Delhi Sweet Centre, Curry Mile, Manchester

On the Curry Mile

On my travels yet again - I really do need to get some Bradford Curry in.  Slacking!

So here we are in bandit country - Manchester, on another weekend away racing push bikes, and, following a few celebratory post race drinks the previous evening, in need of a curry breakfast.

Delhi Sweet Centre on the Curry Mile seemed to fit the bill.

Sunday Breakfast Special - Chana, Puri and Halwa

Not much to say other than perfectly acceptable Chana Puri.  We also indulged in the Halwa - like a bowl of sweet semolina 'stuff' - nice.  A bowl of Chana, a bowl oh Halwa, and more puri's than you can shake a stick at came to £4pp.  Excellent value and just what was needed.

Trying to work the curry off!

Hopefully... soon... back to the the Bradford Curry.

A Curry Hunt - Tiffin Box, Guiseley

The Tiffin Box

AAarrrghhh!  Hungry!  

A Sunday afternoon to early evening in-laws wedding anniversary party, with some associated drinking, had left me starved!  By the time we'd got home, and got daughter Izzy to bed, the wife Lynda had flaked out asleep, it had started snowing and it was getting late.  Also, had no cash and, crucially,  desperately needed a curry.  

Seemingly exhausting the often utilised  computer/takeaway/credit card options - a task beyond my comprehension at this hour on this day, I booted up and set out on foot into the blizzard.

Up until recently all the curry outlets in Guiseley were proper restaurants only, so there has never been an option for a cheap and quick, basic sit down curry locally.    This has changed to a degree with the opening of The Tiffin Box.

Curry needed

Lamb and Spinach, and Garlic Naan

 

To be honest, The Tiffin Box is definitely more takeaway than curry house, but the introduction of a few tables and chairs in the shop front, adorned with sauces etc, certainly makes it more inviting for a sit down.

On a Sunday night mission - bang on the Northern Soul
and off we go

Wandering in I got the immediate impression they were about to shut up shop, but I was warmly welcomed non the less, and asked what I fancied.  Feeling awkward, I just ask for what ever would be easiest for them... but nothing seemed too much trouble, and not being in the mood to peruse the menu, I just went for my staple Lamb and Spinach, and Garlic Naan.

I took my seat and patiently waited.  I wasn't sure what to expect, whether my food would just come in a takeaway foil container, and would sit and eat it from said receptacle or whether it would be plated?

Snowy Guiseley

I was pleased to see my curry arrive steaming hot on an actual plate with accompanying naan adjacent.  Both looked very fresh and good quality.  And indeed they were, and as good as anything served in my favoured Bradfordian eaters.

Thick and full of meat and herbs, it was definitely in the camp of the more modern looking curries, with many of the ingredients on display, rather than homogeneous mass.  There was heat there too, and it was, not to put too finer point on it, quite lovely.

I may have found my new local curry takeaway/cafe stop.  Watch this space.

A Taste of Trinidad, Leeds

Big Tone finishes his Rice and Peas with
the Dhalpouri Roti in the foreground

NOT BRADFORD? 

No, but sometimes for the well travelled Bradford Curry eating aficionado such as myself, eating in the Curry Capital of Britain is not always possible and, when out and about in neighbouring Leeds - a cool place but notoriously bad for eating I find - I try to get some Windies food in.  Hence A Taste of Trinidad (AToT).

I appreciate Bradford curries from many of the giants such as Akbars, Aagrah, Newaab, Mumtaz can be procured in Leeds, but only in the evenings and, to me, it just doesn't seem quite right?  I don't know why?  Please note, however, A Taste of Trinidad isn't exactly Leeds city centre - nor are any of the other likely sources of West Indian fodder in Leeds - and you are looking at a good 10min drive/35min walk from City Square.  So a little bit of dedication is necessary.  But it's worth it.

I spotted AToT during the Capletown Carnival last summer.  It looked good, and I was keen to make a visit.  However, I'm not called John the 'Speedy' Bradford Curry Blogger, and my return to the area to sample the the food has been some what leisurely!  And the buffet lunch - I spotted advertised on AToTs facebook page over the Christmas period - seemed like the perfect opportunity to sample their fare, especially with my increasingly fussy little girl in tow!

We arrived to be told the buffet was no longer being run!  Not enough interest apparently!  WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE OF LEEDS!  We were informed by the very friendly proprietor that there were also a few other issues with availability of certain things on the menu - such as the children's meals!  Eeek!  He offered to do the Fry Bake - basically some crispy fried flat bread - with red sauce, and he also chucked in some chicken nuggets.  Izzy seemed to quite like it so we were happy.

Curry Goat - as part of the Goat Dhalpouri Roti

Thankfully there was no issue with the Main Courses, and Big Tone ordered the Chicken Curry with Rice and Peas, and I ordered the Goat Dhalpouril Roti.  Many of the words seem pretty familiar don't they?  Dhal, Pouril and Roti, all have roots in Indian food.

Big Tone's dish is fairly self explanatory, and tasted fantastic.  The flavour of sunshine oozed from the dish, with abundant smooth and sweetish coconut.  The chicken added a lighter note to the dish compared to the traditional goat version I tried in the past.  Bit spicy too.  Yum Yum!  My Goat Dhalpouril Roti may need a little more explanation?  It needed describing to me that's for sure.  It comprised a puri type flat bread stuffed with crushed 'stuff' - I presume the dhal?  With a bowl of Curry Goat, which was embellished with some chickpeas and potato.  It was quite delightful.  The curry, like the chicken version, possessed a full rich flavour of coconut, and some heat too.  The goat added a much richer, and stronger meaty flavour to the dish and melted in the mouth.  I enjoyed it very much.

I love these Caribbean curries, and A Taste of Trinidad do a very good version.  They make a refreshing change to the usual, and I'll be making a return visit. 

Pakeezah Samosa Chaat

I'm a big fan of the Pakeezah Cafe.  Nice food and very very good value for money.

Samosa Chaat

It was nice to pop in for a quick dinner the other day whilst visiting Bradford.  And what better dish to have for a quickly than Samosa Chaat.  I've written quite a bit about this dish already here and there, as it is one of my favourites   I love the textures of the smashed samosoa and chickpeas, and the hot/cold thingy.  Also the sweet/sour combo from the curry and the tamarind is excellent.  Then there is the heat.  Normally served with freshly chopped chilli's on top, it can be quite eye watering at times.  All round great dish.

It was noted during our visit to Pakeezah, that the nice big booths, which I thought added an excellent dimension to the Pakeezah Cafe eating experience (see here), had been removed, and the cafe area reduced in size to accommodate more sweet counters and fridges.  Seems a shame, but obviously Pakeezah seem to think it better for their customers.  

The quality for price of their cafe food has not been affected.

Sheesh Mahal Christmas Special

The perks of mixing with the top brass curry eating gliterati - Hector Curry Heute and entourage - are many, and here, during this Christmas time visit to the Sheesh Mahal,  the full blown Sheesh Mahal experience was experienced.  An experience not to be missed.  More of this.... er, experience, lower down.

Hector had been in Yorkshire for a few days already - mainly over Huddersfield way - for New Year, and had already squeezed several Bradford Currry's in (Sheesh and International I think) prior to our arranged lunch time visit.  This guy is seriously dedicated, and I highly recommend checking out his website for all things curry.

Mutton Patia

On arrival, the Sheesh was all shut up?  Contrary to the recent new(ish) 11:30am opening time, this seemed slightly puzzling.  Thankfully, just as we were stood outside formulating a plan B, the staff came jogging round the corner.  Unnecessary apologies for their slight lateness were ushered away, and we ventured inside.

All the usual high standard Sheesh customer service was in evidence, with complimentary poppadoms and pickles, and also the willingness to to prepare dishes off the cuff.  Fish seemed the order of the day amongst a couple of our dining party and, although not strictly offered as an option on the menu, the request was greeted with a 'you only need to ask' expression.  I should perhaps mention here that the Sheesh had unfortunately had a break in overnight, and some of the staff were slightly preoccupied.  Understandable, and in no way effected the service we received.

I decided to try something different from the menu this time, rather than my staple, and gorgeous Methie, and selected a Mutton Pathia.  All our dishes arrived in good time and, as usual, I was not disappointed.  My Pathia was, in all fairness, fairly similar in both appearance and taste to my usual Methie.  It was dark and dry, and flecked with green herbs.  The taste was in the same ball park too, but, as per the menu description, a tad sourer, and also hotter.  All the hallmark Bradford Curry tastes were there, and I felt refreshed post meal from the pummeling my taste buds had received.  With two fresh, soft and crispy at the same time, rotis, ample food was ordered.

Kashmiri Tea

Then the promise of something special - a 'dish of the day' so to speak, was offered to the table.  We had to guess the food!  Not too adventurous me, at the best of times, I was a little nervous, but the dish duly arrived.  I shirked at first, and after hearing from the more gung-ho, that the the dish was in fact tripe, I continued my shirk!  Chicken drumsticks and a partha were brought too - all on the house - and these were very good, but I could not bring myself to try tripe!

All this was finished off with Kashmiri Tea and a small plate of sweets!  I'd never had Kashmiri Tea before, and I am well and truly hooked.  It was lovely.  Slightly pink, delicately spiced, sweet and warm.  Very good.

All this for about £7pp!  You just couldn't make it up!

Instagram Fun

Bradford is not only THE best place in Britain for eating curry, but it's also find it very photogenic.  Search for #bradfordcurry on Instagram for photos of curry, curry houses, pubs, cobbles, mills and cityscapes.  

The All New Prashad

Me with Special Chaat

Prashad has moved... to Drighlington.

I didn't know, and it was only during a rushed phone call from our dining partners, whilst en route to Horton, that the change of venue became apparent.  A quick reprogram of the Tom Tom soon had us on track though.

The new Prashad is in what looks like an old pub building on a junction, with associated off street parking, and is very very posh.  Also now has a bar, which is nice.

After our last visit to Prashad, when there were issues regarding paying deposits for table booking, then essentially being robbed of ~£30 over a dispute as to whether our babies where in fact babies or diners, I have been reluctant to ever EVER go back.  Prashads customer service that day seemed far removed from what we'd witnessed on Gordon Ramsay's program.   However, as an invited member to a friends party, I was willing to let bygones be bygones and go and have a another go.  Especially on discovering that it was in an all new location.

Special Chaat

Oh well, a lot of water has flowed beneath the bridge since then, but I couldn't help but think that somewhere  within the flash decor, abstract wall art and plushly upholstered chairs (which, by the way, where a nightmare to launch oneself in and out of when chasing an overactive toddler around the restaurant - but that's another story for another day), our bamboozled £30 was lurking!  Sorry to go on!

So, enough whinging, and onto the food.  By the way, there is now a new menu - no Monster Dosa I notice!  Booo!  Lynda and me shared both the "Award Winning" Pethis and Special Chaat.  Both were great.  I'm not sure when the Pethis won their award, but the tag has been attached for some time now!  They are little fried balls of potato and coconuty loveliness, with a touch of herbyness to give them a zing.  The Chaat was also lovely - one of my favorite dishes at the moment.  The flavours of sweetish yogurt and sour tamarind work great together, and mine was requested 'hot' so had a fair kick to it too.  The crushed up vege samosas and chickpeas give the required bite to this wonderful dish.

For main I ordered Pau Bhaji - a famous Indian street food dish.  The best explanation of the dish can be seen below:

Pau Bhaji

My Pau Bhaji was as it says on the tin really, i.e. a bowl of curried and mashed up vegetables.  Nothing particularly jumped out at me upon tasting the curry, the enjoyment came more from the heritage of the dish.  It was, however, quite palatable with a rich and gently spicy, but not overly vegetabley, taste, and more of a substantial texture than I was expecting.  Having soft white bread rolls with my curry was initially a little odd but I soon got over it.

Young Curry Lovers Meal

A good addition to the menu is a Young Curry Lovers Meal.  As regular readers will know, my 2yr old daughter Izzy is not a big curry fan, even though she generally gets dragged all around Bradfird, but she loved it!  The meal comprised a starter of some sort of potato fritter or something?  She didn't really go for that in all fairness, but the main of Paneer Masala, rice and chappatis was a great success.  The dishes are cooked milder for youngsters more delicate taste buds, and it worked a treat.  Hats off to Prashad.

I was very happy with my trip to Prashad.  It is a touch on the dear side I think, what at ~£4 for starters and getting on for £9 for mains, but the food and service is great, and the new venue in Drighlington is a far cry from the original, slightly small, cafe in Horton.  Prashad still stands out from the crowd.

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.