Thursday 20 September 2012

The Breakfast of Champions


The Sweet Center on Lumb Lane serves a proper proper breakfast. I am starting to get too used to this and just love it. Unlike the other week, where we pogged ourselves out with three puri's, I showed restrain and stuck to two.

Much better, and left room for a seekh kebab. Good kebabs. Very meaty tasting with subtle seaoning and heat. Also coarsely ground so providing good eating. The chana was good and spicy and tasted great. £3.30! What a steal.




Wednesday 19 September 2012

Sheesh Mahal

STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS

The Sheesh Mahal is now open from 11:30am daily.  Well, I presume daily?  Top draw.


Not being one to turn down a curry lunch, and on hearing the news of the Sheesh's new opening times, I just had to pop in at my earliest opportunity.


I'm glad I did dear readers.  Because, what I experienced was as near to perfection as I ever thought possible.  From the off, service was excellent, with the complimentary poppadon, pickle and mint sauce.  And even though there was a table taken with a party of approximately 20 people, all receiving their dishes, prompt service was still on the cards for this diner.


My Lamb Methi was verging on perfection.  A little different to the dish I was served late the other night, and was super dry dark and rich.  There was little to see in the dish except the thick sauce clinging the abundant meet.  I opted for the 2 roti's - either 1 naan, 2 rotis or 3 chapatti's are served with each main - and they were not only huge, but also fresh and fluffy.  I was stuffed after this little lot.

I can't wait for my next visit.

Tuesday 11 September 2012

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.
International on Urbanspoon

Saturday 8 September 2012

Tuesday 4 September 2012

Sweet Centre Breakfast


As people may probably know, I'm a big fan of the traditional breakfast, and since my last post regarding the subject, a few more restaurants have come on line offering the much overlooked aspect of curry eating.



The traditional chana dal and puri breaky, served from about 08:00 to lunch time(ish) at The Sweet Centre, on Lumb Lane, is fantastic, and a brill way to start the day.


Not being a big British fry up fan, I'm more likely to be seen tucking into cappuccini and croissants.    However, I do find the bowl of spicy chickpeas and the accompanying puri  very agreeable.  I noted last time I was in the Sweet Centre, for a breakfast, that the chana was rather plain (here) - but in a good way - but not on this visit.  The tender pulses had a fair kick to them, and certainly fired up the engines ready for the day.  As per normal, the puri's were very greasy.  They taste great, but we did over face ourselves with three each!  They are very rich, and we felt two each only would be more fitting.  As with our last visit also, no menus are evident?  I just ordered 'two breakfasts' at the bar.  The chana is scooped into a bowl from a large cauldron behind the bar, the puri's come from the abutting kitchen.  Other 'things' are available... but what I'm not sure?  Kebab's, Samosa's, etc, I have seen people eating

Next time you're passing in the morning, give it a go.  Curry isn't just for night times.