Quote from: Stephen Lindsay on April 04, 2009, 08:04 AM
This suggests that my curries are also no more than sub-standard? (and, by implication, many of the others' on this site. But I'm sure that's not what you meant Santa!!!

I think that's what SS certainly meant SL.

Many members are happy with producing curries similar to their "average" local takeaways.  And. of course, there is nothing at all wrong with that. 

But, I believe, SS's point is that many BIRs nowadays serve curries totally inferior to those available in years gone by.

And, for some of us, it is THESE curries that we are trying to reproduce.

I can't say what "most other members" on this site are trying to reproduce (though others on here clearly think they can). I won't even try to speak for others until I have tasted their cooking, which is different from trying their recipes. Other people can speak for their own standards.

I am not setting myself up as an expert or saying that saying my curries are any better or worse than anyone else here. All I can say is I think my curries taste damn good, and I do not regard them as sub standard.

Take the Ashoka thread for example. This was quite a busy item and a few of us (including me) tried the base, bunjara etc. It tasted superb and certainly not sub-standard. Even though I agree that many takeaways produce a fairly uninspiring product that doesn't mean most members are aiming for the same. I think we need to try and avoid huge generalisations here.

Let's face it if you are going to try and produce a gourmet burger you wouldn't take McDonalds as your benchmark. As long as I can produce damn good tasting curries I will be a happy curry eater and I am always on the look out for new recipes and techniques here. One of the good things about this site is that there is enthusiasm and ideas aplenty, which I regard as far from sub-standard.

Quote from: SnS on April 04, 2009, 02:29 PM
... an experience unlikely to return .. at least commercially.

SnS 

I tend to agree with you, and I find it soul destroying for two reasons.

1. I want to savour that incredible taste and smell just once more before I kick the bucket.

2. I want to be able to invite some of the disbelievers to have one of the old style curries and, after they've picked themselves off the floor, rub their bloody noses in it and say, "there you f***wit, that's what a bloody BIR curry tastes like!".   : ;D

i can remember two of those curry houses SS is talking about  but they are from liverpool

one was the Kismet and the other was the kohi Noor

QuoteAll I can say is I think my curries taste damn good, and I do not regard them as sub standard.

QuoteThat's because, I surmise, you haven't tasted and smelled the old style curries. Believe me when I say even you would admit your own curries are sub standard when going head to head with those.

That's the problem with your generalisations, they are based on assumptions and lack of knowledge about what people have and haven't experienced.  You are also expressing opinions as if they are fact, they are not, they are just your opinions. I don't know what age you are or what your experience of curries is, but you seem to want to surmise what mines is - and you have got it wrong as I have been eating curries for over 30 years and therefore by your definition I must have smelled and tasted the old style curries. I don;t have to admit anything. In fact I think the old style curries is yet another generalisation and locally we have several curry houses producing excellent food but that's only my opinion, one in which, no doubt, you will try to dismiss with another generalisation or opinion disguised as fact.