I have been feeling really jaded about BIR curry over the past couple of years.
Why? Because I can't and never have been able to reproduce the taste and aroma of the average pre 1990's curries.
Well, actually, that hasn't changed. I still can't reproduce that great aroma and flavour, but I was heartened recently after trying CBM's pre-cooked potato method.
For the first time, in a long time, I was actually transported back to the eighties. The method has that unmistakable bombay-aloo odour and taste. Bloody marvelous.
I know it's not CBM's own method, he purloined it from a BIR, but nevertheless it is a blast from the past for me.
The only concern I had was why, when in the early eighties I was crossing over from 'authentic indian' to BIR style I missed the panch phoran. I'd been using it and yet never getting that BIR bombay aloo aroma and flavour.
Well, whatever, I have it now and it's reignited my desire to recreate the curry aroma and taste that I used to know so well.
Thanks CBM!