The Kashmir - Izzy and Me Do t’Kash

"You will learn to like curry Izzy"

Currently I’m struggling to get as much Bradford Curry in as I’d like.  The perfect window of opportunity I have managed to engineer myself over the last few months (Thursday househusband day) has bitten the dust to a certain extent!  My beautiful 2yr old daughter, who I thought was going to carry on in her fathers footsteps, has suddenly started declaring “Izzy no like curry… ‘addy like curry… Izzy no like.”  Aaaarrrgghh!

Anyway, after a couple of Thursday's worth of househusbandry, with nothing but beans on toast for lunch, I’d had enough, and bundled Izzy into the car and sped to Bradford.

After much deliberation en-route, The Kashmir was the opted for establishment.  No fuss, bish bash bosh dinning, and cracking fish pakora for the Iz.  It is also part of my personal ‘Holy Trinity’ of The Kash, International and Karachi, and, in addition, I am trying to monitor the Kashmir’s apparent return to form - so seemed logical.

Fish Pakora

The Kashmir didn’t disappoint.  Initially quiet, we were offered menus, but there was no need, and I ordered straight away.  Within minutes fish pakora were presented, and were indeed as good (the best?) as always.  Chunky, flaky fish, in a light pleasantly spiced batter – a must try I reckon.

Lamb Rogan Josh and Kashmiri Naan

For the main curry, I chose Lamb Rogan Josh.  I’ve been in a Lamb and Spinach rut of late, so it was nice for a change.  The Kashmir’s Rogan Josh has always been a strong dish, and the crispy bell peppers add a real zing.  A high meat quota, diced small and in a thick sauce – it is Bradford personified.  The dish was a touch oily, but nothing excessive.

I’ve nothing to say about the best naan in Bradford - the Kashmiri Naan - except OOooo ERRrrr.

The Kashmir is still maintaining it’s current high standards.

Aagrah Event Catering

Aagrah has about 15 restaurants spread across Yorkshire.  It not only specialises in great cooking but does corporate type stuff, and also has an Events Catering Division.  It was this aspect of the Aagrah empire we were to sample recently.  This opportunity was going to present some interesting questions with respect to the balance between providing quality food, and enough menu choice to the masses.

The Event Catering was sampled at a Bollywood themed fund raising do I was lucky enough to be invited to, at the Clarke Foley Center in Ilkley. The do was organised by the family of an esteemed member of the Bradford Curry Club, and featured Indian dancing demonstrations, raffle, quiz etc, but for me the main attraction to the event was the the food supplied by Aagrah's Event Catering division.

The format was similar to some restaurant buffets with starters - which included chicken tikka, samosa's and pakoras - delivered to your table and main courses presented buffet style in large self service urns.

The fair was pretty good for this kind of mass catering type thing.  All kind of middle of the road, but high quality and tasty non the less.  Ideal really.  The starters had become a little tepid and flaccid, suggesting they had been kept warm for some time, but tasty enough all the same.  For me the Lamb Achari was the stand out dish.  Very meaty with the slightly sour taste from the added pickle was excellent.  It is a dish that I would likely order in the future in the restaurant.

I'm not a big fan of this style of dining to be honest - ie buffets.  I think it's been mentioned on this blog before I'm sure?  However, I thought Aagrah did an alright job.  It's difficult to pitch the food right for everyone I know, and I think ultimately it's this 'middle of the road' aspect that is just a little hum drum and lacking in sparkly that you get from a fresh sizzling spitting curry.  If I was to ever have the opportunity to organise such and event I would consider Aagrah.

New Akbar's

Looks like a new Akbar's is on the way. Spotted the sign across the shop front of the old jumerah!

That'll three Akbar's on Leeds Road! You can't have too many Akbar's I suppose?

Café Pakeezah

Supermarket cafeterias are not the sort of places I visit very often when in search of gastronomic experiences.  Sausage, chips and beans, egg and water cress sandwich’s and 3week old slices of lemon meringue pie are not my idea of yummy fodder.

However, Pakeezah, who run a brace of Asian supermarkets in Bradford, do things a little differently with their Café Pakeezah concept.

The branch off Thornton Road is essentially like every other supermarket… it sells stuff stacked up on shelves!  However, it’s when you venture down the Food2Go and the café area that things start to get interesting.   You are greeted with a supermarketesque deli/curry counter – but massive - where all and sundry can be viewed for you pleasure, including all the curries, starters and sweets.  It’s a curry lover’s heaven.

From here you can simply choose your curry and take it away, or opt to dine in the café.  It’s now thing’s take a rather splendid turn.  Because once in the café area, with it’s trendy high sided booths, it is difficult to remember that you’re in a supermarket at all.  It’s all proper, with menus and waiters, etc.  No sliding a plastic tray’s here.

Izzy and me order samosa Chaat, Lamb and Spinach (although we were served Chicken and Spinach??) and a garlic Naan.

I wasn’t sure what to expect – probably just quickly micro waved food in a bowl.  But oh no, proper sizzling hot curry in a balti dish and fresh naan.  The curry was excellent and top end restaurant standard easily, and all for £4.50!  £3.95 to take away or ~£50 for 60 protions!!  Yes you can buy you curry from Pakeezah in portions of 60!).  The naan was up there with the best too – very fresh and garlicy.  However, it was the samosa chaat that really struck a chord with me.  I spotted it advertised on a poster in the window – and not every having tried it before I thought it’d be good.  It looked yoghurty too so thought it would be good for Izzy.  The dish came with two warm, stuffed to the gills, tasty meat somosas, smothered in what I assume was the chaat.  The chaat, from what I could tell, comprised chickpea and potato curry, yoghurt and was topped with tamarind sauce, garam masala and fresh chilli’s!!  Please excuse my ignorance if this isn't correct.  As it turned out it wasn’t for Izzy either, but I loved it.  It was the kind of sweet/sour/hot/cold combo that attacks all your taste buds – it was also pretty darn hot (spicy). All for the bargain price of £3.95 (£2.95 take out), and I’ll definitely re visit soon for more.

Chicken and Spinach

Samosa Chaat

Café Pakeezah is definitely worth going out of your way for I reckon – not just a supermarket café, oh no.

Kerala Cafe

Location

139-141,

Bradford Road,

BD18 3TB,

United Kingdom.

Tell:  01274 595 367

Web:  http://www.kerala-cafe.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150504294118814.394464.705533813&type=3#!/keralacafeuk

Good pickles including carrot and ginger ones

Time

21^st April 2012 @ ~17:30

Attendees

Gemma, Noel, Jake, Gill, Rob, Jenny, Pete, Lilly, Dan, Lynda, Izzy and John (me)

Expectations

As always… pretty high.  The amount of research I do pre going to curry restaurants always means my mouth is watering days before visiting.  My research flagged up that Kerala was going to be something completely different to anything else anyone can savor in Bradford… Southern Indian Food.

The Reality

On first inspection of the menu it was immediately obvious we were out of our Bradfordian comfort zone, with a board of fare stuffed full of new to us dishes.  On further perusal, and reading of the descriptions more carefully, some familiarity could be gleaned.  The bread section is a perfect example… no chapattis, naans, etc, but descriptions revealed the breads on offer were ‘like chapttis’, ‘like naan’.

Vada's with coconut dip

So on to starters. After poppadom’s that were served with a good selection of pickles, which included a ginger and carrot pickle – excellent - I chose vada’s.  I’ve not had vada’s before but remembered the Hairy Bikers once cooking them on the telly, and understood them to be essentially a kind of deep fried chickpea doughnut street food type of thingy??  My vada’s were served with a coconut dip and, to be honest, I didn’t really like them – they seemed a little bland?  Now, before I go further, I have no vada experience, so can’t really comment.  They were well cooked and had a nice chewy dense texture, but perhaps needed a dip with a little bit more oomph?  It’s all down to taste at the end of the day I suppose?  Other options such as fish and chicken fries were also ordered, and were well received.

The Dosa's are as big as they look!

My main of Lamb Masala Dosa, although slightly collapsed by the time it arrived, was excellent.  It was massive, and heartily stuffed with a mild and very tasty lamb and potato masala.  A thin lentil soup/dip/sauce was served on the side.  I’ve had dosa’s before and love the concept.  Kerala Café’s dosa was no exception and I loved it all.  A dosa is traditionally made from a slightly fermented batter, and has a slightly sour taste, and is nice and crispy.  A much lighter option compared to Bradford’s usual massive naans etc.  I don’t know the technique for eating but I just dive in!!  Pour the sauce over the whole lot and go for it.  A dosa is an excellent experience if you’ve never had one.

The dinning environment is good café style.  It is basic, with no bells and whistles, but clean and tidy.  There was a lot of glass to the front of the café, and it was a sunny day, so was pretty hot – just like Kerala I guess?  I think twelve of us turning up unannounced slightly startled the staff, and there were some gaps in the courses, but as a whole they managed a sterling job so hats off.

Cool cafe interior

Drinks Policy and range

BYO.  Come prepped if alcohol is to be taken.  No ‘offies’ in the locale that I spotted.  Water, pop and some very nice fruit juices are available off the menu.

Highlights

I do love a Dosa – and this was it for me.  Also, the Lamb Chettinadu was outstanding.  “The best curry I had in a long time” - was the comment from one of the more ‘hard to please’ BCC members.  ‘Nough said really.

Lowlights

Vada’s – just didn’t get them at all??  Sorry.  To be honest, I have no point of reference, but just didn’t really taste of anything?  Having said that, the under two’s loved them – reason enough for me to love them I suppose maybe?  HHmmm?  The jury is out.

The Damage

A reasonable ~£15pp, as per the norm.  Good food for good money.

Overall

Kerala Café is a little out the way, but is definitely worth a visit for, not only the ‘something completely different’ aspect, but for a darn good curry too, and is also open at lunch time.

International Yet Again

I managed to squeeze a quick trip to the International the other day.

Strangely I was the only diner on this occasion?  Although I did visit mid-afternoon, so may be just a funny time.

Always top notch, I was soon breaking into my complimentary poppadom and perusing the menu deciding what to treat myself this time… Garlic Chili Chicken jumped out at me.

The dish did exactly what it said on the tin.  It was strong in garlic and also offered sufficient heat to let you know you were being spoken to!!  It was simply great.

This was yet another fantastic dish and overall experience from the International.

Akbar’s The Café Quickie – Excellent Service.

AAAarrrrggghhhhh!!!!

After the recent very successful Bradford Curry eating outing to Akbar’s Café, we didn’t need much persuasion to revisit on the spur of the moment when the opportunity arose the other week.

Again, even at noon, the restaurant was already buzzing.  I ordered the Lamb and Spiniach Handi again, and a naan… again, and fish masala for Izzy… hhmm… again!!  And why not – it was lovely last time.   Big Tone ordered a biryani.

Little tear away still treated to an ice cream

Although it was busy, we were rather alarmed to be told by the waiter that there would be 20 to 30 minute wait for our food!!  Probably the biryani we thought, and set too trying to entertain a short on patience and getting hungry 2 year old toddler.  To Akbar’s credit, they must have seen we were struggling somewhat with Izzy, as her patience wore thing, and the food must have been pushed through the kitchen in double time.  Our meals arrived in a fraction of the stated time.

What joy – a settled 2yr old, happy with her fish, and happy Dad with his beautiful Lamb and Spinach Handi, that was  wonderfully rich, meaty, and irony from the spinach.  Oh and a more than happy Grandpa with his biryani.  Quality food, with no evidence of corner cutting to get everything out to us quickly, is deserving of merit. 

Yet another top draw Akbar’s experience.

Punjab Sweet House & Grill Centre

Location 

Punjab Sweet House & Grill Centre,

122-126 Listerhills Rd,

Bradford,

BD7 1JR

Tell:
Get Directions

01274 720308 () ‎

Time

24^th March 2012 @ ~21:00

Attendees

(Rob, Gill), Jenny, Pete, Ian, Lara Lynda and John (me)

Pre-Curry Watering Holes

No children on this trip, so a proper pub-crawl - albeit short - had been engineered in to the start of this Bradford Curry eating trip. 

Inside the Sparrow

First up was the Sparrow Bier Café, on North Parade, and a very popular little beer drinking café-bar it was too.  Pretty cool with exotic beer advertising plaques on the wall, and little Formica tables and chairs.  Although specializing in beer, we started with a couple of bottle of wine – just to get the evening going you understand – so can’t really comment on the beer quality.  Basically, there were a number of speciality beers, including local ales, on draft, and also bottled continental types too.  It was noted as being, by a member of our party, “my new favourite place in Bradford for a drink” - high praise indeed and I’m sure it’ll be on the hit list for pre-curry drinks in the future.

Next was The Castle Hotel.  Here, a famous old Bradford drinking den was visited by us for the first time.  To be honest I’ve never really done much drinking in Bradford really – probably shows.  The Castle Hotel is a pretty bog standard ‘oldie worldy’ pub with a good selection of Real Ales.  I understand it to be popular with the CAMARA types.  I had a pint of something, which name escapes me, but was quite hoppy I recall.

Inside the Fighting Cock

The belly was rumbling now, but one final drink was to be taken at, from what I understand to be, the Bradford pub that towers above all other Bradford pubs – The Fighting Cock.  You see, again, I’ve never been.  I’ve been aware of its presence, and driven past and seen all the beer barrels out side but never stepped inside.  It certainly looks the business, and was expecting a real dark and dingy, small, spit and sawdust type of place.  How wrong I was.  It was full of trendy types sipping at their artisan real ales.  Surprisingly large inside, it was very reminiscing of Fanny’s in Shipley, which we visited a couple of months ago.  It is a Bradford institution and one not to be missed.  Dutch lager was my weapon of choice.  It was good, it was lager.

Another big plus point for the Fighting Cock is that it’s just around the corner from the Punjab Sweet House & Grill Centre.

Expectations

The Mixed Sizzling Starter

Punjab don’t seem to like to advertise, and don’t have a web site!!  Other than driving past on occasion, the Punjab has passed me by entirely.  However, word of mouth is a powerful thing, and once probing the enigma that is the Punjab Sweet House and Grill  Centre, it was clear that the establishment is held in high regard.  Therefore, I was hoping to find a hidden gem and something a little special off the beaten track.  Also, the aforementioned Fighting Cock was around the corner.

The Reality

The extended drinking time meant we arrived at the Punjab gone 9pm.  This was good because the tea time rush was starting to ease some what – when we passed on our way the ‘Cock it was heaving.

Atmospheric Shot of Punjab

The open kitchen was a nice to see and it was good to spend a few moments watching the chefs producing the fresh food with bursts of flames and bangs and clatters, and loading the tandoors with freshly rolled nanns.  The Punjab was looking promising.

Décor fell into the posh café style.  It was clean and presentable.  There is also an attached sweet centre, but this was closed by the time we left.  We’ll have to ensure an earlier eating time for our next visit.

Inside the Punjab

No complimentary poppadoms to munch on as we perused the menu, but these were ordered as a pre starter to our Special Mixed Grill.  We asked for the chicken wings to be swapped for more chicken tikka, which was not a problem; and the dish arrived spitting and sizzling on its red hot cast iron plinth.  All aspects of the dish (lamb chops, chicken tikka and kebabs) were wonderful – moist, succulent, full of flavour with spice that danced on the tongue and attacked every taste bud. 

Lamb Handi

The menu was full and varied as whole, but didn’t offer too many dish options beyond the standard fare seen all over Bradford.  However, the Lamb Handi (on the bone) jumped out at me as something worth trying.  I’m glad I did.  The dish was pomp and ceremony, and arrived bubbling away in a clay pot held aloft and heated by its own tea light fuelled holder - very grand and unique.  A new experience was about to be had I could tell.  As for the taste – it wasn’t all ‘talk and no trousers’ either – and the word rich doesn’t do it justice!!  I’m guessing all the marrow from the bones must have seeped out to produce a curry with depth of flavour far beyond the any I’ve sampled in this town… indeed the world.  The Handi was ultimate hedonistic decadence in curry form - quite simply gorgeous.

Drinks Policy and range

Punjab is strictly alcohol free.  Calibrate in the Fighting Cock – if that’s your bag – prior to your arrival, and enjoy the delights of tap water and lassi during your meal.

Another shot of the Lamb Handi

Highlights

Lots of highlights – basically, for me, just a great night out from start to finish.  The Sparrow and the ‘Cock got the evening rolling with good booze and chat in atmospheric environs, then onto the Punjab where one of the – no THE - most lavish and decadent curry I’ve every eaten was savored to the last.

Lowlights

Only having too much enjoyment!! The enjoyment levels were at such heights we missed the last train.  Luckily the Punjab was on hand to sort appropriate transport for our party.  Still, it was an unnecessary taxi fare.  NB – this is not a reflection of slow service or anything – just us sitting in the boozer too long!!

The Damage

I didn’t notice the bill come around the table – again!!  Sorry.  I’m getting good at this.

Aftershock

The richness of my curry had taken its toll to a certain extent, resulting in indigestion and a small amount of squiffy tumminess to following morning.  But our livers thank us for the late finish in the Punjab and straight into a taxi home. 

Overall

We really found our hidden gem, and Punjab really lived up to the ‘word of mouth’ hype I’d come across on the internet.  Miss it out at your peril.

Karachi - The Same Greatness but Better…

Me eating my Lamb and Spinach

But Why?

Well, the Karachi, as we know, serves, what I consider, virtually perfect Lamb and Spinach, and, on this occasion, it was no different.  It provided the craved endorphin hit I desire so much these days.

The addition of plate full of wonderfully tasty fragmented shards and clumps of onion bhaji whetted the appetite fully prior to the arrival of the sizzling pot of curry too.

The waiter was especially helpful and friendly on this occasion – not that they aren’t normally - in as much as – assuming I am a recognised face within the curry eating Mecca that is the Karachi – I don’t receive a menu, but am treated more as a guest, and just asked what I want.  On this occasion, I was given the option of two varieties of Lamb and Spinach – a normal one and a spicy one.  Suffice to say the spicy one was ordered.  It turns out that this is the one I normally receive.  It was probably the Rick Stein version I’m guessing.

The wife eating her Lamb and Spinach

No, the real treat on this visit was the accompanying wife.  We made this visit during a few stolen hours at the end of the day, before returning home to the madness that is ‘terrible two’s’, and outside the group curries enjoyed in the Bradford Curry Club, and almost without the pressure of official Bradford Curry Blogger work - it was just me and the Mrs eating Bradford Curry…  Just like the good old days.  Joy. 

Omar's

The Bradford Curry Club

Location

Omar’s

46 Great Horton Road, 

Bradford,

West Yorkshire

BD7 1AL 

Tell:  01274 414 188

Web: http://www.omars.co.uk

Time

3^rd March 2012 @ ~17:30 

Attendees

Jaz, Francois, Gill, Rob, Jenny, Pete, Lilly, Dan, Deep, Kam, Manraj, Lynda, Izzy and John (me)

Pre-Curry Watering Holes

No pre curry drinking on this occasion.  Small children in tow, and an early sit down time kind of negated this much enjoyed ritual.  There’s always next month though.  For reference, Omar’s is located just below Bradford Uni, so is ideally located for all the local student bars, and also my favourite Weatherspoon’s - The Sir Titus Salt. 

Expectations

HHmmm...  Now What do I Fancy?

‘Yorkshire’s Biggest Naan’s’ is the claim, and I was hoping for a decent feed if nothing else.  I was aware that Omar’s had a good reputation, and was generally popular.  However, nagging at the back of my head was the idea that Omar’s might be pushing the ‘Biggest Naan’s’ thingy at the expense of quality.

The Reality

As with a lot of the recent Bradford Curry Club outings, things got off to a shaky start.  The initial plan was for some healthy eating and shisha smoking at Jumerah.  However, upon arrival at Jumerah we were presented with a closed restaurant, with no sign of life and no evidence of opening anytime soon!  I will monitor the situation.  Hopefully it’s not bitten the dust.

So yet again were had to resort to a Plan B.  A few worthy names were banned about, but I wanted somewhere new and proposed Omar’s.  We missed Omar’s last year and a necessary visit had been on the cards for a while.  Our car load of Curry lovers were in agreement, and a few frantic phone calls later ensured the rest of the brigade were redirected Omar’s.

Phew!!  All was going smoothly all things considering.  ‘Most’ arrived at Omar’s without hitch, with only the unfortunate few making there way up at Omar Khan’s by mistake, but ultimately catching up.

Omar’s is quite a nice place really – all lilac and mood lighting.  The petite and bijou restaurant was buoyantly busy when we arrived, and remained so during our stay, but it was not too much trouble for the staff to quickly rearrange a space in the corner for our group numbering fourteen.  Loads of poppadoms and pickles, and the menus were placed on the table before we’d even sorted ourselves out.  So it was nice to simply sit down, open the menu and start munching.

Seekh Kebab

The varied, now more common, cafesque menu offered a full range of curries, including some mouthwatering specials, along with some burger and pasta etc options to boot.  I also spotted the Notorious Naan – a simply ‘must have’ for the table to tear into.  One interesting section of the menu was titled Sizzling Kebabs on Naan!!  I must have died and gone to heaven surely?  However, these monstrous sounding kebabs were deemed too larger sounding to even share as a starter, so they will have to be saved for another day.

All the orders were taken efficiently by the pleasantly mannered member of staff, me opting for my preferred Lamb Seekh Kebab, and then following with a Paneer Karahi Special (Lamb - but could be ordered with chicken, keema, vege, etc.)

Lamb n Paneer

Due to the size of our group the food took a while to prepare – but nothing excessive – probably just me nursing my single designated driver beer!!  But soon enough my kebabs arrived, and some additional sauces were also provided.  The kebabs were very nice.  Nice bit of heat with tasty spices and herbs, with plenty of moisture and an agreeable charcoal/tandoor after taste.

The curries looked spectacular, all being served in large balti dishes.  My Lamb and paneer wasn’t exactly like what I would consider a traditional ‘Bradford Curry’, it was definitely lighter in colour than other lamb curries I’ve experienced around these parts.  In addition the curry was saucier and gloopier than others eaten.  The flavour was nice but was quite mild, both in the heat and other spices stakes, and was more reminiscent to my mind of a Curry Mile or Balti Triangle curry.  This ‘lighter’ aspect to the curry added a much fresher eating experience than some of the heavy stews served in the vicinity.

One Mighty Naan!

The Notorious Naan has to be seen to be believed – it’s massive!!  But not only that, it’s a good fresh and tasty piece of bread too.  It ate very well.  Although we ordered the garlic version, it didn’t blow your head off with garilciness – perhaps a reflection of the general subtlety of herb and spice use noted in the curry also. 

Drinks Policy and range

BYO.  Cost Cutter is just across the road so no problems if you arrive empty handed.  Bottles openers were offered by the staff.  Of course there is a full range of soft drink’s and lassi’s.

Highlights

The Notorious Naan has to be seen to be believed.  Its size isn’t its only note worthy point though - it’s also a very good naan.  The staff and general service is also worth a mention – no quibbles regarding four young children running round causing havoc.

Lowlights

No lowlights to mention.  However, for me, the actual curry wasn’t perhaps what I would consider classically ‘Bradfordian’, and was definitely lighter in flavour and gloopier, than the dark/dry/rich varieties we often see around Bradford.  My curry was maybe more reminiscent of ones I’ve eaten on my travels in Manchester or Birmingham say?  This is a good thing though if it’s what you’re looking for.

Me and Lady Di

The Damage

I was baby herding during the bill paying procedure – I always like to make myself scarce at such moments!!  I think we paid ~£15pp which, considering this included food for the babies is pretty reasonable.

Aftershock

Apart from leaving the restaurant looking like four little Tasmanian Devils had whirlwinded through, there was no problems.  Although an early doors Bradford Curry eating extravaganza, everyone opted to go there separate ways, and not go for further pints in the Sir Titus Salt.

Overall

I really enjoyed my Omar’s experience.  It was a good Club turn out, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and the service was excellent too, so top marks.