What I Ate Today

Quote: DRich

Anyone that goes to London and doesn't try the Indian food is missing out.

Thanks DRich,
I agree. Indian food is NOT all about curry, though I admit much of it is. To get the best of an Indian restaurant, share a feast and get a taste of everything on the menu. Indian restaurants here are rubbish at desserts.

Better Indian restaurants in Manchester and Birmingham.

And for anyone inclined to cook...

https://www.youtube.com/c/AlsKitchen/about

The guy in this youtube channel is fairly local to me and Head Chef at one of my favourite restaurants.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=latifs+inspired

We "discovered" Indian food awhile ago yet are too lazy to learn about all of its varieties, so we just eat at the nearby Indian lunch buffet.

Alas Covid put a damper on that, and they're still closed.

I am jonesin' for it ...

Quote: missedhervee

We "discovered" Indian food awhile ago yet are too lazy to learn about all of its varieties, so we just eat at the nearby Indian lunch buffet.

Alas Covid put a damper on that, and they're still closed.

I am jonesin' for it ...

Indian* Buffets are the way to go. Get a taste of everything. Indian cuisine includes some great finger foods, starters, nibbles or whatever you guys call them. Samosas, bhajis, tikka, and they can do wonders with pulses and breads. Still rubbish with desserts though :o)

India is a massive subcontinent embracing many different cultures and cuisines. The Indian food we get from British Indian Restaurants (BIR Style) is a bastardisation of what the Indian nations used to serve up to their British Colonial 'masters' Most of it is unlike what they would eat themselves. It's a rare treat indeed to sample GENUINE indian food.

Personal favourites across a few cultures: Bhindi Bhajis, Punjab Choley, Rashmi Kebab, Lamb Dopiaza, Veg or lamb Samosas. Garlic pilau rice and Keema naan bread. If I ordered all that for a Friday dinner, I'd still be eating it on Tuesday $:o)

Took a stab at Indian cooking today with a version of chicken cabbage and spinach stir fry with onions mushrooms green peppers. Spices were all Indian in nature. Turmeric, Ginger, garlic, coriander, cloves, nutmeg, black pepper, Curry, cumin, dry mustard, cardamom, I didn't have any fenugreek and I'm going to order some.
It turned out quite well, it was both sweet and savory and I even used the spices in the gravy. I'll probably add some red pepper next time for a little heat. For the first time making Indian food I'm pretty happy with it.

Well done EvenBob for trying something new!!!!!

That gravy looks the business! Most BIR (British Indian Restaurant) dishes employ a 'Base gravy' Each restaurant has it's own secret recipe. Indeed takeaways and restaurants prepare components for rapid service.

I make this in big batches and freeze it. Simple base gravy

Maybe a bit counter intuitive that the gravy is the base of the meal rather than something poured over it.


Just for you.....
https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/10-incredible-indian-mushroom-recipes/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck38a0VweNg
I imagine you will cringe at the butter and oil.

Pandemic has shut down the Indian buffet that get set out for lunch in a semi-local place I like to go to

you can order entrees for lunch but the buffet is gone for now ... bums me out, absolutely love the buffet

Answering the last dozen pages….. When I get Egg Foo Young I always order it ‘Extra well done, with extra sauce (gravy) on the side’. Yummy.

I love Indian food. Garlic naan. To sop up whatever I order. I like vindaloo.

Pre pandemic I’d go to an Indian buffet 3-4 times a year for lunch, eat like a hungry boar, and go home and nap afterwards. I’m sure I still smelled like the spices for many more hours.

Wife’s daughters get takeout now from ‘Hyaderabad Biryani House’…. always a paneer dish in sop-uppable sauce.

Quote: odiousgambit

Pandemic has shut down the Indian buffet that get set out for lunch in a semi-local place I like to go to

you can order entrees for lunch but the buffet is gone for now ... bums me out, absolutely love the buffet

So, serious question: How popular are Indian restaurants and takeaways over there? Relative to other types of take-out?

For perspective, I live in a suburban area with just a mile long high street, comprising one mid sized supermarket, one tiny supermarket, a few hairdressers and miscellaneous small shops,
3 bars/pubs
2 unthemed British restaurants
4 Indian restaurants/takeaways,
4 Greek/Turkish, kebab, chicken and pizza (combo) fast food shops.
2 chinese takeaways and just...
1 fish and chip shop.

So, here, Indian takeaways and restaurants are about as popular as the Greek/Turkish places and twice as popular as Chinese. The traditional Fish and Chip shop is popular, but has a monopoly for the whole village. I reckon that is a typical ratio for nearby areas.

We have no KFC, Maccy D or Pizzahut etc on the high street. They tend to be at shopping malls and retail parks or at busy road junctions.

About half of those takeaway places do local delivery by their own drivers.

I'm guessing that the US has maybe more burger, 'Diner' restaurants, more Italian themed and more unusual themed places, such as Mexican, Japanese? Thai?
My perception of the US is from TV programs such as Ramsey's kitchen nightmares, Man Vs Food, Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. I've only visited your tourist areas, so hard to perceive your suburban or village high streets or local shops.

Next Time I buy or make Indian* food, I'll inflict photos on you.

Most of our so called 'Indian' restaurants are run by Pakistanis, which is weird since India and Pakistan are completely different countries, generally hostile to each other. I guess that's just us ignorant English folk who barely know there is a difference.

I've heard it said the Indian restaurants over here are likely to be run by Pakistanis

I'm quite sure they are not as common as in the UK. In my experience, a mid-sized town might have several Chinese places without a single Indian one. Bigger cities will be better supplied

Quote: SOOPOO

Wife’s daughters get takeout now from ‘Hyderabad Biryani House’…. always a paneer dish in sop-uppable sauce.

Interesting. As I said, Indian food embraces a range of styles. Hyderabad is in southern India and the food we Brits are familiar with is mostly from Kashmir or Pakistan.
The menu items from that Hyderabad restaurant bears hardly any similarity to what we get.
I recognise biryani and masala, and, of course garlic naan, but not much common ground. Clearly a regional difference.

https://www.hyderabadbiryanihouse.com/rochester_city/menu.php

compares to a local Bangladeshi place
https://www.myindiangarden.co.uk/our-menu

Another Local place

https://www.kismetstoke.com/_files/ugd/d2f0ba_1f1f59548c264ed284f4840c0eeff9ff.pdf