You can’t enjoy that curry with a toothache now, can you? Chew on a clove to alleviate the pain. Right, now get to the dentist to sort it out properly…
Tag: Curry News
Indian Tiffin
Fed up with mangy sandwiches and cheese and onion crisps at lunchtime? Right curry lovers, it could be time to get an Tiffin – the cool metal containers that keep food fresh. The containers – curry in one, rice in another, bread in the other maybe? – stack on each other and snap shut with a clasp. You can order online from Indian Tiffin, and better still readers of this site can get a 15 per cent discount off their first order until the end of February 2012 by entering the code ‘gcc15’.
The site also offers other curry goodies such as dabba spice tins, whish keep your spices fresh and also makes life easier when cooking as your spices will all be close to hand. Or why not order organic spices or a roti making kit?
Curry tip of the week 8
This is the time of the year when most of us turn our attention to whipping up a curry with the turkey leftovers. Because it’s been roasted (as it would in a tandoor) a masala sauce works well but a creamy korma is also good. But whatever you choose remember the meat has been cooked already so don’t cook it again any more than is necessary. It’s a dry enough meat as it is.
Curry tip of the week 7
Fancy a change from beer with your curry? The spices in whisky make it an ideal drink to accompany your favourite dish. Try the smoky Johnnie Walker Black with Chicken Tikka Masala.
Is it a curry house or a pub?
The Blue Eyed Maid and Spice Lounge, SE1
Ok curry lovers of Britain, brace yourselves for a new wave of curry houses like the Blue Eyed Maid Pub and Spice Lounge near London Bridge. Welcome to the traditional British pub with linked Indian restaurant. We are not talking a pub with restaurant next door, we are talking two fully integrated businesses working together.
It’s a great idea and although not the first time I’ve come across it, it’s perhaps surprising there are not more of these curry houses cum pubs. All the pleasures of a good old British pub with the greatest food on earth at the same time.
In this case the Blue Eyed Maid is the pub downstairs (with sports on TV, DJs and late bar) while the Spice Lounge is a smallish area upstairs serving Indian food (the same food can also be ordered in the pub).
There is an à la carte menu with all the old school favourites (Chicken Dupiaza £6.50, Lamb Biriani £7.95, Pilau rice £2.25) but the venue has a particularly good following for its lunchtime buffet, which is not surprising as the selection of dishes (which changes daily) costs just £5. The venue is also popular for private parties (buffet was just £10 for a recent visit).
It’s good. Keep your eyes open for a new wave of more of these curry house pubs.
Spice Lounge, 173 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1HR. Tel: 020 7378 8585. Open: Sat–Thurs 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-midnight, Fri noon-1am.
Spice Lounge snapshot
Food ① ② ③
Decor ① ② ③
Value ① ② ③ ④ ⑤
Atmosphere (private party) ① ② ③ ④ ⑤
Service and friendliness ① ② ③ ④
Tastier of Raj
Taste of Raj in Blackheath has always been a favourite, in part because of its lovely location and friendliness but also because it’s open all day. A sneaky mid-afternoon curry beats all, especially on a school day.
Now, I am pleased to report some tasty new dishes on its extended menu. But don’t take my word for it, just click on the image below and take a peek. Tested out on a recent visit and both recommended was the unusual Spicy Calamari (£5.95) with no shortage of green stuff for lovers of healthy extras, and Palak Pakura (£3.75) a sort of onion bhaji with loads of spinach and cream cheese filling. Both came with some conversation-starter extras: a rice cake, a twirly thing made of white flour and yoghurt, and a heart created with two different sauces. Ahhhh…
Curry tip of the week 6
Are you a Butter Chicken lover? When cooking with butter always add a little oil to the pan first to avoid it burning.
Courtesy of Sweet ‘n’ Spicy phone app.
Curry column
It’s hot, it’s spicy, it’s the new edition of the Greenwich Visitor. Check out the new curry column…
Curry tip of the week 5
When cooking kofta curry place the koftas into the sauce and cover, then wait until they are browned before stirring. This will ensure the koftas do not break up.
Create your own Balti
We’ve all heard about creating your own pizza (bit of this, bit of that) but how about creating your own Balti? Well, that’s an option at Sartaj in London’s West End. It’s a popular pre-theatre place and offers lunch and a theatre-goer special (before 7.30pm) at just £7.50, including unlimited nan bread. Can’t be bad.
So this is how it goes. Choose your base (various choices such as chicken or lamb for £5.50, fish for £6.50 or mixed vegetable for £4.95). You add your sauce for a pound (masala, dupiaza, korma, take your pick). Then vegetables (anything from mushrooms to potato to pumpkin) for a pound a pop. Then you tell the chef your preferred cooking strength (mild, medium, madras or vindaloo hot).
Now that’s got to beat a ‘extra pepperoni with a thin crust’ any day of the week.
Sartaj, 26 Earlham Street, London, WC2 H9LN. Tel: 020 7831 1413. Open: Mon–Wed noon-2pm and 5.30pm-midnight, Thur–Sun noon-midnight.
The Royal Curry Club 