Topic: Three baltis

[Invisible Mike]

I've seasoned mine as I was advised by the guy in the shop.

Can't wait to put them through their paces. What I like is that there is a little well at the bottom of the pan to concentrate the oil and help fry off spices and g&g tarka style. Will be interesting to see if this improves the cooking process and thus the quality of the finished dish. I find in a larger, flatter pan the spices can soak up the oil and burn or not cook correctly - unless of course you use tons of oil!

[Gav Iscon]

Do you intend to season it in any way?

Certainly do. It'd got a light covering of machine oil at the minute which well get removed and I'll then season it a bit.

[Invisible Mike]

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/01/27/world/europe/shove-over-cornish-pasty-balti-curry-vies-for-a-spot-on-britains-culinary-honor-roll.html?_r=1&referrer=

Just seen this on twitter. Adils and shebabs on the NY Times website.

[Gav Iscon]

Well, when an opportunity arose for a bit work at the NEC yesterday, the temptation was too much and a visit to the Balti Triangle was on the cards.  Plan was Laziza pastes, spot of lunch and a couple of takeawys for sampling at Chewys on the way home. Laziza Tikka Boti paste was a failure after 4 shops so just went back to Rajahs and got a couple of the tandoori paste. Lunch at Imrams was nice with Seekh Kebab and a Chicken Balti madras hot. I also got another Chiken Balti Madras hot to take home. Next was a trip to the Kushi Balti house on Moseley road which was shut when we got there. Plan B  was Al Faisals on Stoney Lane, a few doors up from the new Adil now back at its original place. To continue with the trend, I ordered another Chicken Balti madras hot.
It was a shame to walk by the now closed Saleems whilst on Ladypool Road and wish I'd got there before it closed its doors forever.

Anyway, 5 hours later back at Chewy's and first up was Al Faisals.



Oh dear. Top of the carton was like a mexican oil disaster and the photo already had a syringe full of oil removed before the it was taken. Curry was actually a lot darker than the photo. Probably the worst curry I've had for a while/ever. Very hot and very very harsh with slightly dry tasteless chicken. Its the first time I've seen Chewy pull a face when eating something. He wasn't impressed either. Trying the leftovers today and I wonder if the chef forgot it was Madras hot and then on remembering just threw a load of fresh chili and chili powder in at the end. So much so, I've had to admit defeat and in the bin its gone which is a rairity for me.    An awful curry.

Next up, Imrans on Ladypool Road. This was recommended on my last vist by the lad on the counter at Al Frash recommending the lamb chops for starter for which I didn't try.



Same brief, Chicken Balti madras hot and I have to say this was nice (they like their oil though). Much like the one I brought back from the Al Frash the last time. The Balti's like this to me are very light and fresh tasting and I would quite happily eat one again on a regular basis. Theres a slight taste which stands out in the Imrans and the Al Frash one that I can't put my finger on and having a whiff yesterday side by side with some Mangal Balti mix and the same smell is in both. I reckon with a bit trial and error with the Mangal stuff and you wouldn't be far away. The Ade Edmundson /Adil special balti is a different thing all together.

Both baltis around the

[curryhell]

Nice update Gav.  Are you sure about binning the hot offerings though?  I may have enjoyed that  :

[Gav Iscon]

Nice update Gav.  Are you sure about binning the hot offerings though?  I may have enjoyed that  :

The missus commented that it must have been bad as she's never ever known me to bin anything.  :
It wasn't good.

[Garp]

They do look oily. Gav, even by Geordie standards. Please don't tell me that was it heated up

[Gav Iscon]

I'm afraid it was Garp. Properly nuked in the microwave then transfered to the dish for the snapshot. On the first one Chewy took a small syringe full of oil of but there still was loads left. There probably would have been nearly a centimetre floating around the sides of the tub when I got it home.

The second one (Imrans) was untouched and had no where near as much oil as the Al Faisal one (but still a lot)

Heres another photo of the first one where that colours came out wrong due to the flash. The actual colour was midway between the 2 photos I've done. The syringe of oil had been removed



And a close up of the Imrans one

[Garp]

I take it you won't be going back there then, Gav.

If it is too oily, the sauce tends to congeal, as it naturally tries to retreat from the heat and forms a coagulated mess (but you know that).

[Gav Iscon]

The Al Faisal definitely not. I did enjoy the Imrans one and would go back. They seem to be a lot heavier on the oil down that neck of the woods than up here.