Maureen's Caribbean Takeaway

And so it's back to the Caribbean... Well, when I say 'Caribbean' I really mean Leeds!   Well, to be fair, a very rainy autumnal lunch time in Leeds... It simply screams the Caribbean doesn't it?  OK - I am being a bit sarcastic - but if a rainy and cold Leeds doesn't feel like the Caribbean Maureen's Caribbean Takeaway, on Roundhay Road, will certainly make you feel half way there!

Amaan's Grill House

Wow wow wow!!  Now that was a curry.  Top draw!  Amaan's Grill House, on Legrams Lane, have just served up a stonker.

Bradford - Curry Capital 2014

Well we've done it again - the mighty Bradford and Bradford Curry has retained the title of Curry Capital of Britain for the forth year on the bounce - very impressive.  The results:

1 - Bradford
2 - Brighton
3 - Birmingham

Aakash, Kiplings, Shimla Spice and Zaara's all represented Bradford, and brought the prize home. Well done all.

Spicy Corner, Forster Square

Spicy Corner sells spicy fodder and is on a corner... so does exactly what it says on the tin really!

Spicy Corner is located to the northeast of the city centre, and is away from the Bradford Curry hotspots of the Uni or Leeds Road say, and is somewhat off the beaten track.  A bit of a funny area of town really.  Having said that it is just across the road from the Forster Square shopping estate, so benefits from substantial footfall I would have thought.  The only eating alternative in the vicinity is a Maccy D's on the estate itself. 

Spicy Corner - the front elevation

Curry Flavoured Mule Bars!!!

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but when not eating curry and/or drinking beer, I quite like to go for a ride on my push bike...  So what is any self respecting Bradford Curry eating cyclist to do when out on the road?  Samosa's??  Maybe... and it has been considered!  Well, the answer may be here with the new Eastern Express Energy Bar from Mule.

Spicy Flavours Permeate Everything These Days

Dhesi Grill

Cool Dhesi Dhesi Grill Tuk Tuk

Dhesi Grill is a really great cafe bar up Lilycroft Road, just above Lister's Mill there - ya' know... the massive chimney dominating the Bradford skyline.  Worth a gander in itself Lister's Mill if not seen before.

Anyway, Dhesi Grill represent the 'new breed' cafe bar and specialises in grills mainly, but with curries too. There are also a whole host of steaks, burgers, wraps, and stir fries even. Beverages include teas, coffees, lassi, shakes... no beer, and there are also deserts and cakes! Basically, anything anyone could ever desire, there is probably a option to cater.

Sheesh Mahal Quickie

Much has been written regarding the quality of the Sheesh Mahal dining experience, so I shan't go into too much detail again here.  But... essentially..., our early lunch time visit was greeted by an initially empty restaurant, which soon began to fill as peoples bellies began to rumble.  The usual quick and friendly service was in evidence, as was the complimentary popadons and pickle to nibble on whilst deciding.  So what to have?  The Methie is one of my Bradford Curry highlights, but to day felt like a Pathia day...

Pathia - A hot and sour dish cooked using fresh chilli, lemon juice (sic).  Well, it was indeed just that - I went for the mutton variety. The Pathia was super dry in the Sheesh Mahal, and Bradford, way, and deconstructed in appearance, with the major elements visible.  It was a substantially hearty portion, dense with meat -  cut small - with barely any evidence of sauce at all!  The saucy aspect was so minimal that even browned markings on the meat from the fast and hot cooking process were noticeable.  The meat on this occasion was perhaps a little tough but packed, infused even, with the sour lemon juicy zingy hit.  It packed a punch too, with plenty of heat, but not uncomfortably so.  The dish was perfectly seasoned and had added vibrancy from fresh coriander.  It was a great dish.

All new Mughals - Breakfast a Study #6

After a rather lengthy refurbishment, Mughals is now back open and fully operational.  On entering, it is clear a total overhaul has been undertaken.  The main counter has been moved and is now perpendicular to the entrance, off to the left, but the main semi open kitchen and general shape of the room have remained essentially the same.  The extra room provided with the sweet counter re-positioning, is now filled with extra tables and chairs.  The decore is all modern cream floor tiles, dark wood and cream leatherette seats.  Nice.

An early visit for me for my first visit since the refurb, so channa puri breakfast was ordered.  I fancied a pink tea but... no pink tea!  I was told it was being made and was 4hrs away! I said it's ok I'll wait, but I think my joke was lost on the waiter!

Akmal's Tandoori Bisto, Leeds

The old toilet block never looked so good

Location

Akmal's Tandoori Bisto,
235 Woodhouse Lane,

Leeds LS2 3AP,
United Kingdom.

0113 242 4600

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Akmals-Bistro/756508261039569

Time

25th July 2014 - Evening.

Amaans Grill & Takeaway, Bowling

Amaans Grill & Takeaway has got the be the (newly discovered to me) cheapest - well what I mean is best value for money - joint in Bradford?

Medium Meat Masala

Got to be... just look at the prices... Medium curries (curries come in medium and large portions) from £3.50, Naan Kebabs from £2, Naan 50p, 4No, Rotis £1!!!!  Unbelievable!  And you know what?  It was alright - well good even. I went for Medium Meat Masala and Naan Bread - £4.50.  Let me give a little more detail:

To be fair, Amaans is more a take-away, rather than sit down curry cafe or restaurant, but there were four or five tables inside - enough seating for a few small parties of diners - and the place was presentable.  A counter and open kitchen is to the back of the shop - à la a take-away.  On ordering, the encouraging sounds of banging and clattering started in earnest.

The decent portion of curry - remember this is the medium sized option - arrived on a metal plate with a small pile of lettuce on the site, and a plastic spoon.  The naan was presented to the side on a little plastic basket, lined with the opened up wrapping from a Walkers Crisps Multi Pack! Beef I think?  Well it was brown at least!  Novel, but no reason to turn a nose - just re-cycling.

All was good - the curry was fresh and tasty with good quality melt in the mouth meat.  And was consistent with what I considered earlier to be the sounds of a freshly prepped dish. Not oily at all and, when compared to the Big Dogs in town, stood up well to comparison.  Naan was good too.

So no complaints.  In fact nothing but praise really.  Fair do's, not the kind of place for a first date perhaps, but what can you say... Amaans seems to be knocking out pretty decent quality curries at a totally VFM price point.  I only popped in for a quick dinner and was dealt with efficiently and friendlily.  Further investigation will be undertaken.

World Curry Festival 2014

City Park looked splendid in the summer sun

I've been a bit slack recently with my Blogging, and I was looking forward to the World Curry Festival 2014 for a bit of inspiration and something to get my teeth into.

The Kashmir Smashing It!!

Trips to The Kashmir are regular occurrences, and these days always top notch, value for money and a jolly good hardcore Bradford Curry.  Also, 'The Kash' always seems to through up splendid photo opportunities.  Below are a few from our last visit:  

Classic Bradford Curry House
Exterior

Popadoms and an iPad kept Izzy happy.  The Onion Bhaji
are one of my all time faves in Bradford.

Lamb and Lentil was top draw

Happy campers exiting The Kash.  The steps
down to the basement cafe is a must do
Bradford Curry eating experience!

Yaadgaar - Breakfast a Study #5

Yaadgaar, on Leeds Road, Bradford must be fairly new - or at least very well kept, as it all seems shiny and very clean.  As you enter, a counter, spread well with traditional sweets, greets you perpendicularly to the frontage of the shop, and there are a couple of small tables and bars with high stools.  Pretty relaxed feel to the place.  Posters on the walls promise a plethora of products, both sweet and savory, and all looks very nice.

Late Breakfast was the order of the day, but rather than messing about sitting and bothering with a menu... "Do you do Chana Puri Breakfast please?" I chimed to the bloke behind the counter.... seemed the perfect opening gambit.  "We do the the Chana, but not Puri's..."  "Puris are pretty greasy... but we do Parathas if you like?"  "I'll have that then!"  Sorted. Happy days.

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.

Food Republic

Food Republic on Leeds Road, Bradford, is a bit of an enigma.  Nestled as it is in the epicenter of one of Bradford's curry hot spots, it trades blows closely with Akbars and Zouk to name but two.

Although driven past on numerous occasions, I'd never ventured in for fodder!  Peering through the window had given me the impression (from a muraled rear wall, visible from the car) that Food Republic concentrated more on coffee, paninis, pastries, etc, rather than curry.

However, on this occasion, a sign in the window promised Karahi with Naan or Rotis.  Time to give it a whirl.  Once sat at my table and reading the menu, it became obvious my initial ideas of what Food Republic was all about were a little off the mark.  Here is one of the new fangled cafe bar type eateries.  Although not wall to wall curries (the menu had four I believe and some biryanis), a massive Asian inspired grill menu was the main attraction.  The easy to follow menu utilised colour coding to simplify the ordering process.  You selected your grill of choice which had three prices adjacent in different colours - each colour represented either naan, rice, chips, etc.  Pretty simple really.  However, I've not fully embraced the 'grill' yet, so Meat Karahi it was.

The menu said all the food was freshly prepared and with the trendy decor etc, I was looking forward.  I was not offered any heat options when ordering, but a little later I did overhear the waiter ask the question to a near by table.  An easily done oversight, and I'm by no means criticizing, but merely pointing out, your curry of choice can be tailored to your personal preferences if required.

The Meat Karahi arrived in good time and suggested some care had been taking in its preparation.  It was light in colour, with a looseness good for dunking.  A full, quality, rounded flavour was accented with strong gingery overtones and a fair slap of heat.  It was quality and I enjoyed it very much.

Two massive fresh and tasty rotis were included but were no measure of my massive belly.  Sauces were also provided on the side, along with water.  All top quality service.

Again, Food Republic is yet another high quality Bradford eater, and is well worthy of a visit.  Bradford is the Best in the World!!