it is far more easily available now, with many establishments advertising breakfasts.

Mughals Chana and poori

So, from where I've sampled up to know, it seems The Sweet Center is the bench mark.  Always pretty busy, quick and good.  Perfect for a quick bob in and out.  Chickpeas (chana) in a cauldron behind the counter and dished up simply like Oliver Twist or something!  Greasy bread (poori), and the option of halwa (a bowl of sweet stuff??) are also good, and you can also indulge in the legendary kebabs too.  Original 50yr+ old recipe.  Very nice.  It is just great.  Sweet Center exploits - including breakfasts - can be seen here.  The Sweet Center will be visited again soon as part of this study.

However, the last couple of breakfasts I have enjoyed have been at Mughals.  First time was a birthday treat to me - here.  And then most recently just the other day.  Different to the Sweet Center, the Mughals breakie is made fresh in the little open kitchen.  On this visit, the chana was rather loose and a little oily.  Very sour with lime pickle (seems to be Mughals thing), and very tasty.  The poori's were greasy as usual but I love them.  It was a great breakfast.

The study could go on for a while but I will update as regularly as possible.

Bundobust - Now This Looks Interesting...

Bundobust - a new collaboration bar between The Sparrow Bier Cafe and Prashad.

It's a little bit of a shame that the love child of The Sparrow and Prashad is to be a Loiner but never mind. There aren't many details at the moment, but this place sounds like it is going to be great.  And if they can serve good beer, and simple and tasty food quickly, it is going to go down a storm in Leeds.

Watch this space.

A Cheeky Kashmir

Eid and Bradford is like a ghost town!

Plan A - The International - shut!

Plan B - The Kashmir... Rest assure it's open. It's always open!  And remember the old saying... "If in doubt go to t'kash."

Onion bhajis are excellent. Love them from here. All twisted shards of crispy battery oniony goodness.  Still my favorite to this day.

Meat Rogan Josh soon follows - this is t'Kash after all - and again is very good. A little bit oily, resulting in a slightly looser curry than I've been seeking out recently, but peppery and meaty. A perfect balance of zing too.

Still good - one of the best - and I will always keep returning to the legendary Kashmir.

Omar's - Another Birthday Treat!

Omar's - home of the Notorious Naan.... oh and darn good curry too?

This trip to drink beer in Bradford's finest drinking establishments, and to eat Bradford Curry, was actually a belated Birthday night out with work friends.  I know it's getting on for a month after my actual Birthday, but you know me, I'm not the kind of guy to grumble at a day out however spurious the reason.  

However, before we get the the nitty gritty of Omar's itself the there is the small matter of a few pubs...

The Sparrow

The plan was to meet around 16:30 at the Shoulder of Mutton on Kirkgate - as I strode in Ngoc Phan and Martin, the evenings drinking buddies (Mary was to join us later), were already sat in the corner enjoying there first drinks. Good start.  T'shoulder is a spit and sawdust Sam Smiths place - pretty traditional with the faint whiff of wet dogs!  However, it possess a good atmos and, of course, there is the value for money Sam Smiths booze on offer.  It is always a good place to start due to it's proximity to the train stations, and is the only place in the absolute city centre I can think of with anything about it?

So, from t'Shoulder, we wandered to the Sparrow Bier Cafe.  Among my Leeds dwelling, and rare visitors to Bradford what so ever drinking buddies, the Sparrow struck a more familiar and happy chord.  It's trendy, vibrant and has a good selection of quality beverages.  I could tell Ngoc Phan and Martin were happy here.  Indeed, it is one of my favorite pubs in Bradford too.  I was tret to a Kwak so was a happy bunny.

Notorious...

Next was The New Bee Hive.  Here didn't go down well at all!  I've always liked t'Hive but statements such as "I think this is the worst pub I have ever been in" suggested to me issues?  The good quality of the beer was commented on, but we didn't dwell and swiftly moved on.  By now, the fourth Bradford Curry eating team member - Mary - had arrived, and was wondering around Centenary Square, so we jogged on down up to Sir Titus Salt for one last pre curry pint.  The Sir Titus Salt is in a spectacular building - a former swimming pool I understand - and is by far the best Wetherspoons I've ever been in.  Sucking of teeth did ensue on the mention of Wethersppons, but this soon diminished once in awe of the premises!  Phew, done. Now just a quick trip to the offy (Omar's is BYO) for some beer and wine and then CCcccuuuuuuuuuuurrrrryyyyyyy!

Notorious...

Omar's was a touch quiet on arrival at about 19:30.  But it was the middle of Ramadan, and the restaurant did fill during our stay.  We munched on popadoms and pickles whilst perusing the menu - much of which was unbelievably tempting - and soon a waiter was at our table ready for orders.  I plumped for Samosa Chaat (lamb) and, after a certain amount of umming and ahhing, lamb Jaipuri Punjabi Special.  Others ordered fish, chops, Acharis etc.  A Notorious Naan was ordered for us all too.  I was very excited.

The starters arrived and we dived in.  All seemed happy, but I found my Samosa Chaat very salty.  Apart from a slight sour tamarind flavour, salt was all I could taste!  A little deflated I hoped my Jaipuri Punjabi Special would be top draw...

The Starters

IT WAS...  Straight from the off, the curry nestling in the bottom of the massive and ace looking balti dish hit me with a wollop of outstanding full bodied flavour, and pretty garlicy - which is good in my book.  A little red in colour but thick and umptious and meaty.  I must admit I enjoyed every single mouthful and was soon mopping around the dish with chunks of Notorious Naan.

Jaipuri Punjabi Special

Ah yes, what of the Notorious Naan.  Well it is truly massive.  Four of us only ate about half of it!  However, it is far from just a gimmick.  It is a fantastic piece of bread.  It was fluffy in the middle, with the trade mark crispy charred bits on the edges.  And was nicely garlicy which, as we know, is brill.  It has to be seen to be believed but rest assured you will be getting a quality product.  I'd love to know how they cook it?

The Notorious Naan

So, Omar's was an excellent experience from start to finish - only the slightly over seasoned Samosa Chaat ever so slightly marred my meal.  Absolutely 10/10.

Village Curry House, Glasgow

Peshwari Chops

WHIZ! BANG! WALLOP!!!  WOW... what a curry!  The Village Curry Houses Peshwari Chops was a stonker.  Four sizeable, meaty and melt in the mouth bbqed/tandored lamb chops, swimming in a quite loose, and slightly oily gravy.  The flavours were immense.  Really rather citrusy sour, and a fair old amount of heat!  I was glad I reined in the bravado and erred on the side of caution with 'medium strength' when asked. Also, rich, full bodied and well seasoned, and presented with match sticks of fresh ginger on top to add a real zing.  I'm pretty sure there may have been some sultanas or something lurking in the bottom of the dish - some little morsels of sweetness were experienced any way.  It was a dish quite different to what we get here in Bradford, and one I will remember for quite a while, and keep me itching for more frequent Glasgow trips.

Frequent readers of the Bradford Curry Blog will probably have realised I often visit Glasgow to see family. After many years eating curry up there (not always blogged), it has become easy to see why both Glasgow and Bradford have swapped Curry Capital honours on a number of occasions recently.  Glasgow as a whole does serve up excellent fare.  This was to be my first visit to the Village Curry House, and first Glasgow curry with the Glaswegian Legend Hector Curry-Heute*.  How better to enjoy your first Village curry than with family and the Curry Master?

We ride so we can eat more curry

Just gone 13:00 and Win, Ben, Lynda and me are studying Lunch Special Menus which were on the tables... in Hector walks.  Looking a little puzzled - as were we - at this stripped down menu, it was clear this was not going to sate the Master Hector!  A quick chat to the waiter soon saw reinstatement of the full menu.  It is handy having friends in high places that's for sure.

Feeling much happier now, I could now see the Peshwari Chops dish I had set my heart on.  Hector spoke highly of the Lamb Desi Korma and said "well someone should get it."  Lynda took on the challenge.  Ben and Win still went with Lunch Specials.  Pakoras were ordered for starters too in various guises.  Izzy, bless here, stuck to her plate of chips and chicken nuggets, but did adorn it initially with a poppadom! And Hector the Achari Gosht - Desi Style - with Aloo Paratha.  Desi style is essentially turbo charged!

The Pakoras were dispatched without drama - I noted the fish was rater splendid.  Then the mains.  My Peshwari Chops were astonishing - as already discussed.  The Recommended Lamb Desi Korma was the only other dish I sampled and it was indeed unlike any other Korma I'd ever eaten.  It was not overly creamy, pretty darn hot and also possessed the citrus reminiscent of my dish.  Lynda was pleased and remarked on the Korma twist.  Hector considered his Achari to be stunning.  Tender meat, viscous masala, decent kick, punctuated with smacks from lime pickle.

So all in all we had a splendid visit to The Village Curry House, and I can't recommend it highly enough.  If you're ever up Glasgow way check it out.  We certainly will be on our next trip north of the border.

*Hector was on his 40 something blogged visit to the Village!  However, countless total number of visits for the curry maestro!

Pakeezah Fire

Sad news yesterday - the Ingleby Road branch of Pakeezah had a devistating fire.  Luckily, I understand, the staff acted quickly and got everybody out and nobody was harmed.  However, I gather the shop to be in a bad way!

Photo courtesy of the T&A web site

Our thoughts are with you Pakeezah at this terrible time and I'm sure you'll be back bigger and stronger than ever.

Regards

John the Bradford Curry Blogger