Topic: My base vs Restaurant Base

[jb]

Some time ago I managed to get hold of some base gravy from my local favourite restaurant.They're a friendly bunch,I always bombard them with questions when I'm in there and they're more than happy to answer.It's the same place where Curryhell eats his North Indian Special(phal strength!).

Anyway they gave me a portion of gravy and I thought it would be a good test to make a madras using their base and my own.I say my own it's actually the base from The Little India Restaurant,the one where CBM filmed the chef making a full size base.I've had great success with this base as can be seen in my latest pictures.

The base from the restaurant is nothing really remarkable,just a mildly spiced watery gravy.Nonetheless it is virtually identical to the base I made recently,both in terms of texture and flavour.

Restaurant Base....



My Base......



Side by side.....



Madras using Restaurant base....



Madras using my base....



side by side ,theirs on left,mine on right



Conclusions?? Well both had the taste and smell of a genuine madras.If anything mine was better,not so oily but if I were served either in a restaurant I would be happy.

[Stephen Lindsay]

jb it's great to hear how far some people have come and your side by side comparison shows that you are producing BIR quality food!

[Garabi Army]

Good results there jb, you must be pleased with the outcome. As the 'curry crisis' takes a grip, I reckon in the next few years, if not already, most folks on here will be making far superior BIR style curries than the takeaways.

[jb]

Actually one of the things that always eluded me was making a decent madras.That is one that had 'that' smell and taste if you know what I mean.I'm confident now I can make one using my own base every time now,no flukes, just using a decent base and simple ingredients.

[curryhell]

Actually one of the things that always eluded me was making a decent madras.That is one that had 'that' smell and taste if you know what I mean.I'm confident now I can make one using my own base every time now,no flukes, just using a decent base and simple ingredients.

.............and not forgetting the correct technique, eh jb  ;D Well done Jason, both look identical, in gravy and in curry  :

[solarsplace]

Hi JB

Sorry, don't have anything remarkable to add to the topic - just congratulations on all the successes you have been showing on the forum recently. Nice job!

Cheers

[fried]

Just out of curiousity, how does the Madras you cook with the takeaway base compare with the takeaway Madras?

[haldi]

Just out of curiousity, how does the Madras you cook with the takeaway base compare with the takeaway Madras?

Yes that's a good question, and what is your recipe for a madras?
Thanks

[curryhell]

A couple of questions jb:
The finished madras curries you said both had the taste and the smell but before you cooked the curries:

• how did the smell of the Spice base compare to your own?
• how did the taste of the Spice base compare to your own?
• Did the Spice base have the smell?
• Did your own base have the smell?

In looks they are virtually idenical but for the oil content, and even then not visibly by much
Will be interested to hear your reply as "you can't cook it at home" comment has again come up just as "it hasn't got that BIR taste or smell" has.

[jb]

Just out of curiousity, how does the Madras you cook with the takeaway base compare with the takeaway Madras?

Actually I've only ever had a madras from this place once,they do a variety of Chef's special dishes(such as tawa chicken and North Indian Special)which I normally go for.In all honestly I would say it was pretty much spot on though taste and texture wise if I compare it to places where I do buy chicken madras from regularly.They all taste pretty much the same round where I live,like I said if I was served my dish in a restaurant or T/a I would be more than happy.A guest who tasted mine and who also eats them on a regular basis said it was a 'lovely madras'.Incidentally my brother who tasted my CTM said it was the best one he had eaten in a long time,and he said he wasn't just saying that to be polite either!